Take em the old fashion way

Turkey hunting was tough this season. Bird population was down and those that were there were more wary. At the beginning of the season the Gobblers were with the hens and there was no way I could coax then within range of my new 16ga Fusil Fine.

The last couple days of the two week season was light rain, just wet enough to make you check occasionally to be sure there was dry powder in the pan. On the next to the last morning I was again in the woods before light listening for that magic sound of a tom turkey as he awoke on his roost. It had been quiet for the last few days with no turkey sightings or gobbling. I would have been discouraged but for the fact that I was in the woods with my new smoothbore Flintlock, stroking her and telling her to be patient. I had named my new gun "Matilda" which means fierce in battle. The name came to me one day as though from an unseen source , the gun was still in the process of being built.

As Matilda and I sat and watched a fox squirrel scurrying around, a faint gobble came in my good ear. I couldn't tell how far away he was but it sounded like a fare piece. I reached in my call bag, bypassing the box call and the wingbone call and took out my diaphragm call. I knew that call had a better range and I wanted him to hear me. I gave a few loud clucks....no response. I waited a bit and called again....no answer. I thought he has to hear that,... I'll bet he is coming in silent

I sat and waited and watched in the direction I had first heard the gobble. I checked the power in the pan and held Matilda at the ready.

Then I saw a movement back in the pines,..a light silvery something moving slowly in my direction. Then I saw the red and blue head of the Tom as he moved ever so slow looking for the hen he had heard over here, I eared back the hammer and when he passed behind a big maple tree I raised the gun to my shoulder...…..I waited until I had a clear shot that looked to be about 25 yards.....The hammer fell and Matilda roared. For just a few seconds the smoke from 75 gr's of 2ff powder blocked the bird but then I saw that he was down and flopping. The load of #6 shot had done it's job.

[Linked Image]