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Hey guys, figured I'd start us a thread to post our stories from this season. Can't wait to hear of the memories made.

This morning was cold and wet, and no surprisingly the woods were quiet. Easing down a road, i glassed a flock up ahead. They were in a very vulnerable position to be "bushwhacked," but I wanted to see what experience they could give me. I maneuvered to 80 yards from them and being soft purrs and content yelps. 3 gobblers moved left of the flock on a flat part of the ridge. They would look, but didn't seem interested.

A hen finally let out a single note yelp, and I responded with slightly more, not enough to push them off, "I am over here and confident" series of soft yelps. I watched as all 3 of the gobbler's heads changed bright red and they blew into strut. The game was on. When they would go behind a tree or preen, I'd yelp or whine a little more. They slowly but steadily closed the distance to 30 yards before I ended it at 9:30 AM. They gave me all they could besides not gobbling. After the shot, I stayed put and began excited cutting/yelping. The flock ran to me, I had hens and jakes at 3 yards as they tried to figure what happened. After they finally walked off, I claimed my prize. Hate that he messed his feathers up slightly flopping, but the show after the shot was an added bonus. Very thankful to break the ice! Can't wait to make more memories this spring.
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Great pics and story. Congrats


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Great read and even better pictures, congrats!

Good deal buddy...congrats!

The Hammer strikes his initial blow !!!!    :you_rock:

GREAT story and pics !!!   CONGRATS !!!!!!!

Fannnnnntastic my brother, your on a role AGAIN!!!

Very nice!  Can't wait for my season to start!

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Good job man! Ya'll are starting off well. Hope it continues for you guys.

Way to go buddy!  Congrats on a great bird, and AWESOME pictures as usual.

Delmar, we want to thank you for turning down that lucrative multi-year contract and  signing bonus from GobbleNut! After your on-slaught last year, we knew they would approach you. Your loyalty is overwhelming. Kudos buddy....

Quote from: Tom007 on March 18, 2023, 09:06:40 AM
Delmar, we want to thank you for turning down that lucrative multi-year contract and  signing bonus from GobbleNut! After your on-slaught last year, we knew they would approach you. Your loyalty is overwhelming. Kudos buddy....

:TooFunny:  Yeah, we had already reached the salary cap with the current roster.  Of course, if we would have known some of you guys were free agents, we might have looked for some NIL money.  Unfortunately, if the GOATS decided to release someone to add a ringer, I am afraid Captain GobbleNut would be the first guy on the chopping block!    :o ::) ;D

...And by the way,....Congrats Delmar on a fine gobbler,...and your picture taking is also top notch, buddy!   :icon_thumright:

 Great story, pics and bird!! Congrats!!

Quote from: GobbleNut on March 18, 2023, 09:32:32 AM

Quote from: Tom007 on March 18, 2023, 09:06:40 AM
Delmar, we want to thank you for turning down that lucrative multi-year contract and  signing bonus from GobbleNut! After your on-slaught last year, we knew they would approach you. Your loyalty is overwhelming. Kudos buddy....

:TooFunny:  Yeah, we had already reached the salary cap with the current roster.  Of course, if we would have known some of you guys were free agents, we might have looked for some NIL money.  Unfortunately, if the GOATS decided to release someone to add a ringer, I am afraid Captain GobbleNut would be the first guy on the chopping block!    :o ::) ;D

...And by the way,....Congrats Delmar on a fine gobbler,...and your picture taking is also top notch, buddy!   :icon_thumright:

I don't think they would let you go my brother, you are the heartbeat  of the Goats! We look forward to a fun filled, ball-busting contest with reigning champs!

NICE!!!!! Way to get on the board, Del!!

No kill but I got set up on two birds yesterday afternoon. These two were part of the trio that I talked about before the season opened. My dad was able to take one of them opening morning..a nice 2 yo with two full beards. As soon as I got off work I grabbed my stuff and boogied to an area where I know they like to roost. I set up in a small flat on the backside of a ridge as the ridge is pretty thick and didn't provide a decent setup. I called intermittently for the next 45 minutes. I set up facing the ridge and I caught a glimpse of a gobbler coming over the top with the second gobbler not far behind. But instead of crossing directly over the ridge in front of me they veered left.

I had a lone hen decoy set up and I let out a series of yelps. They both stopped with the second bird eyeing my decoy. They both sat there for 10 minutes before they continued heading to my left away from me. I yelped one more time which stopped them for a couple more minutes but for whatever reason they never committed. The second bird acted like he wanted to come on in but he seemed like he was going to do whatever the lead bird did. I had him at 48 yards, which I know my gun will kill one that far, but that's not the point. I was able to play the game..which in the end is all I care about. This just means I get to play another day!

As usual, incredible field photos my friend. I'm curious as to how much time you put into cleaning up those birds before pics. I need to start doing the same. You're starting fast! Like usual!

Thanks guys! Had a fantastic hunt this morning. Watched the gobbler pitch onto the logging trail I was set up on just over the crest where I could not see him. He gobbled down my gun barrel and I could hear him drum and walk in the leaves, he just didn't want to walk my way. His hens finally collected him and headed away, but I got that "safety off eyes looking" adrenaline rush we all crave. Happy he's still there to go after again.

Quote from: POk3s on March 21, 2023, 04:06:10 PM
As usual, incredible field photos my friend. I'm curious as to how much time you put into cleaning up those birds before pics. I need to start doing the same. You're starting fast! Like usual!

