Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting First double beard

I've had a rough time closing the deal this season. Chased several and came close many times. Had the biggest bird I've ever seen at 30-35 yards but couldn't get a clear shot.

Worked this one into around 70 yards. He hung up there and gobbled about ever 10 minutes. I was careful to not over call. Things got weird when I started hearing the loud deep yelp of a tom. Soon it was followed by what I thought was a jake gobble at first. Then multiple gobbles and double gobbles cranked up. They wouldn't commit. Slipped my copper Yingling pot call out and worked up to some serious cutting/yelping series. This little call will flat out scream and has a sweet pronounced high end breaking into each low note with ease.
The woods went quiet for a second and I was afraid I screwed up then saw the first white head slipping in. He was followed by four other strutters. They broke strut only to jump at each other and occasionally really lay into each other. It was cool to watch and hear them literally knock the breath out of each other mid gobble a couple of times.
At around 40 I put the call down and slid my safety off. The only time I had a clean sight picture was once but I'm sure I would have taken out at least two if I would have pulled the trigger. All started working back away from me and my stomach got that sinking feeling. Made a few soft clucks on a Hooks mouth call and the bird at the back turned and ran back towards me. I stopped him at the first clear opening and touched off the little 20ga. 1 1/2oz of TSS almost took his head off.

I'll be back there next weekend!!

OK, I'll be the one to ask....What's a bouble?

It’s what a sleep deprived fat fingered guy calls double.

Nice hooks on that bird.

RS

Enjoyed the read, sounds like it was an exciting hunt. Fine looking bird. What shotgun is that?

ATI Cavalry. Didn’t pay but 425 for it new. No complaints. It’s the youth model and weighs just over five pounds. Light weight, points well, patterns as well as anything esle I own, good looking in my opinion...favorite gun to carry lately.

Nice bird! My season opens Monday. Might be hunting in snow.

Congratulations on the double beard gobbler! I've been fortunate enough to take three double beard and one triple beard gobbler over the years. It sure is a nice surprise when you walk up to them.

I bought one last year on a whim and so far I’ve been pleased. What choke did you use if I may ask.

Carlson’s .575 extended turkey. Shooting handloaded TSS. 50 yard groups look better than any 30 yard 3.5” 12g groups I shot back in the day.

I imagine that light 20 gets your attention with the turkey load.

Nowhere close to what the 835s or Super Mags dealt out with their 3.5s. I don’t notice the recoil at all when I’m shooting turkeys.

I had a BPS in 3 1/2” and it knocked the snot out of you. Sold it the following year.

Nice bird and ausome story. I’ve been wanting to work on my yildez 20 over and under but yet to do it. I think it would be fun to have a super hot core on one barrel and more open hunting pattern on the other.

That’s what I did. Running the Carlson’s/TSS on top and factory modified/#6 lead loads on bottom.

nice shooting tex