TN Juvenile Turkey Hunt w/ Catfinger 3-23-08

[SpurHunter]

Got out on a clear Easter morning to try and rope a tom into range for Catfinger during the second day of the TN juvenile hunt. It was a chilly 34 degrees when we arrived at the farm. </p>

We went to a friends farm in Sparta where he had been seeing about 15 jakes in his back pasture. He had taken his two boys there Saturday both morning and evening seeing some birds but none would come near their set-up. </p>

We were waiting for a film crew to show up before heading out, and when the camera-man got there we realized it was past breaking day-light!! Yikes...

we hustled to the parking area down the road, and headed to the pasture. We flipped a coin for blind set-up, and we got the blind further down the field. </p>

I put the decoys out at the top of the hill in front of us, which was about 21 yards out as I wanted them to be as visible as possible.We could see a little further on the left and right but only about 23-24 yards straight out in front before the hill tapered down too much. I use Hazel Creek Decoys, and have a jake and a hen. Man these things look good! They should as they are farm raised wild-breed stock. I wont tell you how pricey they are as yall might think I'm nuts!

</p>

Got settled in about 8AM and called sparingly. I had made the last call about 8:40 and had settled in to read some posts on the CFF using my mobile connection. About 8:50 I heard Storm tense up and whack me on the knee, and point out towards the decoys....I looked out just in time to see a iridescent school-bus coming to a screeching halt behind the decoys!!! I have no idea where this brute came from, but he was hooked no-doubt when he saw Bill & Hillary" (deeks). He was in full-strut, and got behind Bill to push him out of the way so he could court Hillary. Problem was he was completely behind Bill!!! , so no shot available

</p>

By this time, I am shaking like a leaf

, and Storm has her gun up and shouldered ready to cut loose on the bird. I told her to go ahead and remove the safety from her 20ga, and said we would have to wait for him to circle the birds for a shot. (remember EXPENSIVE DECOYS!!!)</p>

The gobbler stayed put right where he wanted to be and would raise his head up every now and then to try and intimidate Bill into moving on...Bill wasn't paying him a bit of attention!

He started to climb on Bills back, and then pecked him twice on the top of the head...again, trying to takeover the courtship of Hillary. At this point Storm is about hyperventilating, and I am doing my best to stay calm. I said when he sticks his neck up good the next time, blast him. The big boy again raised his head as high as it would go, and I said SHOOT NOW! BOOOOOMMM....full load of hevi-shot to directly to the neck! The bird is flopping on the ground, andI busted out of the blind dragging Storm and got to the bird to get my hands on him. </p>

MAN what a feeling having that bird in hand after so many hours spent, and miles driventhe last three seasons trying to get her first bird.

</p>

After he finished his death-quivers, (he WASNT going anywhere after this shot!...we high-fived a BUNCH, hugged and sighed a big weight off our shoulders. </p>

Talk about a great bird for anyone, let alone an 11 yr old girls first turkey. <font color="#ff0000">3 yr old bird, 20lb-15oz.,EXACTLY 11"thick beard, ana little over 1 1/8th inch SHARP spurs!</font></p>

My buddy called while we were snapping some pics, and I told him the news. He asked if we would stick around in the blind till they were done to watch that end of the field. We settled back into the blind to relive the hunt several times. </p>

About 9:30 I noticed some motion to my right....TURKEY, and another, and another!!! Three long-beards less than 5 yards from the blind coming from behind us!

</p>

As soon as they crested the hill enough to see the deeks, the lead bird went into strut and starting drumming. He relaxed out of it when he realized the other two were moving towards the "fake" turkey....that lead bird ran up ahead and got in Bill's face to confront him, and went into strut again. Bill would not be intimidated this time either, and while this was going on I called Jason, and told him to get over to our end NOW!!!! He said it would be too risky, and he would try and call them over. I couldn't hear it, but I know he was calling, and the three birds immediately perked up and started his way. We also snapped a couple of pics of them while they stood near the decoys, its hard to make all three birds out, but I promise, there are three of them, and all have 9"+ beards. They went about 20 yards towards the hill that was blocking Jason's view of our set-up, and then eased around it to the right, and out of our view. I waited for the coming blast with tremendous anticipation, but it was not to be. We have no idea where these three ended up,

but never got into view for Jason and his boys. </p>

They were 2 yr old birds, and will be eager to investigate Jason's calling in short order when they realize that Storm has eliminated the "Head Honcho" out of the pecking order. They will also be willing to gobble more now that big boy is gone, and wont come running to whip them!