Thanks Trent! I honestly don't do anything too special. I hang them upside down for thirty minutes or so while I gather myself and relive it. This helps set their wings and fan out. If any feathers got knocked loose, I'll brush them off/pull them out. I always let them dry out as best I can, and it is better to let him dry out before trying to smooth out any feathers. Other than that, I'll just try to clean off any noticeable blood and make broken wings less noticeable.

I really thought you took extra time to work those feathers! There's never one out of place or even one that looks a bit haggard! Well done!

The best thing about an unsuccessful hunt is you get to wake up and do it all over again tomorrow!

You'll get em! Good luck.....

Had the best Eastern roost hunt of my life yesterday morning. Went to a spot I haven't hunted yet this year, and was greeted with a gobble as I stood on the tree line in the gray light. As I'm trying to get a bearings on his location, I see him perfectly silhouetted against the skyline 100 yards from me. I slide down the tree I was leaning against and slowly sit down and position.

He was extremely close to the property line, with the adjoining property being a field that I was afraid he would pitch into. I watched and listened as he would gobble, strut, and drum on the limb, but my main concern was to keep him facing me. If he'd turn, I'd bubble cluck or tree yelp enough to get him to spin back my direction. Finally, he pitched my way to about 75 yards. I didn't say another word, but watched as he Bee-lined to my location. He got in a wide open lane at 40 yards with no idea I was in the world. I decided to let him keep coming. Unfortunately, he immediately side stepped behind a tree right in front of me, and closed 25 yards. At this point I had serious concerns about missing. He was so close he took up the entire visual of my sight. Finally, he presented a shot at 10 yards. To my horror (but not exactly surprise) he flushed up at the shot, but immediately came back down, wings spread, and expired. It was a beautiful morning, and a roost hunt I will never forget.
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Way to go Delmar!. Your on another tear. Beautiful pics!. Keep stacking em up buddy!

Congrats man! You are on fire! Keep after them.


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Congrats, again great read with outstanding pictures.

Congrats Delmar!!!!! You really know how to make a guy sitting on the sidelines jealous.

CONGRATS brother !!!!!!

You on FIRE !!!!!!!!!!

Congrats again!!!  Great story and pictures!

BOOM!

Quote from: zsully on March 26, 2023, 09:00:40 PM
Congrats Delmar!!!!! You really know how to make a guy sitting on the sidelines jealous.

Ain't that the truth!!! :turkey2:

Well thats great news!! I will be in for the SC upstate opener this saturday on my farm. I am hoping the birds stayed around that were there in January. They have fresh plots to play in and they like to roost on my creek.

Great story, Del! and another beautiful gobbler. It's fun to work a bird and let the game go on, but it sure is nice when a picture perfect moment comes early in the morning. Congrats.

Yesterday evening, i roosted this gobbler, along with hens and jakes. They were slightly spread out across the ridge, so I did not want to press my luck getting in too tight. He was roosted in the bottom where the ridge petered out. I set up around 100 yards away on top of the ridge amongst a pile of scratching from the evening before.

He gobbled for the first time at 5:54. I was concerned what his hens might do, because in the last 2 weeks hens have been non vocal, non confrontational, and actively pulling mostly silent gobblers away. Nonetheless, I threw my hat in the ring with some soft tree yelps. He answered. One of his hens also began soft yelping, which he answered. From there on out, I was calling to him, not her, in a way where I was more interested in him than she was, but not aggressive to her.

Around 6:25 he flew down and went silent. I hear drumming. He gobbled just over the crest and I stood on him, cutting. He blew up and the drumming was deafening thereafter. He gobbled twice so close that I could not believe I could not see him. Finally, I catch first the fan, then his head, as he crested the ridge 60 yards in front of me. He drummed loudly as he continued to strut my way. Then, at 38 yards, he gobbled directly into my face. My red dot was glued to his head as he moved between saplings. He paused. I was so focused on keeping the dot on his head it took 2-3 seconds for me to realize he was standing in a clear opening. I squeezed off and ended it.

I told my mentor that one would have to do it perfect for me to kill another in MS. This one, by any measure, was perfect.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230410/e22a188e8d2e48abff252979a5d14941.jpg)


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Your a legend buddy. The Goats Will up their anti for you and Harley Tom for sure. Stick with us good guys, we need ya! Congrats!

Awesome read and great pictures again, congrats. Want to go on a road trip at the end of April, hire you to write up the hunt and take pictures?? Again Congratulations!!

Well done my friend.

Congrats and well played my friend. Love the pics, by the way.


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Perfect hunt !!!   Perfect story !!!

CONGRATS, brother !!!!!!!   :icon_thumright:

Awesome story Del!! Congrats!!!

Now it's my turn to join the story telling. It's been a crazy few days, and I finally found the time to sit down and share the details of the last 3 days in Virginia.

As most of you know, Twyatt has been coming up to PA to hunt with Zsully and I for the past 4 years. This year it worked out that I could make the trip down to Virginia, and it DEFINITELY didn't disappoint. Over the last few weeks my phone as been blowing up with pics of potential worthy adversaries that I would be trying to fool. I left Monday with the upmost excitement for the trip ahead of me. After arriving and getting situated Monday evening, Twyatt and I went over a game plan for the next morning.

