The hunt:

I traveled 2+ hours to a plot I've been given permission to hunt on.

I scouted the territory last week and didnt see a single sign of a bird and after a stick to the eye last trip I had to leave prior to 1900h.

Mothers Day

Traveled to the plot at 1000h and setup at a double choke point between forest and a corn field. A long, green, open hay field. 75ish acres and I had a good view of them all.

Windy as all get out. Twice I had to chase down a foam hen decoy that tried to fly away on me.



My back was to a large 20x20 mound of dirt, rocks, deadfall, and grass. My cam nets did the trick of shading me from the sun and breaking my shape up.

I was quite prepared for turkey hunting as I brought home made muffins, water, cell phone, and a book to entertain myself...I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon under the beating sun hidden under my camnet, occasionally waking to look left and right....but never saw a thing.

Took a few pics to answer my wife's inquiries as to the level of success I was having. Which was nonexistent by 1700h....

My cam was overy effective in protecting me from the sun.



At around 1712h I got the urge to relieve myself. Expecting to see something soon, I decided a quick squirt behin the blind before the 1900h cutoff would be better to do sooner than later.

No birds in sight, off comes the cam, stand up and make for the back of my burm as my bladder was yelling quite loudly for relief.

Yes, I was still holding my shotgun as I walked to the side of my burm, and was face to face with a big bearded bird at 25yds with its head just rising as it saw me appear.

All within about a second, gun came up to the shoulder, bird made an attempt to fly away, and I rang out a shot with the 20g M2.

I remember consciously thinking - lead it a lot, you want a head shot.

The bird crumpled at 27yds from 5ft off the ground.



Crap. I thought. I just destroyed my first turkey.

Immediately I dropped to prone in case any other birds were in the immediate area. Nope, this fella came in alone.

After completing what I walked around the corner to do in the first place, I walked up, poked it, tagged it, and carried it to the atv.

Heavy bird

I called my wife to inform her that her mothers day gift was on route. Oh, and that I had gotten a turkey as well.

I drove back home for some pics, measurements, and weights.

Here they are







Weight: 21.9 lbs
Beard: 10"
Spurs: 7/8"

Taken with a Benelli M2 20g factory FULL choke
Federal #5's 1-5/16oz with flight stopper wad

9 pellets to the head and neck, 6 pellets spanning from the upper leg to the neck. Not too shabby.

So for a finale for my wifes mothers day festivities. ..

She helped me pluck =)





What an awesome day.

Hope you enjoyed the read.

Man that's awesome. And with a 20 gauge nonetheless! Great stuff and a keeper lady you got there, congratulations buzz I know your hooked now

Nice! That's a good size bird. Good thing you didn't have your fun gun out when that guy walked up

nice bird bro. where was you at

Congrats buzz on the first one.. That's awesome your wife helped u pluck it also.. She is a keeper for sure!!

Congrats! Have still yet to luck up one one yet myself.

Nice kill!


If its up high, it's coming to the ground

Awesome man, congrats!!! Love to hunt me some turkeys