chaos at the buzzer - close but no bird

[mazzgolf]

It was chaos right as hunting time was coming to a close -- got BUSTED, AGAIN!!!

 

Went out pre-dawn this morning with a friend on a private piece but ended up leaving at 9am - absolutely nothing happening - no birds. I ended up going myself to a public spot I know has turkeys. Walk in the woods, let out some calls... nothing. *sigh* This week has been brutal - hearing so few birds.

 

Anyway, I walk deeper and deeper into the woods periodically letting out a yelp - *finally*, I hear a bird off in the distance. I took a brisk walk and got closer. Sat next to a tree and listened - I heard him gobble no farther than 75 yards away! Finally a bird I can work! Haven't had this kind of hunt all week! I let out a few clucks and some purrs to let him know where I am - when I heard him gobble, I gave him the silent treatment. I sat in silence for almost a half hour wondering if he went away. Well, he finally lost his patience and let out a gobble - he was real close now! But I can't see him - behind some trees.

 

Here's the problem - at this time it is now 11:30!!! OMG, I am thinking to myself, "I am going to have a turkey walk right into me at 5 minutes after 12, I just know it!" 11:40.... 11:45.... I FINALLY see the bird! Beautiful red head, but he doesn't give me a shot - he ends up walking back behind a tree trunk that is between me and him and I lose sight of him. I just need him to walk a little closer.... come on little birdie!!! Gotta beat the buzzer!!! 10 more minutes left!!!

 

Just then, a crazy thing happened as all chaos breaks loose. Directly behind me - I never heard it (they?) come in, and I still don't know what it (they?) were, but all of a sudden I heard these heavy footprints (hoof-prints????) crashing through the brush not 10 yards behind me. Whatever it was started running away and to my right!!! WTH IS THAT!!! After I froze for a second, I look over and I don't see a thing - I first thought it was deer, but you'd think you would see the deer bouncing away.  Nothing... I just heard this ruckus going on behind me as something got spooked and took off. Didn't hear "putt putt", no animal noises - just this rushing of animals crashing through the bushes.

 

That was it - the bird I was working was never to be see or heard from again.

 

I suspect either it was my calling or this Tom's gobbles brought in one or two turkeys from directly behind me, they spotted me, and took off. I never heard them sneak up on me, I never saw what it was. Could have been deer, could have been turkey. All I know is it sounds like there was more than one whatever it was.

 

This is the same spot I've gotten busted like this before (from directly behind). DAMMIT!!! I can't believe I was so focused in front of me and I didn't even notice anything coming up behind me. *sigh*. Right at the end of hunting time, too. All I could do was stand up, unload, and walk the three-quarters of a mile or so back to the truck thinking what could have been.

 

Anyway, it was definitely a much better day of hunting than I had all week. I am not used to hunting in the late morning like that - not used to having to watch the clock. And getting beat right at the buzzer sucks!

[Nomad]

Sorry, I was running to get set up and then I saw you sitting there...

[mazzgolf]

Sorry, I was running to get set up and then I saw you sitting there...

 

[Nomad]

Sounds like maybe some deer spooked behind you.

[Rusty]

Being in the woods is better than not being in the woods.

 

Working a bird and having it come in that close is an exciting day in the woods.  

[Matty]

The suspense of your story was killing me....I had to know what invisible animal ran in and ended your hunt.

 

I'm content in now knowing it was Nomad and his turkey murdering son running through the woods.

[cecil973]

That's an interesting story gotta love turkey hunting it creates alotta weird/different stories thanks for sharing think it coulda been a you're/fox that wanted to come kill the hen you where pretending to be than realized it was a human. Foxes and yotes can be ghost like.

 

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Edited April 30, 2017 by cecil973

[Oneday121o]

You gotta wait them out... they pin point you but will go quiet.

[Buck154]

You didn't get him but like you said it was the closest chance at a bird all week so it wasn't a loss. That's turkey hunting, hunting the smartest stupid bird out there. Still 4 week to go. Good luck

[Stan Putz]

Sounds to me like you did everything right. That's turkey hunting for ya.