DAY 1 - We arrive bright and early and make our way back to where we thought we would setup. We heard one sound off back in the direction that we walked in from. He was the only one gobbling, so we made a move to try to get into a position where we could make a play on him. As we were heading in his direction, a bird gobbled back in the direction we just were. Given the risk vs reward of the first one, we decided to head back to the original spot and setup. After setting up, this guy continued to gobble, but he was probably a couple hundred yards away down a hill, and it sounded like he wasn't moving. We continued to throw calls at him, and he would respond, but then it sounded like he was headed in the opposite direction. We heard another bird gobble off to our left, that didn't sound like he was that far away, so we gave this spot some time. This new bird continued to gobble in an area we felt we could swing around on him, so it was time to make a move.
As we're walking down the road, the stomach pain hit. OH NO!! I need to handle some other business. As luck would have it, business is being handled and pants are at my ankles, the first bird we heard rips a gobble at like 100 yards, which sounded like it was right in my face. I'm in a panic to clean up. He rips another gobble and it sounds closer. I look up and a deer is walking down the road right at me. We lock eyes, and he turns and runs right in the direction of the gobbler. Finally get my pants up, and crawl back to my things and try to setup up. Gobbler went completely silent. I assume, he got spooked by a deer running at him.
We march on, and the gobbler we were trying to make a move on lets one out, within 200 yards. We setup and start giving him the sweet music, and he's responding good, inching his way to us. Then another gobbler fires off from deep, but continues to gobble and sounds like he's coming too. I like the odds. I call again, and both birds gobble, one is getting close. I wait a little, and make one last call. Silence. It's on. We have good back over with a big tree behind me, and a logging road about 20 yards away. He's coming up the logging road, but I can't see him yet. Then I could hear him spitting. HE'S CLOSE. Couple mins late, I see his fan. He came in strutting, and the sun illuminating every single feather he had. It was picture perfect. Only thing is, there was a log out in front of me, and I didn't realize that with his head so tucked, it would be kind of a tight shot. He continued strutting and I had to have patience, until I ran out of it, and had my shot. BOOM!!! Celebratory hugs, and adrenaline shaking bodies. After a few pics, and enjoying the moment, there was another bird still gobbling. We spent the next 2 hours trying to call in old concrete feet, until we ran out of time.

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DAY 2- Not much action here. We heard some gobbling, but everything went tight lipped around 8, and we caught a ride on the struggle bus. We walked and tried to strike a bird, but no dice.

DAY 3 - We get to a new spot that a few gobblers had been frequenting the past few weeks. We get setup, wait, and listen. It didn't take long to hear two gobblers start the day. Both to our right. One not that far, and the other quite the distance away. We felt confident in the spot, so we were hoping the closer of the two would give us a look. I start letting them know we are here to mingle. About 40 mins goes by, and they aren't getting any closer, but I'm still ripping the calls like I normally do, when I get too excited. I was looking out in front of me casting these calls, and out about 100 yards I catch some movement of a bobbing turkey head, and then it went into full strut mode. Little tight lipped tricky fella. He continues to strut through the open timber. Walk a few steps, strut. Walk a few steps, strut. The whole way into about 15 yards. BOOM!!! A quick and exciting hour hunt to close out the trip on my last day. I can't thank Twyatt enough for the hospitality and friendship.

Gobbler 1 stats : W-16.93 lbs, Beard - 9 1/8", LS - 7/8", RS 5/8"
Gobbler 2 Stats : W - 19.39 lbs, Beard - 10", LS - 1", RS - 1"

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DANG, bro !!!!!!   Action-packed 3 days!!!

CONGRATS X2 !!!!!!!!!

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Freaking awesome!!!!! Congrats brother!! Only 6 days left till we hit the woods for youth season and I'm jacked!!!!!

Congrats jabbo on 2 fine Toms, glad you got the pictures loaded to go along with the great story. Thanks twyatt.

That's awesome man!

It would be easy to laugh at your ill-timed stomach pain...but I've been there my friend!

Congrats guys! Way to get after them!


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Congratulations Jabbo and Twyatt!!! Great memories and fellowship!

I'm en route back home from Texas with my best friend and his wife. We had an absolutely incredible trip.

The first morning, we made some maneuvers on a bird, finally pulling him from a predetermined route, and he strutted to 13 yards.

The next morning, we went to a property new to our host, an old pecan orchard on the river. I finally heard a bird from 960 yards away. As we closed distance, it became apparent he had pitched down in a field opposite a small tract of woods. A dry  shallow creek bed ran diagonally through the woods to the other side. We moved up it and sat 20 yards from the field edge. He was all over the call and it wasn't long before he was strutting on the field edge  20 yards away. My red dot was trained on his head as he drummed, I answered and he broke strut and left his sunny vantage point and entered the dark woods with us. I ended it at 13 yards.
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Yesterday, the three of us went to a new property, mostly fields. The wind was gusting 30 mph and we set up on the fence line adjacent to a property that looked "turkeyish" on the map. After 20 minutes, he gobbled behind us to a distant gunshot. I'm assuming he had heard my precious glass call but was too far away for us to hear him respond. Either way, the 3 of us crawled down the fence line to a point where he was more likely to cross. I see him at 25 yards at a 45 degree angle to my left through a hole in the brush, his head vibrant red and his gaze attentive. After a few minutes of this dead stare, he broke into half strut and drummed, which I answered with a muffled 3 note yelp. He gobbled and immediately began walking our way. He crossed the fence 8 yards in front of us, and of course he wigged out when he saw the 3 of us laying there. My friends wife, Morgan, made an incredible shot at 36 yards as he was getting out of there. My favorite hunt from the trip.
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Yesterday evening, I had one tag to fill, although at that point my trip had already been made. The three of us went to hunt a bird we had tangled with 2 days prior. After walking through some hogs, we struck him and he quickly gobbled, strutted, and drummed to 12 yards. I watched the show for a few minutes before ending it at 20 yards. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230416/08f8c068a980e286a4bfc289c0abe508.jpg)
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We had an amazing trip, thanks in no small part to our gracious host, David. Every turkey killed played the game to perfection and gave us memories we won't ever forget.


