Page 37 - Outdoor Oklahoma Magazine Mar-Apr2023

“If the birds are decoy shy, ditch the decoy for
extra time .” PROVIDED BY WAYNE TURNER

The more we use decoys, the more chances we take that toms will
become decoy shy. A few years ago, I picked up my box call and gave a
series of three yelps (I believe a box call reaches farther than other calls).
Far off, a gobble rang out, so I repeated the yelps. He gobbled again
and was running straight to me. I told my buddy (the shooter) to get
ready for it would be quick. Sure enough, the bird ran into our opening,
saw the decoys, and ran for the woods without breaking stride. Luckily
the shooter was quick and bagged the bird.
If we hadn’t had decoys out, that bird might have stopped running to
look around, giving the shooter a better chance. That was perhaps the
oldest bird I’ve ever called in. He had curved spurs 1¾ inches long, a
12-inch beard, and weighed well over 20 pounds. To this day, that’s the
best set of spurs I’ve seen.
I’ve only felt that birds were decoy shy a few times. When I did, I
brought in the decoys.

“Know your shotgun and load pattern .”

I used to shoot 3-inch No. 5 shot out of a full-choke, double-barrel American Arms
shotgun. Recently, I switched to a Hevi Shot mix of 5, 6, and 7 shot with very impres-
sive results through a turkey choke. The smaller shot puts considerably more shot
in the head and neck than larger shot.
It’s important to pattern the shotgun,
which I do every year even though I’ve COURTESY NEAFWA
used the same gun for about 30 years.
I shoot about ¾ the way up the neck,
so ¼ of the neck and the head are seen
above the shotgun barrel. At 20 yards, I
don’t put any pellets in the body, which
pleases the family when we serve it.
Even though I pattern at 40 yards, I
never take shots more than 30 yards.
Most shots are at 20 yards. At 20 to
30 yards, I’ve only lost one turkey. This
load at 20 yards puts the turkey down
for good. The challenge is to pull the
tom in close, and with good camou-
flage and calling, he likely will stick his
head up at 20 yards.

True confessions: A few of these -isms are mine, but you wouldn’t listen to me, so
I’ll leave you wondering. Dwain was a very special friend, and my family and I were
very lucky.
Take your children, grandchildren, and even the neighborhood kids hunting with
you to pass along the heritage of hunting. May all your birds have long full beards
and long spurs.

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