Florida Osceola Turkey Hunt

The outdoor life has a way of uniting folks from different cultures to make everlasting memories. Such as our incredible turkey hunt with a new found friend Ryan Fitzgerald.

The outdoor life has a way of uniting folks from different cultures to make everlasting memories. Such as our incredible turkey hunt with a new found friend Ryan Fitzgerald.

This story begins with my wife (Gina) and me on one of our many adventures, fishing with guide/friend Dr. Crappie on the St Johns River in Florida. He informed us a friend (Ryan Fitzgerald) has been watching us via our outdoor page Oliver’s Outdoor Adventure. He mentioned Ryan wanted to meet and offered a turkey hunt in Florida. As excited as we were to be fishing that day, the thought of finally getting the opportunity to hunt turkey was constantly on my mind. About a week later I called Ryan to finally get more information on our hunt. During our brief conversation an instant connection was made. He briefed us on availability and the date was set, we’re going turkey hunting. While making the 5 hour drive from our home state of South Carolina I imagined the beauty of hunting in Florida which made the trip a pleasant one. Upon pulling up into his driveway we were welcomed with a warm greeting from Ryan. I knew this would be a special trip. One that I’d dreamed of for many years. Anticipation and excitement grew as he put together a game plan for the next few days hunt; one that would include a morning ride on the river to one of his favorite hunting destinations. As we laid down for the night, sleep was hard to find and 5am was so far away. When morning finally came Gina and I got up talking about what we thought of the morning in the outdoors. Excited and ready to get going we packed our gear into Ryan’s truck, hooked up the boat to begin our drive to the river as he had planned.

"I knew this would be a special trip. One that I’d dreamed of for many years. Anticipation and excitement grew as he put together a game plan for the next few days hunt."

A brief stop for gas and snacks then a short drive to the landing, we had arrived. Backing the boat down and a safety check of guns, ammo, and life jackets; we drift away from the landing headed down river. As day breaks Gina can’t stop snapping pictures of the beautiful sun rise and scenic views of the St Johns River. As the engine slows we dock the boat on the bank of a low lying area. We exit the boat and begin to walk silently down a narrow path avoiding cypress knees protruding from the ground. About 200 yards in we settle down with our backs against a big oak tree, Ryan begins to call. Patiently listening for a gobbler to answer we search for any movement. Suddenly there’s a bird silently and cautiously coming our way, then another from the right. As they get closer we notice they are hens. Ryan hits the call playfully as one responds time and time again. Great practice for when the Gobbler arrives. We move around for the next couple hours with no success, so we head back to the boat to try another spot. Cruising down the river stopping only briefly to call, Ryan was giving it his all. With time winding down, we finally decide to go to a nearby farm where Ryan has hunted in the past. Morning has now turned to afternoon as we drop the boat off and head to the farm. Driving up we spot several Gobblers already in the field. Knowing it would be nearly impossible to setup on them we give it a try. Just as suspected the birds pick us out and clear the field so we head to another property. This time we set up in a wooded area tucked in with our backs to a tree as Ryan again works his magic. Calling then waiting when suddenly, there was movement to the left as a gobbler moves in. Ryan calls, the bird gobbles as he moves closer into range. Gina to my left is ready to take a shot but has a bush between her and the Bird. I have a clear shot at 35 yards but I want Gina to take the first turkey. The gobbler finally stops, looks around and decides he’s had enough. Total disappointment as he leaves as quick as he came in. Ryan delivered, but we didn’t seal the deal. For the next 2 days encounter after encounter we just couldn’t make it happen. Even with having 8 gobblers in the field at once. Getting one within range was a tall task. I soon regretted not taking that shot when I had it. Ryan told us previously that the birds on this farm would make a preacher cuss, well he was spot on. It seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong. From having a calf poke his head into the blind, to having a gobbler coming straight in, and a gust of wind lifting the blind and clearing the field. Lady luck just wasn’t on our side. Before we headed back home Ryan offered a return trip in two weeks. “It’s the last weekend of Turkey season,” he said. Why don’t we give it another try? We gladly took the offer, said our good byes and headed home on what seem like the longest 5 hour ride I’ve ever had.

"Ryan calls, the bird gobbles as he moves closer into range. Gina to my left is ready to take a shot but has a bush between her and the Bird. I have a clear shot at 35 yards but I want Gina to take the first turkey."

Fast forward two weeks, we’re back in Eustis, Florida at Ryan Fitzgerald’s home. He gives us the best greeting and plans for the next day hunt. First off, we have a choice: Either hunt the river, or the farm which will make a preacher cuss. This 40 acre field is a real challenge, but with all the gobbles we saw on our last visit, the farm seems like the best option. Ryan’s game plan is before day break set up a blind by the pond for Gina and one on the corner near the barn for me. This way they will surely walk close by if not responding to our calls.

