10-24 REELLIFE digital - Flipbook - Page 23
I was anxiously anticipating
my first opportunity at a
turkey. Dave and Dan were
old hands at tom hunting
and they had given me a
primer on Tom Hunting 101
Essentials. I knew the shot
I needed to make was a
head or neck shot. Hitting
the body of a turkey is a
low proposition shot. The
feathers are thick and hard
and act like armor making
a “head shot” almost
essential. My hunting skills
thus far had been limited
to pheasants and ducks
– which in my experience
were fairly easy to knock
down, assuming I could hit
them! But turkeys – head
shots on a bobbing head? I
was little intimidated…
“Toms coming from the
right”. Rick’s whispered
warning had me turning
my head to the right and
seeing – nothing. I turned
and looked straight in front
of me and there were three
large toms strutting around
the decoy Rick had set up.
How did those large birds
get there so quickly without
me even seeing them?!?!?
We three hunters slowly
raised our guns to level,
waiting for the three toms
to separate enough that
each of us had a clean shot
at one bird. It seemed like
forever as I hoped the birds
wouldn’t startle and run
off. Just then Rick gave the
single to fire and in unison
the three hunters let loose a
booming volley of number
4 shot at each bird. It took
a fraction of a second to
travel the 15 yards to our
targets and instantly two
birds went down, and the
third staggered, then rose
into the air, flying over our
blind. Three hunters, three
shots, three birds! We came
out of the blind and tracked
down the third bird in the
field behind us, around 30
yards away. Claiming this
last bird we returned to
the other two toms and
admired our kills. The birds
were all in the 25 pound
range, gorgeous feathers
and long beards. It was
6:30am and we were done
for the day, with plenty
of time to go back to the
launch and get in more
walleye fishing!
If you’re looking for a
unique “Cast and Blast”
adventure the spring turkey
hunting and walleye fishing
on Lake Roosevelt are not
to be missed. Buck Canyon
Lodge is the perfect base
camp to take off on your
adventures. Hosts Rick and
Wendy Wakefield have a
beautiful lodge and offer
full amenities including
provided meals. Rick does
guided turkey hunts for
guests, or, if you’re not a
hunter, stay at the Lodge
and get in on the great
walleye fishing with Lake
Roosevelt Charters. Either
way (or both) way you go
you’re guaranteed to have
a wonderful adventure.
The countryside is
spectacular, wooded hills
and breathtaking vistas
great you at every bend in
the road. It’s truly a unique
experience you’ll remember
for the rest of your life!
Visit Buck Canyon Lodge at
Buck Canyon Lodge LLC or
call 509-722-3949.
Lake Roosevelt Charters
website is Lake Roosevelt
Charters or call
509-722-3880.