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Absolutely fantastic Delmar!!!  Great stories and fantastic pictures.  Congrats on a heck of a trip

Travis is the man!!


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Congrats Delmar, hell of a season!

Great stuff!!!

Kansas flat kicked my butt for a few days. I was never in the game until the final morning. I had actually found this bird using my optics after looking at some jakes in a field. He was strutting up on the knob I had been using to roost birds from. I didn't go there that evening as it hadn't been working. So of course he'd be there.

I roosted one other bird but could not verify it was a Tom with 100% certainty, so I decided to go after this one even though he had hens. I planned on setting up in a field edge and hoping to get a hen angry enough to come in and look at my single hen decoy.

The next morning was beautiful. Mid 30s and clear. The birds gobbled where I'd hoped they would (as I actually didn't get to roost them properly, just see them before roosting). A hen flew down and closed quick on my decoy. She held up as no one else followed her and retreated back to the group. After watching this Tom and a Jake strut around and gobble in the corner of this field I had had enough. There is a ditch that ran a border around the field they were in, and if they stayed in the corner I could use it to get close enough. That sounds easy, but I had been trying this same move for 3 days with no luck. They were always too far, could see that there was no hen there calling to them, or they'd pick you off.

Well I was able to close the distance properly and bag a fine rio gobbler.

I'm in iowa now and the weather is throwing everything at me. High winds, rain, lightning, thunder, cold temps. It's currently 41 degrees and raining and I think the wind is blowing the same. Hopefully I have another story to tell soon.

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Good deal man! I hunted Kansas 4-5 years ago....we had a blast!

Congrats, great pictures.

 Beautiful bird, congrats!!!

Great job! Hunted Kansas a couple of years ago with a buddy. We were fortunate to tag out first day but I wasn't overly impressed with the number of birds we saw/heard.


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Thank you guys. This was my second attempt there. I came with my dad last year and we spent a day and a half trying to just find birds. Then a day and a half hunting before coming home. Had to go back. Like everywhere, numbers are down but I did see a lot of Jake's and Jennie's.

Tagged out in iowa earlier this afternoon so I should have a sizable upgrade! I know you guys know all about those eastern gobbles but man they're a treat for a western boy who hears merriams most of the time.

Way to go brother!. Nice job!

Quote from: POk3s on April 20, 2023, 09:50:47 PM
Thank you guys. This was my second attempt there. I came with my dad last year and we spent a day and a half trying to just find birds. Then a day and a half hunting before coming home. Had to go back. Like everywhere, numbers are down but I did see a lot of Jake's and Jennie's.

Tagged out in iowa earlier this afternoon so I should have a sizable upgrade! I know you guys know all about those eastern gobbles but man they're a treat for a western boy who hears merriams most of the time.

Man you weren't lying about the upgrade, heck of a good bird!!!

Very nice upgrade! Funny what you said about Easterns, I guess we all kinda take for granted what we have. I'm excited to head to WY in a couple of weeks to chase those Merriams.


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Great lookin' bird !!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS !!!!!!

He sure felt heavy when I picked him up and toting him back to the truck I had to switch arms more than usual. I just thought the miles and early mornings were fatiguing me a bit. When I put him on the scale I about fell over. Then I started laughing.... :TooFunny:

I just knew he had a longer beard, better spurs, and was sure he was worthy of an upgrade by weight. Very surprised!

Congrats! Score really doesn't tell the true story.

Iowa eastern-

The afternoon and evening before opening day I went and drove around, looked for turkeys, and looked at access points. The place seemed empty, which I loved, and not many truck tracks in the parking areas. I was a bit shocked. The wind was blowing pretty steadily over 20mph and gusting over 30, so I went to a roosting knob I knew well from hunting this same place in 2019 and hoped for the best. I was able to see a big ol paintbrush bearded longbeard walking through a field and heading to bed. I had messed with a bird in the same spot on my last hunt and figured he would roost in the same cluster of trees off of a point.

Opening morning before daylight I attempted to sneak onto the point above where I suspected the turkey would be. I got held up by a tangle of cedars. I was making too much noise and using my light too much so I cut my losses and sat down waiting for it to get light. When it did I heard him sound off and he was right where I thought he'd be. Rats! I wasn't able to get close enough but was able to hear him gobble a few times on the limb. After his hen answered him he shut up.

I stuck it out in there all day. From before daylight to dusk. I survived on a few granola bars, a handful of pistachio nuts and 3 bottles of water. I have a million little stories from within the day I will save, including s bird coming in directly behind me spitting and drumming while a bird come in just out of range in front of me. I squandered them both. My little honey hole from 2019 was loaded with birds and I expected to stick it out in there until I killed one.

Day 2 was the only day I slept in on the whole turkey trip, and not by design. I woke up at 4 AM to driving rain hitting the tent.