The next morning we head out to the farm and set our plan into action. We got my blind all set up then Gina and Ryan head towards the pond about 150 yards away. Surely this is the best setup we’ve made thus far. While the blind near the pond is being setup I begin to hear turkey’s gobbling on the roost near me. I begun to think, okay this is going to work, as I scanned the field for birds. About 40 minutes pass and nothing but deer move through. All of a sudden to my far right two gobblers enter the field about 300 yards away. Not even close to our blinds. Again these birds never follow the script. What happened to the birds who were so close to me? Still being positive and prepared to sit all day; I watched them strut around then start to move closer to a hen that made her way closer to Gina and Ryan. Ok this looks good as the hen is about in range of the other blind. Now the Gobblers are within 100 yards of the blind. Just as I thought it was working the birds started to move to the left away from the Gina’s blind. Well maybe just maybe they’ll come my way. As they put on a magnificent show strutting and gobbling I begin to see a narrow chance of them getting into range. Closer and closer they come my way. I began to map out 40 yards just in case they give me a shot. In the next 10 minutes they hold the path towards my blind. Now I open a third window in the blind as they get closer. I can clearly see this is going to work. I hold the 12 gauge shotgun barrel out to where they will cross my path. Check the beards on both birds chose the one closest and fired. Both birds went up but one came down hard flopping and fluttering. I did; I did it; I CLOSED THE DEAL!!! Then excitement turned to concern when the turkey I shot sat up slightly to one side. Did I make a good hit? The other bird just stayed there walking around my bird. Then he started picking at him as he tried to get up. I couldn’t shoot again because I was only allowed 1 bird for this farm. The now dominate bird pecking the down bird was in the way. I could only sit and watch as the healthy bird was really abusing the injured bird, my bird.

"I did; I did it; I CLOSED THE DEAL!!! Then excitement turned to concern when the turkey I shot sat up slightly to one side. Did I make a good hit?"

As he pecked away I thought he’d pick the feathers clean off of my bird. After about 10 minutes of this I looked across at Gina and Ryan in the other blind 120 yards away. I noticed something strange, they had lifted up the blind and started moving slowly my way. As I later found out they both had discussed moving in on the aggressive bird still working my bird over. Now picture this, a blind with 4 legs moving slowly and stopping every couple yards. I thought this is going to be epic if they pull this off as I filmed this comical yet ingenuous tactic. I watched the whole thing unfold as foot by foot for 100 yards they crept closer and closer. The aggressive bird was so occupied that it was working in her favor. Every time the bird would look up the blind stopped. Finally after another 20 yards the blind came to rest about 35 yards away from the busy gobbler. Ryan gave a call the bird looked up high and Gina made a perfect shot with that 410 gauge. Two birds down on the farm. I was laughing out loud as I heard Gina so excited from her blind. I thought the roof was going to come off. I said poor Ryan is probably taking a beating right now. After Gina calmed down, Ryan moved in to recover my wounded bird then the other one. Still moving under the blind with two birds in tow they covered the distance to me as we celebrated a great morning together. Checking both our birds Ryan told us we both had trophies as Osceola turkeys score. We took so many pictures and thanked Ryan for his generosity. With both of us taking our 1 turkey on the farm. It’s off to another property to hopefully tag out a second Gobbler. Now it’s back to the house to clean our turkeys and celebrate.

"I stopped and just stood there as the birds slowly moved back into the woods 15 minutes later I hear Gina bring the thunder with that 410 gauge and immediately knew she’d gotten it done."

The next morning we decided to try the river with a little different approach. This time we were in for a treat. Ryan knew of a place where multiple turkey’s roost on the river. However they fly across to a subdivision to spend the day. With high hopes of one flying down on the roosting side it gives us an opportunity for a hunt. Sure enough we get there and the big oak has about 9 birds on roost. We sat out in the boat and watched as day broke. One by one, they all fly over to the subdivision. A beautiful sight to see, but no opportunity for us to pursue them. We watched as they all gathered on the lawn and began to strut, fight and feed. Gina got some awesome footage of the event. With all hope lost we headed down the river again stopping from shore to shore calling with no luck. We spotted alligators and a few Manatees throughout the day. The beautiful river made for a unique adventure of site seeing for us South Carolinians. After that wonderful experience and stories shared of Ryan’s years growing up on the river we called it a day. On the way back home Ryan had said he had to handle some business in the office, then we’ll head to a place that he had never hunted, but seen lots of turkey. So we took a lunch break and waited for the word to head back out. Later in the day we continued our hunt. Ryan set me up in a blind with a decoy out in front with hopes of me calling one in. He took Gina about 400 yards to her spot. About an hour into my sit with a few calling attempts by this amateur, four birds came wandering through the woods. All Jakes but with the clock winding down I decided to take one of them. This time at 40 plus yards it was a clean shot. The bird went down immediately. I got that call of excitement and congratulations from Gina which I enjoy sometime more than the hunt itself. After collecting my bird and relaxing a bit. Ryan called to inform me that gobblers were near them but moving in my direction. Why don’t you walk slowly toward us and see if the birds turn back our way, he said. I didn’t hesitate to put the plan in action. As I moved slowly down the fence line I saw the huge gobblers looking around. I stopped and just stood there as the birds slowly moved back into the woods 15 minutes later I hear Gina bring the thunder with that 410 gauge and immediately knew she’d gotten it done. I quickly made my way to them as I could hear the excitement from Gina….poor Ryan. As I got to them her smile was so bright I could see my shadow. “We did it again she; “said. Four birds in two days.

All credit goes to a wonderful guy who connected with us through the great outdoors. What a beautiful world it would be if everyone had the heart of Ryan Fitzgerald.