I am not a serious turkey hunter. On my small property my cameras catch turkey coming through every week and a half plus or minus. I checked my camera chips this afternoon and saw 4 gobblers had come through 9 days ago about 5:30 pm, so I figured I better go sit out in my turkey blind (a V of two pallets with an old green rug tossed over them, a big oak behind). There are two main travel routes used through my place, whether deer, bear, turkey, bobcat, whatever. The powerline clear strip running east west, and a woods trail I made crossing north south. My blind is at the NE corner of this intersection, good views if they come from S. or W. less than desired from E. or N.
They came in from the North. I heard leaf crunching as 1, then a second, then a third gobbler walked out from the trail into the powerline. Problem is, that trail is only about 7 yards away. They could see me from shoulders up so I moved super slow but even a noise from my jacket fabric they would stop pecking around and raise their heads way up to look around. I held still and they would go back to feeding. Finally, I had ahold of my Kibler fowler 20 gauge. Loaded up with 80 grains FFg, a nitro card, 1.75 Oz #5 lead and an overshot, been loaded since season started 3 weeks ago.
I did not think I would ever be able to move slow enough to get gun on them with them so close, so decided to make one quick fluid motion, cock gun while bringing to shoulder, get a bead on one of the heads and fire.
As soon as I moved they were out into powerline, maybe 10 yards away now. They had separated from each other, which I was glad of, didn't want to hit 2 of them (apparently no risk of that). I fired at the middle birds outstretched head and every expectation was to see him roll over while the other 2 ran or flew off.
Instead, all 3 were still standing. Then they ran around in circles like a 3 stooges movie, not knowing which way to go. It seemed like forever, but maybe 2 seconds. I stood up and watched as they then took off flying away. I was hoping to see one drop from the sky but that did not happen as they went over the ridge. I reloaded and walked out through that corner of my property just to check, but nothing. A week of the turkey season left, so there is still hope - slim hope, as the scene plays over and over in my head.
ARG!
