An incredible turkey hunt

Everett Johnson wasn’t able to attend the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation Wild Game Night at the Beretta Gallery last October, but he did buy some raffle tickets, asking that they all be put toward the turkey hunt.

When the winner’s name was called as “E. Johnson,” it took a minute for people to figure out who the winner was.

“It finally dawned on me, that’s Everett,” said Lone Star Outdoor News’ David J. Sams.

Johnson, an accomplished turkey hunter and the owner of the Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine showed up at the

Stonewall County ranch during the first week of the North Zone spring season with a vest loaded down with turkey calls.

He didn’t really need them.

The next morning, the full moon was setting, making the skies bright before 7 a.m. Turkeys started to arrive shortly after flying over the fence onto the ranch from their roost on the neighboring property.

“There has been four to six coming every day,” Sams said. Temperatures were cool, in the mid-40s, with a 20 mph wind. The birds were quiet until some real light gobbling was heard from a few areas around 7:30 a.m.

“Don’t call until they are right in front,” Sams told Johnson from his spot under mesquite trees about 10 feet away.

Three hens walked toward

Johnson, one sporting a 7-inch beard. Two, then three toms followed right behind them.

At about 20 yards away, the hens turned and went to some strutting toms to the left of the decoys. One hen jumped onto the side of a manmade tank.

“I was watching that, and then, ‘Boom,’” Sams said. “He shot the first tom that came close.”

Johnson used his trusty Remington 1187 20 gauge with TSS (tungsten super shot) ammo in 9 1/2 shot.

When the bird was down, the action picked up. The other tom started pecking at the downed bird and the hens slowly walked off.

“The tom circled the downed bird for 40 minutes,” Sams said.

“I have to pee so bad,” Johnson texted.

“I’m freezing,” Sams replied.

Johnson got on his knees to relieve himself, but the lone tom stayed.

More birds were heard, and Sams texted Johnson, “Call them.” He did and another flock came, including three jakes. The jakes went to the downed bird, beating it up. The other original tom fought off the jakes.

“It was like a turkey funeral,” Sams said. “The tom was protecting his buddy.”

Two more toms came, strutting, and the hens returned, with the birds making lots of noise.
The hunters were getting impatient.

“Go get the dead one and see if they run off,” Sams texted.

When Johnson did, the turkeys finally flew. The hunters sat another 30 minutes, but the few birds that returned cautiously stayed at a distance.

“It was quite a hunt,” Sams said.