2012 Turkey Season Opener in GA

[Georgia Boy]

Well turkey season opened here in Georgia on Saturday. The wife had been talking about her going with me and after a little discussion she decided she would go. We got up at 4:45 AM, had a few cups of coffee, packed our lunch and a couple of snacks, then headed toward Chestatee Wildlife Management Area here in Northeast GA. We arrived at the beginning of our walk at 6:00 AM. It was an 1 hour walk to get to the place where I wanted to listen for gobblers and we arrived at this quiet place just as there was a hint of light in the sky I blew my owl hooter before the birds started singing and had a couple of bard owls answer me. One of them came into within 30 yards of us and began doing the laugh. My wife had never heard a bard owl laugh and it kinda startled her to start with. Just as the birds were beginning to sing good and the crows holler, I blew my owl hooter again and heard one gobble. I blew it again and he gobbled again. I told my wife that we need to get a little closer and set up on him. We climbed the side of a ridge and set up. I gave the turkey time to fly down from the roost and began calling. He answered right back. After a little conversation with the gobbler, I told my wife that we needed to move that the turkey is wanting us to come to him and he doesn't want to come where we were sitting. So we moved and got closer. We got to within 150 yards of him and set up in a place that made if easy for him to come to us. I called a few times and he answered back each time but still didn't want to come. I called just a little more aggressive to him to try to fire him up then totally quit calling. He was quiet for a few minutes then started gobbling, then each time he gobbled he was getting closer. I went up to my wife and told her he is coming, get ready. The leaves were wet and I was a little nervous because we could not hear him walking. In about 5 minutes I seen a big red, white and blue head poke up about 30 yards away. The gobbler took a few more steps and my wife put a load of #5's in his head. This was her first turkey and boy was she excited. We sat there, celebrated and relived the hunt over a snack, then started our long walk back to the truck. I asked her if she wanted me to tote the turkey, she said no that she would tote it. She made it most of the way back to the truck before she let me tote it for her. This was a special hunt for me because it contained 3 firsts, my wife's first turkey, the first turkey that has ever been killed with a 12 gauge Winchester model 37 that my dad bought new and left to me when he passed and it was the first turkey checked out on the Chestatee Wildlife Management area this year. The gobbler weighed 22 pounds, had a 9 3/4" beard and 1" spurs.

[Dale Shaw]

Wow Randy, that is awesome. Congrats.

[randallc]

Great short article. Congratulations to you and your wife. Those memories will be with you a long time.
Our season doesn't open till April 14. Gobblers will just about be through by then and it is only open for 3 weeks.
I don't try hard like I use to, but still love to get out and watch the woods wake up.
Thanks for sharing.
Great picture, it's a wall hanger, get it framed and up.

[Yogie]

Very nice story with picture too.
Like Randall said, it's pretty much over when our season starts. I'm thinking it's the last week of April here in WVa

[Stanton]

I couldn't be more happy for you and your wife. WOW! Nothing gets the heart pumping like working a gobble when he's comin' in and you don't know exactly where he'll show up! Thanks for sharing your fantastic hunt!!

[Don McCombs]

Congratulations to your wife on a nice bird. Ours starts on April 28th. The birds here have been gobbling for two weeks. With the warm late winter/spring that we have had this year, it will definitely be over by the time the season starts.

[Rick Spivey]

All I can say is , "WOW"! Great bird and story!

[Boss Hog]

nice bird, that model 37 is a good old gun

[Bigschuss]

Sweet! Great pic and great story. Thanks for sharing.

Our season doesn't open until end of April. Can't wait to get after them.

[clodhopper]

Thats a nice bird. I took one that looks like his twin last Saturday down in Sampson County NC. I missed our opening day this year for the first time in years....because it was the Saturday I had planned to go to my FIRST cubfest. I traveled up to VA to Boss' place, and had a GREAT time. My wife couldnt believe I was going to skip opening day, but it was worth it, and I did score in the end. Tell your wife congrats, nothing I respect more than female hunters.

Brad

[clodhopper]

Thats a nice bird. I took one that looks like his twin last Saturday down in Sampson County NC. I missed our opening day this year for the first time in years....because it was the Saturday I had planned to go to my FIRST cubfest. I traveled up to VA to Boss' place, and had a GREAT time. My wife couldnt believe I was going to skip opening day, but it was worth it, and I did score in the end. Tell your wife congrats, nothing I respect more than female hunters.

Brad