I headed out about 7:00 after the rain had slowed, but the wind had started. I had learned a lot of things and planned to put them to use and slow play through there all day, much like the day before. I saw a couple and finally had one come in gobbling...behind me....again! Typical. I then promptly spooked him trying to readjust.

The rain came back mid morning so after a bite to eat at a local cafe, I headed out for a drive to check out some stuff on the map I had marked, that I had never laid eyes on. When I got to one piece I saw 5 longbeards working the back of a public field. I quickly got my stuff together to loop around in front of them. I did so but all I found were jakes where I figured the gobblers would be. I hung out in the woods for a while hoping something would materialize but it didn't.

On my way out of the woods I had that uncomfortable sensation in my lower abdomen. I unloaded my shotgun for the paperwork about to take place (yes this is important). I then started sneaking my way out of the woods again when my task was complete.

As I crested a hill where I'd already called from a couple hours before, I let out a few calls and was treated with a thunderous gobble just to my left. Caught completely out of position (and nearly with my pants down) I hit the deck and crawled into the thick brush. The gobbler was less than 80 yards and I was screwed. I heard him come by me just over the rise of the hill, spitting snd drumming the whole way, as I laid still muttering cuss words under my breath. I wasn't able to raise up and shoot him as I had hidden myself way too good in the brush in my panicked state.

I heard him strut back to where he came from so I eased out of the brush I was hidden in. I crept up the line of brush staying as low as possible, listening to the sound of his deafening drumming as I went. Finally I watched him come out of strut and just saw the top of his head come up. I eased my gun into position and rose up slightly. CLICK! I FORGOT TO RELOAD MY GUN! Panicking I hit the shell release button on the bottom of the gun, pulled the slide back, and let it go. He simply raised his head higher. I settled and my shot rang true.

Until that moment, I hadn't been able to even take a full breath without spooking these high strung easterns. I got lucky that he never really saw me, and I had just enough wind noise to confuse him.

I kept saying to myself that it only takes one. That it did. I'm calling this "The Poor Man's slam", just missing the Osceola of course on this turkey hunting adventure. Here are a few pics.

(https://i.ibb.co/w0WLvqC/3750-D4-C0-7-C34-4157-BB05-D7-F0-D730-A677.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p0zPmTZ)


(https://i.ibb.co/kBWzYj7/D7438-D02-8-E5-F-4-A85-8-F7-D-7-E78-C199534-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DWSm3hJ)


(https://i.ibb.co/VCMsfn2/4-D23-BAA1-553-F-4-EB4-ADAA-5-BF42-A999111.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M1PmFwM)

(https://i.ibb.co/gwnJfPv/EE54-A4-EE-12-B9-479-D-85-D6-3-C36-AF329848.jpg) (https://ibb.co/K71WfLN)

(https://i.ibb.co/RNNx079/3089784-C-100-D-41-DF-9152-D839086-AF13-D.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qCCtsxd)

Beautiful pics and a great bird! Congratulations on both


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Congrats on a great hunt, thanks for the great story and pictures.

Wow, a slammer there. Fantastic job.....

I start tomorrow in NJ, then May 1 in NY. It's finally here.......

Congrats POk3s. Sounds like you've had one hell of a trip!!! That Iowa bird is an absolute hammer!

So I was able to get off the sidelines and into the game yesterday (kinda). Yesterday was Pa youth day and I had been scouting every morning this past week. Asked for permission on a couple new spots. Received permission on one good piece and the boys got to hear "No" for the first time. They were shocked.

So fast forward to Saturday morning. A_jabbo gets to the house and I'm already in a mood. Getting an 8 year old and a 5 year old ready at 4:30am ain't easy. On top of that I went through a scramble to find Easton's license (poor planning dad). Get the boys in the truck, start the truck. Back tire is 14 psi. Whatever, we can make it to the gas station on the way fill with air and fix the problem after we hunt. We accomplish the tire fill and are on our way again when we find ourselves passing a doe on the side of the road. The doe had just crossed the road but for whatever reason as I passed she decided to spin a 180 and launch herself into the passenger side headlight/wheel well of the new truck I've owned for less than a year. I was furious!!!!!

Anyways we get to our spot and get set up. Right off the roost we call a longbeard down off the hill and he eyed the Jake and hen decoy from about 200 yards for 2 hours. We dealt with rain and wind, hungry/impatient kids, and my crappy attitude all while this gobbler strutted with a pair of hens. Just before 9 the hens and the gobbler started walking away and my confidence was just about non-existent. It was at that point that 2 longbeards and 8 Jakes entered the field. The Jake's were pushing the longbeards around and as luck would have it a Jake pushed a longbeard close enough to the decoys that he decided to come investigate and that's when Easton made a 15 yard shot. My attitude did improve slightly after that and all the boys were pretty pumped up.

(https://i.ibb.co/vZcYmNW/EC802-DA1-87-B9-4-D49-9-F9-D-6-D9-BBA7833-B6.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/BLbx8gc/C02-B015-F-F294-49-A4-AACB-DB67-A1-F70201.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/FVW4sL5/FD637765-CE8-C-4519-A973-2-C0-A1-F2-BAF72.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/sqhp8cX/F6366031-DFCC-4318-BF69-49286862-AC71.jpg)

Congrats!!! A fine hunt a priceless memory!

Definitely a day to remember...congrats to you all!

