I won a Gould's Turkey Hunt

[pjhunt2]

The dust has settled and now I can finally sit down and tell my turkey hunt story. One year ago I attended a turkey hunt seminar at Bass Pro put on by Colburn and Scott Outfitters. It was standing room only in hopes that one of the attendees would be leaving there with a free turkey hunt in Mexico with Colburn and Scott Outfitters. The seminar was excellent and the much anticipated drawing was ready to be drawn. They asked our friend Brian's (cwt aka My Rights As An American) 6yr old daughter, Amelia, to come forward and draw the winning ticket. I couldn't have been more surprised when she drew my name. I was yelling with excitement and Tom was so busy talking he had to ask what I had won. He should be with himself once in a while. lol After taking some pictures with Jay and Darr with my winning ticket it finally hit me that I was heading to Mexico in a year.

 

The year flew by rather fast and before I knew it Tom and I was off to Mexico. We were to meet up with Jay and Darr in the Walmart parking lot at 10am Wednesday May 6th. After winning the draw I had ask Jay that a few women had showed interest in going and if there was any room for another? He said he would see and before I knew it Amanda was booked to hunt with me and I couldn't have asked for a better hunting partner and friend to share this with me. After a few last minute items in wally world we were at the border. Jay made the border crossing effortless and in a few minutes Amanda, Tom, and I was driving to our destination with Darr. We arrive at the ranch, where we were to hunt, 1 1/2hrs later. The accommodations were beyond my expectation. After unloading and grabbing a quick bite to eat Tom and I were off with Jay while Amanda went with Darr and Joe. Joe Bittner was one of last year's hunters, from California, there to lend Jay and Darr a helping hand. We drove about 2 miles and stopped several times while Jay called. After taking a side road Jay was telling me he had seen a turkey in this particular spot on another trip in there. He called and we immediately got a response from a gobbler. That tom was close, not my Tom, but the other turkey. lol Jay and Tom hurried to push the ranger back down a small hill while I tried to steer like a drunken sailor. We get it parked and we hurry to get to a spot Jay picks out for us to set up a blind and two small 3 legged stools. Jay sets up 20yrds behind us and starts his magical calling. His calling is unbelievable. Within 5 or ten minutes we have this tom walking in front of the blind at 10 or so yards heading to our hen decoy. Tom said I wasn't suppose to shoot until he taps me on the thigh. He was in full strut and my nerves were a wreck. We were hoping to get Jay some video of the turkey before lowering the hammer on this bird but he walked right on buy and circled our blind walking between us and Jay. I looked at my husband and said, "well?". Tom said sorry and if he comes in again you take him when you're ready. Jay keeps calling and the turkey does exactly the same route and I raise the gun and follow it to the decoy but never seemed to be able to keep the bead on his head. The bird again started to walk around us and I tell Tom to lower the side window. This bird is 10yrds or less and I stick the gun out the window. Tom says shoot and I pull the trigger. The next thing I remember is Tom helping me up off the ground. That gun knocked me right off my stool, up against the blind which then got tipped up on it's side knocking Tom off his stool and on top of me. There we both laid upside down and for a minute I didn't have a clue what had just happened. Boy did that gun kick. I shot over the turkey and it continued to strut all around on the hill side above us. I didn't mention before but the wind was blowing so hard Tom had to hold the blind down as it wanted to take right out of there like a kite. Jay runs up to see if we were alright and to encourage me that it was just a warm up. I felt so bad missing that bird. Not wanting to make excuses but I was using one of Jay's guns which didn't come close to fitting my short arms. I choice not to spend the extra money in permits to bring my gun across the border. So I paid price in a missed bird. I thank god I didn't wound it though. We head back to camp and Jay continues to cheer me up with words of encouragement that the best is yet to come. Later that evening Jay puts a couple birds to bed while Tom and I wait for him to walk back to the ranger well after dark. It must have been after 9pm when we arrive at camp for a late super. As I lay there trying to sleep all I could think about is how I just blown maybe my only opportunity after waiting a whole year and how bad I felt for all the hard work Jay had put in to this Day.

 

