Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on April 13, 2010, 12:59:12 pm

Title: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on April 13, 2010, 12:59:12 pm

Well i got my first merriam's turkey. i hunted one day.....but it was well earned. lots of hiking. i had one gobbling in the morning but it was henned up and wouldnt budge. i could hear the hens clucking and purring and he just wouldnt leave and i couldnt call the hens over either.  so i hit a few other spots and found 4 antler sheds and fresh bear tracks but no turkeys. I had to kill about an hour before i met my wife in town so i hit a piece of public land 3 miles out side of town. it gets hit hard by the town hunters but no one was there so i climbed up the steep cliffs to the top pasture and got down in a pine coulee. i never expected to hear one gobble. it was about 33 degrees and windy and 1:40 pm. so i didnt bring anything with me, no decoy no call, nothin, just my shotgun and 3 shells.    so i sat down and figured id nap a bit between calls. so i yelped a bit with my voice and 3 toms gobbled less than 100 yards away. all 3 came in strutting, drumming and gobbling. they put on a serious show. it was spectacular.  i just clucked and purred and they would puff up. well 2 minutes later they were in range and i busted the lead bird....but also busted the stump infront of me so my first shot didnt do much so i gave it another while running away.  but either way it was down and i got my first merriams.  But Montana doesnt let you take multiple birds, so this is the only one i am allowed in this region, i can get one in the next region over and then i am done,. but its like a 2 hour drive to find turkeys.  so unless i decide to go for a drive, my season started and ended in one day...really sux but nothin i can do about it.    oh yeah, he's got an 8" beard and was 20 pounds but the spurs are all worn off from the rocks i guess.

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Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: skyarrow on April 13, 2010, 01:09:12 pm

gratz

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Josh on April 13, 2010, 01:15:58 pm

cool story and bird Ryan.  Congrats on your successful season!   :)

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: huntertrapper on April 13, 2010, 01:47:40 pm

Sweet man. awesome transition from fl. to mt.

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: billy on April 13, 2010, 01:49:55 pm

Congrats Ryan!  That's awesome!  Now you need to get one with your bow!

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: mullet on April 13, 2010, 04:11:51 pm

 There you go, great looking bird. That Merriam is the last one I need for my Slam.

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Lombard on April 13, 2010, 09:54:01 pm

Looks like some good eats. Congratulations on your successful hunt.

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Ranger B on April 14, 2010, 12:24:41 am

congrats on a nice looking turkey.

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Pappy on April 14, 2010, 10:11:09 am

Congrats .nice bird. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: sailordad on April 15, 2010, 01:49:04 am

very nice looking bird,sounds like it was a great hunt too.

need me one of them merrirams

Title: Re: busted my first merriam's
Post by: Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive on April 15, 2010, 11:12:39 am

thanks guys, I'm pretty excited about it even though my season around here was over in about 6 hours.  but i an hunt down at my future cabin site stilll and i plan on bringin the bow at least for the next couple weeks. but bear season opens today so i will still be out after somthing.