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Post by lenapej on Apr 28, 2023 8:37:04 GMT -7
We are in the tail end of the second week of our 3 week long turkey season, the turkey numbers are still way down, though I did hear a bit more gobbling this year than last. It was the same old story of the turkeys roosting right on the property line, or over on the neighbors property, and my calling seemed to do little except make them go the opposite direction, it seemed they would roost a little farther away each time and I was about to give up as I was having no action, I figured I would give it this morning and tomorrow before giving up. This morning was really foggy and as I listened, a few gobbled way off on the neighbors, then when I was thinking of packing it up an owl hooted and a turkey that had been silent up to then sounded off, he was on the neighboring property, but close enough to call to, so I set up, put out a decoy, and started calling, he responded well and soon a jake appeared on my side of the fence and started coming in, then one of the property owners cows seen the decoy and came crashing out of the brush and made a loop around the decoy before heading off, stupid darn critters, the jake moved back behind some brush so I gave a soft call or two and soon he came back out, and came for the decoy,... that blackpowder smoke sure looks pretty hanging low on a foggy morning.
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Post by paranger on Apr 28, 2023 8:40:10 GMT -7
Congrats! Nice job and great pics!!
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Apr 28, 2023 8:55:11 GMT -7
Wonderful! Well done, friend. And fabulous photos.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Apr 28, 2023 8:58:49 GMT -7
Quick watercolors…
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Post by spence on Apr 28, 2023 9:04:09 GMT -7
Well done, and an excellent report and photos.
Spence
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Post by brokennock on Apr 28, 2023 14:03:26 GMT -7
Most excellent. A job well done, a tale well told. Congratulations on your success.
Bon apetito
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Post by spence on Apr 28, 2023 16:34:52 GMT -7
Tell us about your gun and load, if you please.
Spence
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Post by lenapej on Apr 29, 2023 7:02:29 GMT -7
Thank you all, much appreciated.
Spence, I was using the 62 cal Fusil de Chasse, with 75 grains, a nitro over powder card, a thick fiber wad, then about an 1 7/8 oz of 7&8 mix shot (it's all that I had) and a thin over shot card, not really a period load, but it's what works well in my gun, and I want it to preform it's best when I am hunting. The turkey was probably about 26 yards or maybe a touch farther, which is a stretch for me and I had to stand on his head to finish him, I like them within 20 yards.
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Post by spence on Apr 29, 2023 11:58:25 GMT -7
Thanks. With a few very minor tweaks that's a load familiar to me. It was the one I settled on when I got my first BP shotgun many moons ago, and it served me well.
When I first started shooting roundball in smoothbores I used the same load with a patched ball, and it has been my most consistently accurate one. I've hunted with many more historic roundball loads in studying what the old boys did, but when best accuracy is called for I usually opt for that one.
Good to see a hunting report for a change.
Spence
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Post by hawkeyes on Apr 29, 2023 12:22:13 GMT -7
Excellent bird, congrats. Still haven't ate my fall bird... Couldn't justify taking a spring one this year.
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 29, 2023 17:58:25 GMT -7
Most excellent!
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Post by bushfire on Apr 30, 2023 1:39:29 GMT -7
Congratulations mate, fine bird.
Your guys have really got me keen on them turkeys
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Post by lenapej on Apr 30, 2023 6:47:12 GMT -7
Thanks gentlemen.
Spence, I have used the same method, as you said, with round ball, minus the patch, just ball on top of wad, then thin card to keep the ball in place, will have to try it with the patch.
PS I really like your method of soaking the wads in crisco, have used all mine up and need to make another batch.
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Post by bushfire on Apr 30, 2023 17:00:34 GMT -7
Thank you all, much appreciated. Spence, I was using the 62 cal Fusil de Chasse, with 75 grains, a nitro over powder card, a thick fiber wad, then about an 1 7/8 oz of 7&8 mix shot (it's all that I had) and a thin over shot card, not really a period load, but it's what works well in my gun, and I want it to preform it's best when I am hunting. The turkey was probably about 26 yards or maybe a touch farther, which is a stretch for me and I had to stand on his head to finish him, I like them within 20 yards. I may try this. Ill never give up but I'm yet to find a good ball and shot load for my fusil.
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Post by spence on Apr 30, 2023 17:25:19 GMT -7
bushfire said, " I may try this." Here are two targets shot 17 years apart with that load....80-85gr. 3F, 1/8" hard card, 1/2" cushion wad soaked with melted paste lube, ball in a ticking patch with the same lube. 75 yards, rest, 1997: 100 yards, rest, 2014: Spence
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