James's 2001 Turkey
Here is my Merriums turkey I shot spring 2001. Thanks to my buddy Kevin Overbay who helped me bag this bird.
1996 James's 150 inch whitetail"
Funny story about this bird. I had invited my good friend, Kevin Overbay, along just for the fun of it. We actually were looking for Deer or Elk sheds and I’d brought along my shotgun, a few shells, and a couple calls, just in case. I wasn’t actually trying to hunt turkeys per se but figured I’d get some good practice calling while we were out. Well, after an afternoon of unsuccessful shed hunting I decided to try some gobbling and got a response!
I quickly jumped out of the truck, got my gun, shells, and calls, and instructed Kevin to keep quiet and follow. I had only the clothes on my back as seen in these pictures (not a stitch of camo) but I figured it would be fun to call to one, not ever hoping that one would get close enough to shoot. Well, as luck would have it, the birds were hot for some good Hen-lovin’ and they were
responding quite well to my calling, even though this was but my second year of hunting turkeys and my first time calling. As I yelped on my box call I could hear the gobbling toms getting closer. Finally Kevin pointed at the red-headed Tom as the bird worked his way up the hill, across the road, and toward us. Did I mention that Kevin, like me, hadn’t a scrap of camo on nor had he ever hunted turkeys before? This was too good to be true! I kept yelping and the Tom liked what he heard and started circling around to my left. Luckily, as Kevin was partially concealed on my right I watched as Mr. Turkey neared my range of my Remington 870 12 gauge 3” shotgun. Loaded with Winchester Supreme #4's shells, I felt confident I could kill any bird within 35 yards with the Remington Turkey choke as patterning at the range had implied. I had a small opening through some small trees and brush so instinctively I aimed the scattergun toward that opening. When that red head appeared in the opening I knew it was now or never as I was rather twisted hard to my left and knew the odds of repositioning myself with a wary Tom within 20 yards wasn’t likely.
Boom! My aim was perfect but, as happens when shooting a load of pellets vs. a single bullet, my shot had somehow gone around the vital areas of his head and neck. While the bird dropped dramatically at the shot he suddenly got back up and started running directly away from me!
I’ve been bird hunting too long not to chamber another round after each shot with my trusty pump and I was ready. Quickly I found the target again and fired round #2. This time the turkey was not as lucky. We both smiled as two more Tom’s approached but quickly turned tail and flew away. Too bad Kevin didn’t have a tag!
All in all it was quite exciting to share this experience
with a good friend and it is nice to have such a story behind you. Guess them
turkeys ain’t so smart sometimes when Lady Love comes’ a callin’. (Note: Click on the picture to see the band on this turkey.)
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