Perfect Start in Alabama
Turkey season here in Alabama kicked off on March 15th this year, but with the usual hustle and bustle of our daily lives, I didn’t manage to get into the woods until about five days after the season opened. My wife and I had gone down to the farm to fish for the last hour or so of the afternoon on the 18th. On our way out, we paused to see if we could hear a bird gobble, a classic move in wild turkey hunting strategies. We were rewarded with more than just a gobble; we spotted four birds crossing the road and flying up to roost for the night. Armed with that crucial piece of information, I immediately told my father-in-law, David, that I’d pick him up the next morning. We simply had to try for those birds.
Those turkeys were fired up the next morning, gobbling the moment we stepped out of the truck. We found a small opening on the edge of the woods for our setup and let out a few calls. Birds were gobbling all around us, but they had a number of hens with them, making things a bit more challenging. We played a careful game of cat and mouse with them until just after sunrise, then went silent to see where they’d move. As luck would have it, one of the hens broke from the group and headed right toward us, passing just a few feet away. The gobblers, not far behind, fired off a volley of gobbles about 80 yards out, and we knew they were following her to our setup. They initially tried to circle around us, but a few soft calls turned the hens back in our direction, and they passed through the opening at about 25 yards. The gobblers followed, circling around and coming up right behind them. They stayed a little further out, but they were still well within range. David couldn’t get a clear shot at first, so I told him I had one and he gave me the green light. When I shot, the bird started flopping, and the others just stood around in confusion. That’s when the real fun began. David picked out one of the remaining gobblers and took his shot, but it didn’t go down for good. After a mad dash towards the bird, and a rather comical tumble over a low strand of fencing he didn’t see, he was able to finish the bird off. We had our first ever double, a moment every hunter dreams of.
For more hunting insights, check out Alabama Gobbler Strut-Off.
It was an awesome morning spent with a great guy, and it resulted in two beautiful birds taking a ride back to the house with us. It’s a rewarding feeling when a hunt comes together perfectly, a testament to the effectiveness of our turkey hunting season preparation. All our hunts don’t go according to the script, so when it all works out like that, it makes the experience that much sweeter. It’s especially awesome when you get to spend that quality time in the woods with your family and friends, making memories that last a lifetime.
You might also enjoy reading about ALABAMA HAMMER!.
Jeremy Johnson, Backwoods Crew Member – Alabama
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