Despite brutal winds, Norma Quarles of Roanoke was able to kill this trophy gobbler last Tuesday while hunting with her husband, Carson, in Botetourt County. The bird weighed more than 22 pounds, had a 9-inch beard and incredible 1.5-inch spurs.
While some hunters were able to buck the horrible weather during the season's first few days, most were happy to see conditions lighten up toward the end of the week. The milder weather not only was more comfortable, but the gobblers were more active.
I got out Saturday, my second hunt of the season after walking miles in the rain on opening morning without hearing a bird.
Saturday was better. Hunting private land in Bedford County I heard several gobblers before first light.
I was working into position on one when I managed to get too close and spooked him off the roost.
There were a couple birds a couple hollows over so I hustled over there. I couldn't get too close because there was a big open area that I couldn't risk crossing, so I set up under a pine tree.
After the birds flew down I could hear one that was hanging out in a small field. He didn't pay much attention to calls but shock gobbled at everything. I was pinned down so I planned to just wait him out. Complicating matters was the hunter on the adjoining property. He heard the gobbler, too.
He must have been using an electronic call (which is illegal, actually) because it had two calls -- a five-note yelp and a gobble that sounded like one of those toy turkeys. There was no variation in either of the calls.
I just made a few subtle calls now and then so the gobbler knew I was there. The gobbler didn't respond but the hunter answered nearly every one of my calls with either a yelp or a gobble. It was kind of funny, actually.
Well, after about an hour I finally saw movement. I thought it was him strutting but it was actually cows. When they started coming through the field the gobbler came into the woods and started working his way toward me. He was probably 100 yards away and it was pretty thick. I had to get my gun up. I should have waited until he was in the bottom of the hollow and out of view. But I was literally under the bows of a pine tree so I thought I was OK. I wasn't. As soon as I moved he turned around. He just walked away and never made another sound.
I moved around and checked out a few more spots. The only other gobbles I heard the rest of the morning were those from the hunter across the creek.
I hope to get out a couple of times this week. Saturday I'm carrying a video camera on an NWTF Wheelin' Sportsman hunt in Bedford County.
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