Turkey
Hunt --- Late in the Season
I really wanted
to get out there late in Spring and Get a Rio Grande Turkey. I contacted Robert Steenbeke, and we set it
up. We were going to hunt an area that
had high trees with little foliage for roosting and water nearby. I met Robert early in the am, 5am to be exact
and we headed for the ranch. I will let
Robert Tell the Story from here:
Robert: It's getting to be late season for Spring turkey.
The dumb ones are dead, it's getting too warm for a turkey's liking, and the
hens that have lost nests are coming back to the roosting areas now, so it's
getting tougher to find a horny gobbler by the day. But, like the
old saying goes, even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in awhile. He
just has to keep looking. Dave Valtierra and I were the lucky blind hogs
Friday.
Getting to the
field at first light, we found a nice gobbler on roost in the same tree as
three hens, just like the landowner said they would be (It helps to have a good
scouting report). As we tried to sneak in to a good set up, he gobbled
one time. I assume that meant he saw us. Between that and having hens
right there with him, I was not optimistic, but we were going to try it anyway.
The plan was to
let the hens start talking, or fly down, and then I would start doing
assembly calls. Hopefully, that would bring the hens to us, and they would drag
the gobbler with them.
It didn't work
out that way. The gobbler actually flew down first and started displaying his
stuff about 100 yards away, so I started to yelp at him a bit.
Immediately, he gobbled and started strutting our way.
Then the hens hit
the ground and started the opposite direction. So did he, so I got on the call
pretty good.
Miracle of
miracles, the hens answered and held up. At that point, the gobbler turned,
actually left the hens, and came closer to us.... and closer.....and closer.
Finally, he was in shotgun range.
As he passed
behind a screen of brush, Dave eased up the shotgun and took
the safety off, but moved just a tad too quickly. The gobbler saw that
motion and started to vector away slightly (their eyes are incredibly good). He
was still going to emerge in range though, just stretching that 3-1/2 inch
magnum load of #5's to about as far as I am comfortable with it.
"Let
me know when you're ready and I'll alarm putt to stop him.", I said. As soon as the bird emerged
from behind the light brush, Dave says, "Ready!" I give it the PUTT! The bird stops,
gobbles and sticks his head about half way up all in about one second. POW! 50 yards away a gobbler fell over stone dead. It
was Dave's first gobbler, and it must have been quite an adrenaline rush for
him! His hands were shaking pretty good trying to fill out the tag.
So
were mine! 100's of birds have gone down to my calling now, and I STILL get the
thrill!
Yours in the great outdoors,
Robert S. Steenbeke
1A Hunting in Texas Guide Service, Inc.
www.hunting-in-texas.com
Phone: 210-872-2771
Contact Robert and he
can put you on the “Hunt of a Lifetime” !!
Look at some the other Turkeys he
has hunted in the past. He is on top of
his game.
I can assure you !!
Dave
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