Congrats to your son! Truck hurts, but damage isn't terrible, guess you didn't even get backstraps?

Quote from: JeffC on April 23, 2023, 12:03:25 PM
Congrats to your son! Truck hurts, but damage isn't terrible, guess you didn't even get backstraps?

Nope.......I'm sure she had a pretty good headache but she ran away looking no worse for the wear.

Wow! Quite the eventful morning! Well done sully!

One more story before I wrap it up for a few weeks!

No Gobbles, no problem.

After leaving those hard gobbling Eastern turkeys in the hardwood bottoms and rolling hills, I pointed the truck back southwest to chase more of the Rio subspecies, and to a place I'd never been before. I had one more legitimate location I could hit, and four days left of my vacation. I nearly went home, but called my wife and told her if I headed home I'd just wish I use my vacation for what it was for, and will hate it if I'm not out turkey hunting. I hope every guy finds a woman like her. She agreed with me and told me to do what makes me happy, even though she's ready for me to be home. One part of me was ready to be home too, but I still had desire for adventure, and I was "already out here".

I tried like hell to figure out this campground I chose, in the dark, and don't know if I ever did sleep in the proper spot or at a daytime picnic location. It was after 10:00 PM so I wasn't going to screw around too long. There was no signage to tell me what to do, but when I woke up at 4AM and the wind was blowing solidly so I packed everything up anyway. No one ever knew I was there.

I had a great high spot picked out to listen. I listened for 15 minutes of prime time and never heard a peep. I figured I better go hit some other high knobs and so I did. Never heard a turkey. Never saw a male turkey but did see a couple hens. I was going to head somewhere else entirely when I met up with a guy named Tim, from Arkansas. He was tagged out, and I told him I wasn't going to be too serious either as I've killed plenty of birds this trip, I was just going to enjoy myself and had one tag left as an excuse to be out there in the middle of no where." He agreed with my reasoning and told me there were gobblers around but just flat out not gobbling in the mornings. Very odd. 35 degree cool and crisp morning without a breath of wind and no gobbles...

Tim and I BSed for over an hour I think before heading our separate ways. During that hour the wind really picked up speed and was gusting over 40 I imagine. I figured I'd make some coffee, drive around, and look at other places I had on the map. The rolling prairie would dump off into these deep ravines filled with oak, walnut, and cottonwoods...I think. Most of it gorgeous turkey habitat.

I walked a couple ravines, calling sparingly, and never got a response. I saw a handful of hens and even a couple gobblers just off the public property line and marked them on the map to potentially come back to in the evening.

Finally after a couple miles of this, "walk and call and sit adventure," I had a hen answer me. She would cut at me and really seemed aggravated I was there, but went the other way. I found that odd as 1) I'd seen a few hens already and they didn't seem to care about my calling in the slightest, and 2) usually when I get into a banter with a lonely hen, she comes in to investigate.

With that, and with nothing else to do, I decided I'd sneak in. I actually saw a coyote bed down while I was en route and changed course to sneak in on him to no avail. I was going to concede the turkey adventure to helping them out, but no dice.

As I snuck a bit further I saw a gobbler standing there in an open spot in the middle of this creek bottom. I couldn't believe with all that back and forth hen talk, he couldn't muster out one gobble. I continued closer and found the coyotes again. Of all things they started harassing the turkeys but the birds never really spooked. They just putted around, walked in a circle and calmed back down. During this coyote dance, I noticed there were TWO gobblers. I cussed them as I thought to myself "two of you rat ******** and you couldn't let out one gobble to let me know you were here. What a shame."

I tried calling to the gobblers from two different positions and they seemed half interested for one second and then veered away. Their path took them around a bend in the creek bottom, I snuck behind them and rose up when I thought I was in range. I was, and was able to end my trip on the highest of notes.

On the way out I couldn't help but stop at this old barn and snapped a few pics. I wish I had a big camera and not just the phone. Also, I only had a 10 second timer so I was quite impressed with my shuttle time  :TooFunny:

(https://i.ibb.co/zb7mnSZ/C9-ED85-ED-A115-4379-9-F84-854226-C20090.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ftnX1CH)

(https://i.ibb.co/bs0sS69/972-D7-F9-A-2-E33-41-D9-AA85-51676-C193-D87.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0C7Cgnb)

(https://i.ibb.co/DCPgnQm/41-DE6-D36-2036-404-D-9-C22-484-A945-CE068.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zRWHwZC)

(https://i.ibb.co/zxJzBbB/3-CF0-B535-3922-4-AB2-969-D-5-D3998-F25705.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RbyqsPs)

(https://i.ibb.co/R3r0JKy/0-CC79-A47-BB79-4-AFE-9-AE3-7-D7-C9-B06-C6-DC.jpg) (https://ibb.co/48vT0Ld)

(https://i.ibb.co/C8qp1LF/37-EAE23-A-5248-494-D-9-C9-E-45-C8-D6-D27-BB9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bmxjWtn)

Congrats again...great season, great read and great pictures.

Man !!!   You guys on FIRE !!!

CONGRATS !!!! 

That Iowa bird sure was eatin' good.  Dang !!!   Meanwhile..........here I sit.   6 days, yet........    :begging:

Awesome POk!!!!  And congrats again Z!!  I just got my butt whooped 3 days in a row.  Tomorrow it's time for plan B

What an awesome trip Pok and some great stories with great birds. Congratulations

The youth day with Zsully is one that I won't soon forget!