Day 2: I hear a voice saying time to get up. It's 2:30am and I wake up Tom. I'm not a morning person but somehow I manage to get dressed and stumble to the kitchen where Darr has a cup of coffee waiting for me. Tom and I only drink about 1/2 a cup when Jay says it time to load up. The morning is pretty nippy and the ride to our destination was cold but the excitement over come the cold. After arriving to our parking place we turn on our headlamps to gather all our gear before our walk in the dark to where Jay thinks we need to be. Tom's got the blind and two chairs while I carry the gun. Jay has asked us to walk without the aid of our headlamps and assures us our eyes will forcus after a while. I can't see a thing and I seem to be tripping every other step. Jay starts out and we try to keep up. Tom and I hold on to a chair between us so we won't separate. We continue to get off track a few times but always manage to find our way back to the two track we are trying desperately to follow. I ask Tom if he can see and he said not very well. What seemed like an eternity we finally reach Jay and he said to get the blind set up and get comfortable. It's pitch dark and Tom and I wait an hour for light so we can make the final adjustment to the blind in reference to the Dave Smith decoy. The tom first gobbles at 4:30am and continues to test my nerves. We actually walked by him on the way to our set up but went undetected with Jays guidance. The bird finally flies down and heads the opposite way until Jays sweet talks him in heading our way. It took about 20 minutes when I see him heading for the decoy, which is 15yrds in front of me. He struts around but doesn't stand still for me to get a comfortable shot and before you know it he walks out of my shooting lane and takes his 6 or 7 hens up around us. Jay has it all videoed on a previous post under Peggy's Turkey Hunt. Tom looks at me and says what was wrong with that shot and I say I wasn't comfortable. I know he rolled his eyes even though I didn't see him do it. My head is starting to spin with thoughts of the night before when Tom taps me on the leg and whispers another gobbler is coming in. He hadn't made a peep and was approaching from the same direction as the one that just left. When he saw the decoy he didn't make any hesitation and was on a mission to protect his territory. I raised the gun and knew I was running out of chances and had to make this count. He started to strut but the decoy blocked my view. Just as he starts to strut around to the side of the decoy I let him have it. I make a perfect shot to the head and my nerves just about had the best of me. I don't know when I ever was as excited as I was at that time.

 

I'm sure Jay was relieved that I had finally harvested a bird. As I walked up to that bird I was in total surprise when I couldn't pick it up. Between my nerves and all the excitement that bird felt like 50lbs. Tom actually shed a tear or two even though he will tell you it was the dust in the air.

 

Amanda shot a beautiful turkey later that night and her and I celebrated with some bacanora, moon shine tequila, which was shared with us by the owner of the ranch.

 

Thank you Jay and Darr of Colburn and Scott Outfitters for your generous Mexico Turkey Hunt Give-A-Way. I had a blast and to have shared it with Amanda made it all that much more. There are a lot more I need to thank but I'll leave it for another follow up post since I already have made this a really long read for whoever braved it all the way thru. I will try and share some different pictures other than the ones Jay and my husband already post in their post.

 

The rooms were great.

 

The riparian area was beautiful to say the least.

 

I'm happy!

 

I feel blessed!

 

Took a piece out of Jays decoy. Oops!

 

I know Jay was so relieved I tagged out.

 

The owners Chompo and Norma beside 1 of their fish ponds.

 

My new friend Cayo showing me how he makes tortillas.

 

Jay and Darr taking care of my bird.

 

Joe helping Jay with the finishing up of my bird.

 

This was Amanda's bird's craw. Grasshoppers!

 

The three amigos.

 

Darr made sure we didn't go hungry.

 

I was just amazed how beautiful the whole area was.

 

It was a pleasure sharing it with my friend Amanda.

 

Me and a couple turkeys.

 

Could not have done it without the help of Jay's great calling and his knowledge of the birds.

 

Jay took a lot of pictures. Thank you Jay.

 

Amanda's beautiful bird.

 

Celebrating our success with Chompo and his bacanora moon shine tequila.

 

As I leave this ranch I can't express how humble and grateful I felt to have won this hunt. Thank you Colburn and Scott Outfitters!

 

 

 

 

 

[Elkhunter1]

Great write-up and pics. You guys definitely had a great time.

[Big Tub]

I am sooooo jealous!

 

Great job.

[Pine Donkey]

Peg, thanks for taking the time to share your hunt with us. Those are beautiful birds. It looks like everyone had a wonderful trip, congratulations.

[My Rights As An American]

Peg, congratulations!!! Amelia has asked me about a dozen times if you ever went on that hunt and shot a turkey. You would be shocked to see how tall she is now!!! Cannot wait to show her the pictures later today.

 

That bird is beautiful! GREAT pictures!!! I especially like the one with you and the turkeys (plural, of course!). So glad you got a chance to get on this hunt with Amanda and your wonderful husband. Thanks again to Jay and Darr!!!!

[camoremi]

Great looking birds and beautiful country

[Big Browns]

Great story! Congrats to both of you!!!!!!!

[lucky2hunt]

I love it! Great write-up, fantastic pictures. Congrats on an amazing hunt!

[stanley]

Hey TJ, that is an awesome story and awesome pictures! So happy for you, Peg, and Amanda that you got to go down there and enjoy!

 

Looks like you all had an amazing time!

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

S.

 

[bigorange]

Awesome story, pics, and write-up! Thanks for sharing...

[rossislider]

I was at the seminar a year ago with you and remember it well. Congratulations to everyone involved.

[cramerhunts]

Great write up and pictures! Thanks for sharing them with us Peg and a huge congratulations again on a beautiful bird. That trip looks like an absolute blast and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little jealous.

[Couestracker]

Great recap of your awesome Goulds turkey hunt Peg! Wow, that was the most epic miss story I've ever heard - had me laughing out loud as I read it. What a video that would have made! That Ranch looks beautiful and looks like a great time was had by all. Thanks for sharing your hunt with us and congratulations!

[capoeirajosh]

What an awesome story! Congrats on the beautiful birds and on the amazing hunt!!

[Couzer]

Congrats!!! Great looking bird