Fall Turkey Success. 54 cal smoothbore.

[Pat_Cameron]

A great fall season so far.
Last year (2014) I tagged out on turkey in both Kentucky USA and Ontario Canada.
This spring, (2015) I hunted TWO states and Ontario and did not shoot a single bird.
Lots of very close encounters and close calls but no bird.
I likely hunted at least 20 days, maybe 25 days.

I had hoped to harvest a bird with the 54 cal smoothbore now that Kentucky allows guns
.410 and larger for hunting turkey. Still with a maximum shot size of #4, so no rifles.
90gr of #5 shot and 90gr of FFFG.  I would recommend #6 shot and maximum distance of 20 yards.
This Tom is about 20 pounds, 9 inch beard but short spurs.

The jeans are not blue. They are faded black and I thought they might blend in.
After seeing the photo, I think not.

Pat Cameron

[Pvt. Lon Grifle]

Great Shooting.

I better get my 50 out and pattern it.

Lon

[Tony N]

 Congratulations on the bird! Nothing beats taking one with a smoothie! I was able to take 1 last spring with a .62 smooth

~Tony

[wattlebuster]

Congrats Pat. That deserves a good brain numbing

[Pat_Cameron]

Congrats Pat. That deserves a good brain numbing

I still have that jar you gave me last spring.
It is some of the best I have tasted.
I was saving it for a special occasion.
I guess this is about as special as it gets.
I might have a sip tonight.

Pat

[B Staley]

good job Pat !!!!

[Old Ford2]

TRUE STORY!
We have had turkey on or about our house all spring, summer and fall.
Last week, we are having supper and the wife remarks, look the birds are back ( she doesn't hunt or eat wild meat??)
I race down to the basement load  up my Bond 12 double, by then they( the turkeys ) are across the road in the forest feeding.
I sneak out the back door by the car, not wanting to step out into the open. Poke the fine old double between the fork of an old maple.
And a fine big old hen has her head sticking above a small rise of dirt. I touch off the double.......can't see diddle @$#% for a few moments with all the white smoke.
No bird to be seen, but I could hear some rustling of leaves. I walk over and there she is down and out with a small tom ( jake ) beside her. What do I do now license for one bird??
By the way, I paced it off, and it was 42 long paces, no bull.
I am the best shot ever, or those are the most unlucky turkeys ever.
Then I hear rustling in the leaves and branches, another tom down.
Is that first time luck, or is turkey hunting always that easy?
I really did not make any of this up.

[hanshi]

Good grief, what a story!  You obviously have been paid back (big time) for all those times you drew a blank.  That's the kind of luck I can live with.

[old george]

Congrats! Still trying to get my first have a few weeks yet before deer season opens.

geo

[410-er]

Nice job on a nice bird!