I really wasn't worried at this point because we could still hear turkey's in the trees talking. As we waited I had Sean turn a little and I kept chatting with the turkeys in the trees. After a couple of minutes, we had some more fly downs but they went to the North out of sight. Then we had another flydown in the same spot the first hen was. Right behind her were a couple turkeys coming in from behind us.
Well, I wanted the birds to keep walking by us to get in front so we both could get on a bird. However, at 10 yards you just can't get away with any movement, and they were seeing stuff they just didn't like. So they started walking away, I started prodding Sean to pick one and shoot, shoot, can you see one? shoooooooot.
Finally, he was able to get on a bird and squeeze the trigger. When he did an explosion of turkeys ensued, all the birds to our right took off, the birds in front of us took flight and took off, even the birds that set down to our North were coming in to see what was going on jumped in the air a couple feet then set down and took off. We were covered up in turkeys and I couldn't get on any of them to double up. So we decided since Sean's bird was flopping in front of us that we would just sit for an hour to see if we could get one to come back for me to shoot.
Well, when the hour was up we got up, walked over to my deer stand and I showed him where I was when I shot my deer last week. Then we walked back picked up his bird gathered our stuff and headed out to the car to get the hero pic.
Sean asked me if it was the 10th or 11th?
I looked at him and said,"what?? it's the 17th"
He said no it's the 10th.
I said no it's not..... and I grabbed my phone and stared at the date in disbelief..... we shot this bird a week early.
Now the holy
I explained what had happened and how I honestly thought it was Oct. the 17th. After some more discussion, the C.O. asked where we could meet up, by that time I was already at home so I gave him my home address and he said he would meet us there. We unpacked the car I cleaned the bird and awaited the C.O. and our punishment. Even though Sean squeezed the trigger and took the bird, I was the reason he was there and I felt ultimately responsible.
I told Sean that no matter what happens I'll make it right, whether he gets fined or his gun taken away I will reimburse him.
After a half hour of sitting on needles the C.O. finally shows up at the house, and we tell the story again.
After hearing it again he says, "mistakes happen, and since you called and turned yourself in I'm just going to give you a warning."
In amazement and relief, I just stood there for a couple seconds and let what just happened sink in. I gratefully shook his hand and I think recounted the mixup a couple more times, not really sure, I was just kinda babbling and not paying attention to what I was saying.
He wrote up Sean's warning and we all chatted about hunting and the opportunities up North here. After all was said and done we shook hands again and we parted ways.
All in all, it was a good experience that I never want to have again, and trust me I will be checking dates twice before going out hunting again.
Not to minimize it but you see turkey is in season right now for archery, not firearms. So really we just used the wrong method to take this turkey. Firearms opens on the 17th of Oct.
I'll be out opening morning trying to get my bird.
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