Fishing, Turkey, Fishing, Turkey

[snapbang]

Been struggling all week to figure out if I wanted to go turkey hunting or fishing this morning. Well, I could hear the chimes playing when I got up so thought it cold to stand in the wind and fish. So I got out my trusty 410 and headed out to my deer blind. There was a little light so I set out the 3 decoys 5 yards from my blind and got in. Turned on the heat and enjoyed my coffee while thinking of the pleasures being out here hunting. About 1/2 hour after getting in one of my windows fell closed with an awful sound. Figured my hunting just got boogered for the next 30 minutes so closed my eyes and wondered what fish may be happy I wasn't there this morning. Ever so faintly in the distance I did hear gobbles occasionally so I was optimistic.

About 7:30 I see black at the west end of the property. Sure enough there is a turkey. I get out my binoculars and its a nice Tom with beard a swaying and he sees the decoys. Hes coming in hot and 4 hens are with him. I hadn't loaded my gun this morning so I popped in a 3" #6 and started the barrel out the window ever so slowly. He came straight in and fanned at 12-15 yards. Turned his back while doing so. Got a bit better shooting position while waiting for a frontal shot and in a second he was perfect. Aimed a few inches below his head and dropped him like a rock. He flapped a couple times but no concerns about him getting a second wind and leaving.

Not quite 10 inches. 9 7/8 but not 10. Spurs 1 inch.

1st selfy so sorry about the quality.

 

[illinoishunter]

Congrats on the selfie quality, great use of the available light and background imagery. The bird looks good as well lol

 

[snapbang]

Yeah, with a face like that maybe I should have taken a pic of just the bird. And no, I didn't ugly it to death.

 

[HC]

Congrats on your success.

 

[BuckDoeHunter]

Congrats!

 

[retrieverman]

Very nice bird!!! Congrats!!!

 

[MrTom]

Thaere ya go! Congrats. .410 yet...., commendable!

 

[retrieverman]

Just as an FYI, there are phone stands and Bluetooth remotes that make taking selfie glamour shots so much easier.

 

[anonymouscowherd]

@Ninering62 and I fought that choice a few weeks ago. I get to his place at dawn and hear birds gobblin when I get out of the car. Went fishing as planned and while it was a great time out we only got one small whiting ...

 

[deermanok]

Congrats Bob. Nice bird

 

[Hausser1]

Yeah, with a face like that maybe I should have taken a pic of just the bird. And no, I didn't ugly it to death.

debateable?

 

[Hausser1]

Congrats! Niner may have a recipe for cooking beards and spurs

 

[Decay]

Great job on gettin the big tom! It's a lot easier when ya don't have to get all camoed isn't it. Those white beards show up in dark blinds though.
Was that TSS or plain old lead #6?

 

[Ninering62]

Been struggling all week to figure out if I wanted to go turkey hunting or fishing this morning. Well, I could hear the chimes playing when I got up so thought it cold to stand in the wind and fish. So I got out my trusty 410 and headed out to my deer blind. There was a little light so I set out the 3 decoys 5 yards from my blind and got in. Turned on the heat and enjoyed my coffee while thinking of the pleasures being out here hunting. About 1/2 hour after getting in one of my windows fell closed with an awful sound. Figured my hunting just got boogered for the next 30 minutes so closed my eyes and wondered what fish may be happy I wasn't there this morning. Ever so faintly in the distance I did hear gobbles occasionally so I was optimistic.

About 7:30 I see black at the west end of the property. Sure enough there is a turkey. I get out my binoculars and its a nice Tom with beard a swaying and he sees the decoys. Hes coming in hot and 4 hens are with him. I hadn't loaded my gun this morning so I popped in a 3" #6 and started the barrel out the window ever so slowly. He came straight in and fanned at 12-15 yards. Turned his back while doing so. Got a bit better shooting position while waiting for a frontal shot and in a second he was perfect. Aimed a few inches below his head and dropped him like a rock. He flapped a couple times but no concerns about him getting a second wind and leaving.

Not quite 10 inches. 9 7/8 but not 10. Spurs 1 inch.

1st selfy so sorry about the quality.

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Congrats on a fantastic bird

 

[Dieselden454]

Good decision, rather than fishing! Nice Gobbler congratulations!

 

[GLenn]

Congrats on a nice bird. All are trophies in my eyes!
My birds in eastern Virginia are in that “quiet” stage of the turkey rut. They do this every year but usually a little latter then this.

 

[Ninering62]

Good decision, rather than fishing! Nice Gobbler congratulations!

Whats really friggin cool is to get to go fishing & turkey hunting in the same day.

 

[LBAhunter]

Whats really friggin cool is to get to go fishing & turkey hunting in the same day.

My idea of a double header!!
Morning, turkey hunting
Afternoon, crappie fishing

 

[LBAhunter]

Been struggling all week to figure out if I wanted to go turkey hunting or fishing this morning. Well, I could hear the chimes playing when I got up so thought it cold to stand in the wind and fish. So I got out my trusty 410 and headed out to my deer blind. There was a little light so I set out the 3 decoys 5 yards from my blind and got in. Turned on the heat and enjoyed my coffee while thinking of the pleasures being out here hunting. About 1/2 hour after getting in one of my windows fell closed with an awful sound. Figured my hunting just got boogered for the next 30 minutes so closed my eyes and wondered what fish may be happy I wasn't there this morning. Ever so faintly in the distance I did hear gobbles occasionally so I was optimistic.

About 7:30 I see black at the west end of the property. Sure enough there is a turkey. I get out my binoculars and its a nice Tom with beard a swaying and he sees the decoys. Hes coming in hot and 4 hens are with him. I hadn't loaded my gun this morning so I popped in a 3" #6 and started the barrel out the window ever so slowly. He came straight in and fanned at 12-15 yards. Turned his back while doing so. Got a bit better shooting position while waiting for a frontal shot and in a second he was perfect. Aimed a few inches below his head and dropped him like a rock. He flapped a couple times but no concerns about him getting a second wind and leaving.

Not quite 10 inches. 9 7/8 but not 10. Spurs 1 inch.

1st selfy so sorry about the quality.

View attachment 43570View attachment 43571View attachment 43572

Didn't you know you can't kill'em with a .410!!

 

[CGhost]

Those old lead loads work! Congratulations Bob beautiful bird!