Nebraska Turkey - Tomorrow !! Success !!

[iccyman001]

Don, I believe I have one left.
I\'ll get it in the mail for you if I find it.

 

[Deertick]

Fun in Nebraska, eh? Should be a good story.

 

[Zpd307]

:upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb:

 

[cnelk]

So after missing the Neb opening weekend due to a snow storm and no electricity for 2 days, Aaron J and I decided to head out Friday April 8th.

The \'work thing\' got in the way of our departure until about 1pm.

Then we headed east.

 

[cnelk]

It was about 5hrs to the public land we had decided to hunt.

I had never been there before, but Aaron had hunted it so we had a game plan.

We arrived about an hour before sundown, just enough time to see a few birds and drive around to see the \'lay of the land\'

 

[cnelk]

Near dark, we drove to some spots and \'howled\' to locate some roosted birds.

We found a couple good spots and our \'game plan\' was ready for Saturday morning

 

[cnelk]

Saturday morning came and as we went to Spot 1, we found that someone had already parked there and was headed in - DANG

Spot 2 here we come!

[Always good to have multiple plans]

 

[cnelk]

We got to Spot 2 - which we called Hen Crossing

And headed in toward the roost trees with a blind, decoys, chairs, and all the stuff needed to hunt turkeys

We set up about 100yds from the roosted birds in a cottonwood draw, on the edge of a nice green field.

All set up! Here we go!

Gobble Gobble!

 

[cnelk]

Here is an aerial visual

We were in a blind an location X1 about 100yds from the roost trees.

The field in front of us was nice and green with Winter Wheat

At 7am the birds pitched down

It was a cold morning - frosty!!

 

[cnelk]

Aaron gave a few yelps and we waited....

And waited...

GOBBLE GOBBLE....

Waited some more...

It was cold!

 

[cnelk]

About 830am we decided to get out of the blind and go see what we could make happen since obviously the birds werent coming to the green field this morning.

We snuck down into the draw and under the roost trees and up the other side to check that area out.

THERE THEY WERE!

The gobbler was strutting under a big tree - 40yds!

 

[cnelk]

I was about to draw and...

Well, as most of you know, turkeys dont hang around very long when they think something is amiss

And these turkeys did just that.

 

[cnelk]

The rest of the day [Saturday] was spent locating birds and putting a couple unsuccessful stalks on the birds.

Not wasted time by any means as we found some great spots that are definitely over-looked by the Public Land turkey hunters.

 

[cnelk]

Late Saturday afternoon, we snuck back into Hen Crossing to set up for the evening.

I set up a blind on one side of the draw and Aaron set one up on the other.

 

[cnelk]

It was the opening weekend for the Youth Shotgun and I was glad to hear a couple shots off in the distance.

Good for them kids!

 

[cnelk]

This was my view Saturday evening.

The roost trees were just off to my left about 100yds

 

[cnelk]

As it neared evening, a gobble sounded between me and Aaron!

It was coming closer

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Really close!

Waited...

I then heard him fly up to the roost!
Somehow he got between me and Aaron

I peeked thru my blind window and saw him on his roost. I ranged him at 93 yds.

I waited til dark and quietly slipped out of my blind and met up with Aaron

 

[cnelk]

Wood ticks....

BTW.... wood ticks are out and about...

 

[cnelk]

Sunday morning found me back in my blind and Aaron slipped into a new spot we found on Saturday - a mile or so away.

As daylight was breaking, the gobbles started.

It was a much warmer morning. Mid-50s

Perfect

It was nearing 7am. Fly down time

 

[cnelk]

I peaked thru the blind window and saw the tom starting to flex his wings

I yelped a couple times to let him know a hen was over here

7am - He pitched down!

BUT!!!
Not in my direction!!!!