Way to go, unreal. Nice job!

Thanks guys. What a fantastic trip! I made it home a couple days before I was supposed to. Man, I wish I was still hunting turkeys!! It's odd to go from constant thoughts, game planning, early mornings, late nights to just relaxing for a few days.

I'll be following along on all your guys's hunts for a couple weeks. I think the next time I'll be out will be may 13th weekend. Headed for mountain merriams then. I'm certain I won't be able to increase my score on that trip but just happy I could help the team out this year on a high scoring bird, in this just for fun contest.

Congratulations Trent and Sully! I'm sure that dent in your truck will just bring back fond memories till you get it fixed ;)

My 3 best friends and I took a trip to South Georgia this past weekend. The terrain was unlike anything I have previously hunted, consisting of planted pines, unpenetrable briars in some places, and peanut and cotton fields. On Friday, our first day to hunt, we got on a bird early but spent the rest of the day burning boot leather, to no avail. I was having a great time with my friends, but I had little confidence of finding success in the day in a half we had left to hunt. I am so glad to have been proven wrong.

Saturday morning, myself, my friend Colin, and our host Warren went to a property with a small woodlot, the rest being open field. We were greeted with a gobble from the small woodlot, and the three of us set up on the field edge. One hen pitched down 100 yards away in the field, but she was silent. He hit the call hard, and soon a hen roosted with him joined the chorus. I stood on him fairly hard, and after a few minutes of silence, out of my left eye I catch him sailing over our heads at 15 yards. He had pitched over 100 yards through the woods, and his feet hit the dirt 25 yards in front of us. I told, Colin, who has never killed a turkey, that it was a gobbler and to shoot. He obliged. As we were celebrating, a second gobbler, previously silent (or they had taken turns) sailed on the same path as the first, landed beside the first gobbler, and with my third shot (thank God) I completed the double. Colin's first bird turned out to be a triple beard with 1.25 spurs; mine a 15 pounder with a paintbrush and matching spurs. I'd be remissed if I didn't mention the dark wings and body of those turkeys further South.

That same time, on another property, my other two friends had one come in gobbling down the gun barrel, and my friend Jackson was able to claim his first Georgia Gobbler. My friend Blake found success at 3:00 that afternoon. It was an another amazing trip with friends I would die for. I love hunting new terrain and environments, and South Georgia certainly provided that.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230425/edbe898e99a45076f5a77b3d170e797c.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230425/fd632c3b0543c86746993da8faf2391b.jpg)
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Man once again, fantastic story and pictures!  Congratulations to you and your friends!

Unreal buddy, congrats!

Delmar, great season, great read and fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing, Congrats again!

Delmar!!!!!!! Talk about a dream season!!! Straight on fire!

Man what a great time that looks to be!! You just gotta love it when it all comes together like that!

DEL!!!!!!! You're having an amazing season. I feel like last year was incredible too. So many great stories. I'm 100% jealous. Great stories, and great pics my friend. Congrats.

OUTSTANDING stuff, Delmar !!!!!

Congrats to all of yinz !!!

The worm turned for me yesterday.

Friday I was texting with twyatt after he tagged out in VA.  I told him I was having a sucky year, mainly because I skipped most of the first week of hunting season.  I killed a gobbler (and boy did he gobble) on the second Saturday of the season in NC, but his size, spurs and beard left him unworthy of scoring IMO.  I asked my nephew in NC where would be a good place to go yesterday and he told me about a piece of property my hunt club leases that hadn't been hunted and  I had a forehead slap moment because I think to myself all deer season that it would be a great place to hunt and should hold turkeys.  So I went there Saturday morning.  I got there about 20 minutes before shooting time and set up in a point that juts out in a field across the field to where I thought the turkeys should roost.  So I set out my 2 decoys in front of a hole in the cover and set myself back so that I was about 30-yards from the decoys.  I was satisfied with myself that I was right when they started gobbling.  There were about 4 birds that I could hear, so I announced to them where I was with a few yelps and waited.  When the gobbling all stopped I figured they had flown down.  After about 30 minutes I saw 2 black dots heading my way from across the field.  After they were closer I looked at them through my binocs and they were still too far off to tell what they were.  After a few minutes I could tell they both had beards.  I didn't see the need to call so I just let them come on in.  When they were circling my jake decoy I decided which one was biggest, aimed my 301 .410 and pulled the trigger.  CLICK!  I broke the gun open to find the primer dented well but the shell didn't discharge.  The turkeys were so preoccupied with the decoy they didn't detect me loading another shell and I shot the biggest one.  His buddy didn't leave and I watched him for about 10 minutes and took a photo of him at 7:15.  Then I went to VA to find another. But that's a different, but much more exciting story.  Here's the one I passed up.  (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230430/62d8b3d3db164871514fac31808500b4.jpg)


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Great story, thanks for sharing. Congrats!

Congrats! It's amazing how focused they get at times. Way to keep your cool under pressure.


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Congrats Meleagris, great recovery on the dead shell and real nice Tom. Was it a reload? Gun not closed hard enough??

Congrats again MG, great story.  Fill us in on the VA bird when you have time

Quote from: harleytom on April 30, 2023, 05:29:49 PM
Congrats! It's amazing how focused they get at times. Way to keep your cool under pressure.


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Thanks. 


