I haven't had a chance to get online since this happened (was in Lunchburg, VA taking care of a BB King concert), but here's what happened on my first time out chasing turkey!
Me and a bud started out at 5:00 AM and moved and set up several times. We heard one gobble at daybreak, but nothing else. We finally went to a spot almost at the top of a hill that was really good for deer and squirrel, and started calling. My buddy was to my left, about 25 yards, sitting behind a huge tree. He was watching to the left, and I was watching to the right. We called for about 20 minutes, and heard nothing. We were getting ready to stop calling and pack up, when I happened to glance behind me.
Five jakes came over the top of the hill and made a beeline for my decoy below us. They were literally on top of my buddy, who was oblivious to their presence and calling away. All five jakes were right up against the tree, cautiously poking their heads around the tree trying to get a peek at the "hen" on the other side. The biggest one must have seen his striker moving and let out a loud "puck" before running up almost to the top of the hill and stopping to wait on his buds. The other four birds followed, looking confused.
This whole time I was trying to swing around without making too much commotion, but being left handed and trying to swing around and shoot over my left shoulder with some semblance of stealth was unbelieveably difficult. About the time I heard the "puck" I was in position.
I was using a Hi-Point 995 Carbine "police package" in 9mm covered with a span-do-flage gun sock and topped with a BSA 4-16X 50mm scope. While I was manuvering, I had the presence of mind to drop the scope to 4X since I figured the shot would be less than 50 yards. I lined up on the biggest bird and squeezed, sending a 124 grain Speer Gold Dot +P through a spot about an inch below where the wing connected to the body. The 15&1/4# jake hit the ground, quivering where he once stood. The shot was about 45-50 yards.
Upon examining the bird, the bullet had left a perfect hole going in and an exit wound about the size of a 50 cent piece coming out. The shot had been slightly upward, and the bullet had exited right below the "plate" of muscle and bone in the back.
Yeah, I know it wasn't a "real" gobbler (the beard was an awe-inspiring 4&1/2" and pretty much non-existent spurs), but it was my first turkey, taken on my first time out turkey hunting. I've got two more weeks to try and take a "real" gobbler now.
I wish I could have got a picture or something, but since I don't have access to a scanner it wouldn't make much of a difference. But I figured I'd tell the story anyway and hope the rest of the Hi-Point carbine fans get a kick out of it!
Me and a bud started out at 5:00 AM and moved and set up several times. We heard one gobble at daybreak, but nothing else. We finally went to a spot almost at the top of a hill that was really good for deer and squirrel, and started calling. My buddy was to my left, about 25 yards, sitting behind a huge tree. He was watching to the left, and I was watching to the right. We called for about 20 minutes, and heard nothing. We were getting ready to stop calling and pack up, when I happened to glance behind me.
Five jakes came over the top of the hill and made a beeline for my decoy below us. They were literally on top of my buddy, who was oblivious to their presence and calling away. All five jakes were right up against the tree, cautiously poking their heads around the tree trying to get a peek at the "hen" on the other side. The biggest one must have seen his striker moving and let out a loud "puck" before running up almost to the top of the hill and stopping to wait on his buds. The other four birds followed, looking confused.
This whole time I was trying to swing around without making too much commotion, but being left handed and trying to swing around and shoot over my left shoulder with some semblance of stealth was unbelieveably difficult. About the time I heard the "puck" I was in position.
I was using a Hi-Point 995 Carbine "police package" in 9mm covered with a span-do-flage gun sock and topped with a BSA 4-16X 50mm scope. While I was manuvering, I had the presence of mind to drop the scope to 4X since I figured the shot would be less than 50 yards. I lined up on the biggest bird and squeezed, sending a 124 grain Speer Gold Dot +P through a spot about an inch below where the wing connected to the body. The 15&1/4# jake hit the ground, quivering where he once stood. The shot was about 45-50 yards.
Upon examining the bird, the bullet had left a perfect hole going in and an exit wound about the size of a 50 cent piece coming out. The shot had been slightly upward, and the bullet had exited right below the "plate" of muscle and bone in the back.
Yeah, I know it wasn't a "real" gobbler (the beard was an awe-inspiring 4&1/2" and pretty much non-existent spurs), but it was my first turkey, taken on my first time out turkey hunting. I've got two more weeks to try and take a "real" gobbler now.
I wish I could have got a picture or something, but since I don't have access to a scanner it wouldn't make much of a difference. But I figured I'd tell the story anyway and hope the rest of the Hi-Point carbine fans get a kick out of it!
