Gobble Gobble

If you are squeamish about killing things, don't read this. I warned you. Heh.

From Turkey hunt 1...

I went Turkey Hunting last weekend with Mrs. Inscrutable and our hunting buddy John. It is a gorgeous time of year in northern Arizona. The oak leaves are changing colors, it's beautiful during the day at 65 - 70 degrees, and the nights a nice and chilly - campfire weather.

We combed the mountains and the meadows, day after day, searching for signs of turkeys. We saw a couple of day or two old tracks next to a waterhole, then some more through a puddle on one of the old logging roads, but we didn't see any actual birds. It was getting frustrating.

LOTS of squirrels. I bagged four before I gave the little critters a break. Squirrels are too damned much work to skin, gut, and prepare for the little bite of meat you get out of them.

We kept looking. Here turkey, turkey, turkey!

Finally, on the third day of the hunt, my hunting buddy John says very calmly, while pointing, "turkey." I looked along the line of his arm to where he was pointing - and there he was, a big Tom, maybe four years old. Alone! Which is weird, because they usually travel in a flock.

I leaped out of the Ranger, grabbed my shotgun, and started running up the hill towards old Tom. I stopped about 75 yards from where he was eying me nervously and walking away slowly, flipped off the safety, took aim, and fired.

From Turkey hunt 1...

Missed him completely. I was too winded, shaky. Tom didn't even startle. He just kept walking away up the hill. So, I reloaded and jogged towards him, trying to get a better shot. I had closed the gap to about 50 yards, when he stopped and looked back at me. I stopped, took careful aim, let out a slow breath, and fired.

He startled then. Took off flying, and I thought, "another miss!"

After seconds, however, he dropped from the sky like a stone into a slight hollow. I walked up to him, and he was dead. One of my pellets had taken him through the lung and heart.

He weighed out to 17 pounds, with an 11-inch beard. He'll be a welcome addition to our Thanksgiving dinner!