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A Snowy Tom

- By Keith Beasley -

The day before turkey season was warm and sunny. That all changed by the next morning as Keith welcomed in the new season with pouring cold rain and then a late season blizzard. Having roosted the birds the night before he knew exactly where to go without spooking any birds. Some patience paid off as this young Tom came into the calls silently.

  The night before the opening of turkey was beautiful as the warm spring air seemed to be just the right ingredient to welcome a new turkey season. It was such a nice night that I had convinced my wife to join me while I attempted to roost some birds for the following morning. Being 4 months pregnant with our first child she was somewhat reluctant but after some coaxing we were over looking a hay field. We sat patiently for over an hour without seeing a bird; luckily we had a few ground hogs to keep us entertained. It was getting very close to dark and I was about to leave when we heard two gobbles from the big pine trees only a few hundred yards away. They were right where I had hoped; one week earlier I had seen them in that area and had already found a great spot to set up. I had already cut shooting lanes and cleared leaves and debris out of the way to help make an easy entrance.

  The next morning found me creeping through the wet hay field on dreary, overcast and dark morning. I was seated an hour before light and welcomed the new season by being pelted with a cold rain the entire time. Like many of you, I was wondering what had happened to the beautiful weather from the day before. As it became light a year's worth of anticipation was wearing off; it was actually hunting season and I was more then ready! The steady rain did not dampen my spirits but no gobbling at first light did. The birds were just not vocal this morning. Luckily I had roosted them so I remained confident in my set up. After thirty minutes of light the first gobbler lit up. He was right where I had left him the night before, only 75 yards down from me.

  I sat quiet with out making any calls as I knew from previous scouting that the birds liked to feed in the field I was in and would likely come my way once they hit the ground. I waited patiently but nothing came, actually nothing even gobbled again. An hour and a half after light and two and a half hours seated at that tree I figured it was time to move. I was cold but dry and knew that my RedHead rain suit was the right choice that morning.

After 2 1/2 hour of cold rain and little gobbling after sun up, Keith set up where the birds had originally roosted. Some quiet calling in blizzard-like conditions brought this 17.9 lbs gobbler into range. It was a cold, wet opening morning but it was all worth it. The Tom had a 9" beard and 3/4" inch spurs.

  I slowly crept out into the field and headed towards where the birds had been roosted. As I entered the field I was greeted with a late April blizzard, snow was coming down hard and all I could think was how grateful I was I had not talked my wife into this trip. She would not have been happy with me. I knew the birds had yet to enter the field so I set up 10 yards behind where I had last heard them. With no decoy I planted myself below a big pine and faced into the hard woods. I then pulled out the slate call and made my first few calls of the season. I was very quiet on the call not knowing how far into the woods they had gone. I finished a few calls and heard nothing, ten minutes later I called again. This time I made a few calls on the slate and a few purrs from the diaphragm. Through the wind and snow I thought I heard a hen respond but I was too cold to be sure. I waited ten more minutes and raised my striker to call again; as I did I noticed movement 50 yards ahead through the trees. I stared to make out what it was and then made out the shapes of 6 deer traveling through the timber. After the deer passed I figured I would let things settle down for a few minutes. Ten minutes later I called again, no sooner had I finished calling and I saw movement where the deer had come from. Thinking it may be another deer I strained to see through the snow and trees. I soon realized that I had a group of turkeys coming straight for me. I could see at least five weaving through the woods only 50 yards away. I scanned carefully to find a Tom and as the lead bird stepped out from behind a tree at 40 yards, I could see his beard dangling. I picked a hole and waited as he kept coming; when he stepped into my 30 yard lane I fired. Birds scattered everywhere but my snowy morning Tom stayed put.

  It was a great hunt, cold, wet and November-like conditions but worth every second. The birds were very quiet that morning making it hard to stay put but some soft patient calling was all they needed. No matter what the conditions are while in the field it is always a great day to be a hunter. 17.9 lbs 9" beard ¾" spurs

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