</p>

Here are a bunch of pics....Ok a LOT of pics, but I couldn't let this moment go undocumented!</p>

 

[Guest]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Nice bird Storm. A lot of grown men hunt for years before they get a turkey like that. Congratulations!
You and your big brother had a great week.emoThumbsup emoThumbsup

 

[puddle jumper]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Great Job Storm..emoDance emoDance emoDance emoDance

When I got the pic this morning I could not wait to here the story,,, I know how hard it is to wait when you have something like that out in front of you and you handled it like a pro,,, we are all proud of you ,and what a bird...... emoThumbsup emoThumbsup emoThumbsup

You done good Dad...emoToast

Puddle...emoUSA

 

[Liveliner]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Great job there.  That bird is a fine trophy for anybody.  Thanks for sharing those pics.  </p>

Is your Daughter hooked yet?</p>

 

[foodsaver]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

way to go guys! Thats a beautiful turkey and you should be proud to have shot him.

 

[SpurHunter]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Liveliner - 3/23/2008 5:53 PM

Great job there.  That bird is a fine trophy for anybody.  Thanks for sharing those pics.  </p>

Is your Daughter hooked yet?</p>

</p>

THanks LL, she has been hooked for the last 4 years..

 I let her carry a 410 for one year but we never got even a whiff of a chance untill the last two really. She now shoots a Charles Daley 20 ga auto, using Hevi-shot handloads. I would shoot a bird out to 50 with it, but wont let her shoot that far. She had one at about 40 yards and I wouldnt let her move with the bird looking right at us last year. The year before that we had one dead to rights, but I moved us at the wrong time, and we bummped it...it happens with those confounded birds!!

 </p>

We really needed this...it has been a long time coming! I hope and pray its not another 4 years for the next one.

</p>

 

[mshipman]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Great job thats a nice bird

 

[Bubbakat]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Good job on the bird and kudos to dad for taking the time to be a part of it. She will never forget that Eric

 

[churly]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Thats a great bird, did they gobble much? I was about 30 miles NW of there on saturday, I had birds around but they didn't want to talk or play!?

Again, congrats to the young hunter and her trophy gobbler!

 

[SpurHunter]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Not the first gobble Churly. I was really shocked, they didnt do anything. I didnt call when they were close by since we were ready to shoot on the dead bird, and we didnt want to hole the other three, so no telling if I could have made them or not. I can tell you this bird had ZERO signs of strutting activity. He also had nothing at all in his crawl. Weird seeing how he should have been on the ground for at least an hour by the time we saw him. Makes you think he was searching for the ladies????</p>

 

[hoggerhead]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

awesome!

 

[josh.schreiber]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

MAN WHAT A BIRD!

 

[bent rod]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

<font size="2">Thanks for the great story. The bird is even better than the story, GOOD JOB STORM!

</font>

 

[Bprice]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Great job young lady! Way to go Daddy Catfinger, as FA would say, you done gooood.

 

[doghouse]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Way to go Storm, a very nice bird. Be sure and remind Spur how big he was every chance you get. emoPoke. Some of the best things in life just don't happen over night.emoDance

 

[Guest]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

That little lady right theres gone have all these boys on this forum pumped for this week-end!emoThumbsup emoBigsmile emoBigsmile including ME!

 

[Guest]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Way to go Stormy, you started out with a fine bird, it will take some time to find another one to match this one. Keep it up little lady.

 

[cooperjd]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

congrats miss storm. awesome story, and a great bird.

 

[mallardecho]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

Congrats on a Nice Bird and A GREAT memory made.
You should get her some TSS shot, that will increase her range and lessen felt recoil.

 

[rsimms]

RE: Juvenile hunt. Catfinger and Spurhunter 3-23-08

emoThumbsup About time you lived up to your name. emoBigsmile