Successful Opener...

[Dave Sikorski]

I found myself at a friends wedding reception after party at midnight on the opener eve drinking 16oz. Margaritas.

Yes, the wedding after party had an after party

I knew it was going to be a tough hunt, and after about 2 hours of sleep Doug was waiting in the driveway. I stumbled around and found my gear, and off we went.

I had seen a number of turkeys in a flock on Friday in an area that was prime for an ambush. The tentative plan was to set up and wait. It would have been the perfect plan for my lazy and tired self. As luck would have it, I heard a gobble when I opened the door to the car even before setting foot on the gravel. It was still pretty darn dark and we were surprised that he was up and looking for some action. We decided that the ambush would have to wait, as well as my nap.

We booked it across a field and snuck around a corner while listening to more than one bird let out competing gobbles. We reached a nice section of field and ran out of cover, then sat and listened.

Doug started calling and the boys were answering. You could hear a few big boys and a few jakes doing their best to compete. Maybe 3 boys, maybe 5, we couldn't tell. They were spread out a little and we weren't sure who was watching in between us and the more vocal birds. The only thing we could do was sit and wait, and hope they would hit the field and get strutting. It sounded like the birds were on the ground and they weren't getting any closer, so we made a move.

We ran across a hidden section of field and dropped into a ravine w/ a creek in it. As soon as we started working up the hill on the opposite side we heard leaves crunching.

There was something coming to inspect our noisy steps and they were approaching FAST. I turned to Doug, whispered to get guns up and ready, and before I knew it there was a craning red head looking down at me from 5 yds.

A pair of jakes were staring at us and beginning to putt a little. They weren't sure what they were looking at, but weren't too concerned. I had the safety off, but did not have any intentions of ending the morning just yet. Doug began purring a little to calm them down, and after a few seconds they gave up the staring contest. We had to wait a few minutes before we were totally in the clear, but a resounding gobble off to the left and across or in the field took our minds off of the Jakes in the woods.

We hit the creek and moved as fast as we could to the field edge. It was nice to have the ravine to hide in, and the stalk up the edge was pretty darn exciting. Doug and I spread out by about 40 yds and started slowly approaching the field to try and find the gobbler. I got to the edge first, but was still 10 yds from the clear, and was still down the hill a little bit. Doug was behind a huge oak where neither I nor the turkeys could see him.

He called a few more times and the gobbles started from across the field. I was standing behind a tree that was hardly big enough to hide me and here they came. A dark bodied long beard was in the lead, and there were at least 2 others behind them. They let out three gobbles, and before I knew it I was rushing to get my gun down and on target. I turned to see where Doug was to no avail. When I turned back around it was now or never and I let a shot go. The lead bird hit the dirt and the others booked. One long beard ended up back in the field and still in range and Doug took a tough shot through some brush. The big bird took flight and ended up across the field and into the neighbors woods w/ nothing but an education.

My bird barely kicked. The #5 copper plated Wincester load did the job. It was 7am on the opener and I was done for the day and halfway done for the season.

We headed back to the car to drop off the bird and our jackets, then headed out to the ambush spot. We took a walk and glassed for the flock that should've been headed across the field but saw nothing but acres upon acres of wheat.

By 9ish it was getting warm, and both Doug and I decided we'd had enough.

It was a great start to the season, and I got to introduce my new Yeti cooler from the Sportfishermen.com store to it's first creature. He fit perfectly! 20lbs, 10.5" beard, 1-1/8" spurs.

I will guarantee one thing. I'm skipping the wedding next time.

-D

[clt_capt]

nice bird. Congrats

[saltwaterbucks]

Nice bird Dave........ but you ain't getting any better looking LOL

[WAHOONBOX]

I DON'T KNOW WHO HAS THE WORSE CASE OF SHUT EYE ....DAVE OR DA BURD


DANG GREAT MORNING READ NOT TO MENTION A QUICK HUNT! THE WILD TURKEY NO.1 HUNT WE SHALL CALL THIS ONE ALTHOUGH I THINK THEY CALL THAT BOTTLE NO.7

[BTH284]

Purty work Dave. I am going after 2 in the morning myself.

[dakndug]

Awesome job there man! Musta had your pocket fisherman with ya eh?

Doug

[Going Deep]

Great write up and congrats on the bird

[Dave Sikorski]

Thanks folks, Doug sweet talked the SOB right to my lap, I only made the shot.

Here's part of a breast on the grill last week. MMM MMM GOOD!

-D