Being originally from the great state of Tennessee prior to marring my husband, Chad Schearer who swept me away from the Smoky Mountains to the mountains of Montana you can imagine how excited I was to get the opportunity to hunt Tennessee turkeys.
The season had been open for a week or so, but I was looking forward to taking my CVA Optima elite (www.cva.com) in pursuit of a big ole’ tom.
Chad and I headed out early morning and set up in a blind that our good friend Ted Bratcher had all ready for us. We had the birds fired up and were sure this was going to happen quickly, but the turkeys didn’t get my memo and had other plans. They pitched down on the back side of the blind and went down behind us out of range.
With the hens nesting early we decided to change tactics and become mobile. We waited until it was safe to move out of the blind not to mess it up for another early morning hunt, since we knew the turkeys were in the area. It was great to have Matt Sloan with Sloans Super Center out of Murefreesboro, TN (www.sloansmotercycle.com) set us up with an electric Polaris Ranger to make our move quick and quiet.
It wasn’t long before we found a very vocal tom. We knew we had better set up quick. Just as we were picking the area to hunker down and get ready there he was a nice tom strutting right towards us. I was so thankful I had my Couch Potatoe Cabela’s turkey vest (www.Cabelas.com) and was able to get comfortable immediately. Chad began calling and I turned on my Konus Atomic sight (www.Konus.com ) so I was ready to make my shot. Oh, I failed to mention my nephew Adam, from Montana was with us on this hunt. He was staying back and lying low but wanting to see this hunt unfold. But boy was I glad he was there, because the tom started to hang up on us and just out of range at about 90 yards. Then I spotted 2 hens and knew we had some competition. It’s hard to compete with the real thing . We had a decoy with us but didn’t put it out because the tom was already in sight. But after the scenario was changing we decided we had better try to ease it out there. Adam belly crawled up to me with the decoy and when the turkey was fanned with his tail to me I lied down to ease the decoy out in view. But I didn’t plan on the turkey turning and locking in right on the decoy. But that is exactly what happened. I was caught lying on my side with my gun down. This tom was in love with this decoy! He instantly started strutting and moving right towards me. I heard Chad say, “Marsha you’ve got to get your gun up fast!” I knew I was going to have to make one quick motion and be ready to take my shot. Chad told me he was at 65 yards but I had confidence in my CVA and was going to make my move. As Chad was running the camera, I whispered to him, “you on him?” He knew I was going for it. With a “yes” reply I thought I had better do it now before I chickened out. I cocked my hammer of my Optima Elite, set my sight on this long beard all in one motion and hammered him. I jumped up so fast and just took my first Tennessee turkey! I was pumped! My CVA did the job, again! I took a 21 lb. turkey with a 10 inch beard and 1 inch spurs. The celebration had begun! Oh, I was glad I had given Adam a Buck knife so he could dress his first turkey www.Buckknives.com what a great way to end an outstanding day in the woods.