Turkey Hunting Story: My Wife Heard the Gobbler First
One thing about turkey hunting, you never know what kind of story you’re going to walk away with. Sometimes it’s about a gobbler that played the game perfectly. Sometimes it’s about a hunt that didn’t go your way.
And sometimes it’s about realizing your hunting partner might hear a little better than you do.
This one happened last season while hunting with my better half.
Getting Her Hooked on Turkey Hunting
You know, I never thought my wife would ever love the tick-infested, mosquito-swarming, cold and hot weather turkey woods. But once she got to going, she was all in for turkey hunting.
Which, when you have a hunting partner, your decision-making can get skewed. Especially when it comes to the direction you thought you heard a gobble. At least that has been my experience.
My hearing isn’t as good as it used to be, but in my mind it’s more of a selective hearing thing, as I would say. Some have other opinions, but we won’t get into that.
A Gobbler That Wouldn’t Budge
Me and my wife went on an early afternoon turkey hunt last year and we cranked up an old pine thicket turkey. We sat down to him, and he wouldn’t budge, of course.
He was happy on his little ridge and played the game well.
After about 30 minutes I decided to take a pig trail around him and get more in line with him and his chosen pedestal of a ridge he was making home.
In other words, I got up in his bubble and he had no clue.
I gave him a yelp and he answered in front, or what I thought was in front of us, fast, two times.
Summer said, “He is behind us.”
I said, “No, he is directly in front.”
I gave him a bit of silence. He gave me some silence.
Summer got her gun on her knee, pointed forward where I expected 100 percent the gobbler to appear.
The Gobble That Made Us Jump
I got a little antsy after a bit and decided I wanted to know where he was. I yelped, and directly behind us a turkey gobbled down in a hole, and I mean a black hole behind us at about 30 yards.
The kind of gobble that makes you jump.
I eased my head around and could see him walking through the thick vines and pines behind us. He was headed to a logging road to the right of Summer.
She started easing around on the tree like a pro. Found her a hole, and when he hit it, she let him ride the lightning and he was down.
The Hearing Test
That’s where the hearing part comes back into the story.
When the gun went off and it was over, Summer instantly said, “You need hearing aids. I knew that turkey was behind us the whole time!”
I just replied with, “Well, that’s probably just a different turkey that came in. I only get it wrong every once in a while.”
I was just trying to make it more challenging for her.
Never a Dull Moment in the Turkey Woods
Truth is, there is never a dull moment in the turkey woods. Hunts like that are the ones you remember the most.
I’m thankful she loves going with me and has good ears.
Turns out having a hunting partner that hears better than you might not be such a bad thing after all.
Lessons From the Hunt
- Sound can travel strangely in the woods. Hills, hollows, and timber can make gobbles seem like they are coming from the wrong direction.
- Always stay ready. A gobbler can appear quickly, especially when you think he is somewhere else.
- A good hunting partner helps. Extra eyes and ears can make a big difference during a hunt.
- Stay patient. Sometimes letting the woods go quiet for a moment is exactly what brings a gobbler in.
Turkey Hunting Questions
Why do turkey gobbles sometimes sound like they come from the wrong direction?
Terrain and thick timber can cause gobbles to echo or bounce, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location of a turkey.
Should you move when a gobbler hangs up?
Sometimes repositioning can help close the distance, but it must be done carefully since turkeys have excellent eyesight.
Get Ready for Turkey Season
If you’re getting ready to chase gobblers this season, make sure you’ve got the gear you need before you hit the woods. From mouth calls and friction calls to locator calls and hunting accessories, having the right equipment can make all the difference when that bird fires off on the limb.