Dead Bird Running – As told by Arlen Leslie & Written by Mike O.

Monday. The alarm went off at 5:00AM. I looked outside and it was pouring rain. I turned the alarm off and went back to sleep. At 7:00AM my wife nudges me and ask if I was going hunting. I look outside and it is drizzling. Oh well, I’ll try again.

Turkey hunting is not something I grew-up with. During the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s there were no wild turkeys in the state of Illinois. Spring meant crappie and bass fishing or yard work. Since then I’ve had children and they had grandchildren. My son Mike has killed three toms with his bow and my grandson Austin has killed as many or more with his shotgun. For the past 2 years I’ve drawn a tag but never for the same season as my family or friends. And let’s just say I’ve been learning as I go along. Maybe it’s time I get me one!

Saturday started the season and I hunted to 9:30AM. Early in the morning and at the break of dawn I had at least 2 toms working my calls. They worked me for close to 2 hours and one was right at the edge of the woods coming towards the decoys when a couple of noisy fishermen chased him away. Disappointed I picked up the decoys and went to a restaurant for some breakfast. Sunday was Easter and a day of family, worship and rest.

Monday. I grabbed a quick cup of coffee, loaded the decoys, call and gun and drove to the field. It’s 8:00AM. I unloaded my stuff and decided to do a couple of shock yelps before going into the field. Immediately I received a gobble in return. Looking down into the field and about 80 or so yards away I spy about 10 gray heads bobbing along the edge of the landscape. I let out a couple of clucks. The hens turn my way and a gobble comes from behind them. Tailing the hens are 4 redheads! I grabbed my gun, loaded it and found a small bush to hide behind. Looks like I won’t need the decoys!

Monday. 8:01AM. The bush I’m hiding behind is not very big and I’m afraid the hens are going to see me. Sure enough one of them makes me out and the entire group veers away at about 70 yards. I think about shooting the tailing tom but…!##**!! Hmmmm.

8:02 AM DANG IT! I missed my chance. In desperation I yelped a couple of times hoping to turn them back. Immediately a get a gobble in return but it is behind the group and where I first saw the hens enter the field. I turn and looked and holy cow there is a lone tom working his way towards the other birds!!

8:03 AM the tom is walking fast and will cross at the closest 70 yards. I raised my gun and just a flood of thoughts flow into my head. Knowing it’s a far shot I decided to aim at the very center of the bird hoping to break a wing and a leg with the outside chance of landing a shot into a vital area. BOOM! THE BIRD IS DOWN! NOW HE’S UP! HE’S DOWN AND GOING IN CIRCLES! Heck with this! I run after him and as I close the distance I stop to shoot him again. I pull the trigger and nothing! S**t! I look at my receiver and my spent shell is lodged in it. I quickly pull it out and my gun loads a live round. Where’s my bird??????
8:04AM there he is and running, flopping and running towards the woods! I take off to run him down again! I close the distance to 20 yards, stop, and aim at his head BOOOM! HE’S DOWN AND FLOPPING! My god this turkey hunting is hard on an old man! Good thing I listen to my wife and only eat good food and keep myself in shape!?!?!

8:05AM I’m standing on his head and the bird expires with a sigh of relief. I do too. Well, almost.

Hoooo, hoooooo! I got my first turkey and today it only took 5 minutes!! My lord this is exciting! I measure his beard and it is bigger then the scale the state gives you so it must be 10 inches or more. I measure the spurs and the biggest one is 1 inch long. Not bad! It’s time to go to the restaurant and celebrate! And I might even order the home fries. Heck, turkey hunting didn’t kill me and the home fries won’t either!! Don’t tell my wife. (Ooops! Sorry Arlen)

My good friend and neighbor Mike O. helped me clean and dress my bird. Before we started Mike was showing me how to pull the beard off when he realized there are two beards, one lower than the other by about a half inch. Holy cows! A double bearded tom, now if that don’t beat all! Both beards measured 10 inches. Prior to the dismemberment I weighed the bird and it weighed 18 pounds. Most of the shot hit the head and neck except for 4 or more shot that hit the rear spine. Hooo, hooooooooo!

I thank my buddy Chuck for letting me borrow his decoys (even though I didn’t need them and by the way I didn’t break the tom decoy tail feathers and I strongly suspect Dwight did) and scale. I thank Mike for helping me clean my bird and assist in the celebration (he made me buy a six pack of refreshment for his services).

See patience and tenacity paid off. And no, thank you Arlen for showing me how a 60 year old or so man can become a boy making his first kill all over again.

TURKEY DOWN!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors
Fishing Report (Read On!)

Compliments Of Rob Tiemens

Mike got back last night. Fishing was very tough over the weekend, but what a beautiful lake. Saturday we fished from app 8am to 5pm boating 7 bass. My co angler lost an absolute monster it would have been his biggest bass ever. The cold fronts plus hail Friday really hurt us I think. The dealer I bought my boat from was also there which I didn't know going down there. I spoke with him and his success rate was about the same a fish here and there but, nothing fantastic. Water temps in the first bay by the gen station was 65 water at the opposite end of the lake was 55. Surprisingly enough all our fish came in the 55 to 60 degree water. Crank baits seem to work best and I had one fish roll and miss a cottonmouth black/blue jig. I am trying to tell myself this is not the norm for this lake as everyone has told me how great of fishery it is. I would like to return when the weather/ water warms up. Sunday was cold and a storm was coming in we fished from 7 to 12 and caught 3 fish. I appreciate the helpful advice and have a strong feeling this is not my last trip. Thanks again Mike

Thanks Rob!!

Crappie fishing continues to be slow with most fish being caught in 10 to 15 feet of water over brush.

24 foot single slip dock for sale!!! 4 foot plus decking all around!!! Brand new, never been in the water. Call or email me at 314-614-9290 or mikeo@ubetchaoutdoors.com.

For current water conditions click on the HOME button or www.ubetchaoutdoors.com

Fish On!
Mike O.
UBetcha Outdoors