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So this is the story on the VA bird.  I live in Suffolk, VA but I'm from the NC county just beneath it, which is Gates County, NC.  My wife and are both from there and we own or have friends and relatives that have property I can hunt.  In addition I have access to my deer hunting club's leases and just a handful of the club members hunt turkey.  My cousin is a large farmer who owns farms in VA, plus I have access to a few additional places to hunt there. 

So I killed the turkey from the first story in NC, got back home by 8:00 AM and dropped him off, then went to a spot in Virginia my cousin owns.  This particular farm is my honey hole and my son and I have killed many turkeys there over the years.  In fact, he killed a nice gobbler there the first Saturday the season opened this year.  This place hasn't been hunted since so I figure it may be my best option.  I drive there and find a Tom and a hen out in a field in a place where I can get close to them undetected.  So I slip in and find a hole in the edge of the tree line I can shoot through and set up.  I went to the edge of the tree line and peered down the field and I see the hen about 300 yards away.  I figure the gobbler is closer to the woods where I can't see without sticking my head out further.  I go back to my chair and start calling softly.  Nothing.  I do this again about 15 minutes later and still nothing.  I go back to the edge and see no turkeys.  I set my decoys out in front of the hole and call again and wait.  I don't call a ton, usually every 20-30 minutes.  The next time I call I use the Jordan to reach out there and I hear a barely discernible gobble way off behind me.  This is a different gobbler than the one I saw before as it's too far for that bird to have traveled I think.  It's probably in the woods on the other side of a big field behind me.  I stay put and keep calling and he answers me each time and each time I can tell he's getting closer.  I absolutely love these scenarios as I think most of you do.  I switch to a ceramic pot call which I can do more with and start cutting and yelping.  He goes crazy and closes the distance more.  Then he throws out a triple gobble near the edge of the field where my decoys are about 500 yards away.  I imagine he did that because he saw the decoys.  He does the classic move of circling in behind them in the woods so I switch positions to face where he's coming from.  He gets close, directly behind where I was sitting and I switch to my mouth call so I can handle the gun better.  He likes how the mouth call sounds too and gets so close that I should be seeing him but I don't.  He gobbles back and forth in the woods but won't commit.  So I go silent.  I scratch leaves and try making pecking sounds and walking sounds in the leaves which has worked for me before.  Nothing.  I call again and he's further away and I think he may have been intercepted by a hen.  I've had them gobble to my calling when this happens but they tend to get further and further away but he's coming back.  This whole thing has been going on over an hour and I'm worried that I may have to leave because my wife and I have a social engagement just after lunch.  I did the only thing I could do at that moment.....I texted my wife and asked her tell them we'd be a little late.  I put my phone down and immediately hear 2 putts real close.  I froze, scanned where the putts came from but saw nothing.  Not unusual as they can see better than I can and I figure I've been busted.  The putts came from near the edge of the woods and the field my decoys were in.  I stay frozen for a long time and wait.  Maybe we won't be late for our engagement after all because I think it's over.  I sit a while more hit the call and hear nothing, so I figure he's gone.  I laid my gun down and went to pack my chair and call bag up to leave, figuring I'd pick my gun up on the way out to the field when I go get the decoys.  About the time I had the chair folded up I hear an impact and wings beating behind me.  The gobbler is flogging my jake decoy and my gun is on the ground between me and him.  Damn!  So I ever-so-quietly crawl back to my gun.  I'm sitting in a spot where I can't see what's going on with the decoy beating taking place so I slowly stand up.  Still can't see worth a darn.  I can see the gobbler strutting and turning a little but that's about it.  So I look for the white ribs in the middle of his tail feathers which tells me he's facing away and I sidestep each time he turns his back to me in order to see well enough to shoot.  I'm still several feet away from the hole in the woods edge and at the wrong angle to use it.  But I keep edging left every time his back is to me.  I finally get to a spot where I can see more of him so I stand there with my gun aimed at that spot until I see his head.  My arms are aching from holding the gun and he's strutting and not giving me much chance at a clear head shot.  Finally he stops broadside and I pull the trigger.  CLICK!  Not again!  But this time the click was from me not taking the safety off and the hammer couldn't connect with the firing pin mechanism.  Evidently he's focused on the decoy and didn't pay attention to the click.  I take the safety off and wait.  Eventually he turns and faces me, and I don't typically shoot when turkeys are facing me in full strut like that but this may be as good as it gets.  I aim just above the wattles, pull the trigger, the gun goes off and he drops like a sack of flour.  No flopping or anything.  Stone cold dead.  However I'm shooting him from 15 yards or so with TSS number 9.5's.  The whole ordeal took 2 hours from the time I first heard the faint gobble.  A lot of second guessing myself during that time.  Now I have 2 birds to score and clean, but my heart is full.  The NC turkey ended up scoring the best even though this bird outweighed him by 0.85 lbs.  The NC bird at 19 lbs had longer spurs and a little over an inch longer beard.  How's that?


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Quote from: JeffC on April 30, 2023, 05:51:02 PM
Congrats Meleagris, great recovery on the dead shell and real nice Tom. Was it a reload? Gun not closed hard enough??

It was Verdict 7/8 oz 9.5s.  The gun was closed and the breach locked.  Big, deep dent in the primer.  These were shells I purchased this year.


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Man that sounds like an awesome hunt!  Those are the type of hunts I hope for every time I go out.  The ones that rattle you to the core in excitement!
I had one putt this year too and thought the gig was up, then he walked off a few yards, then made a
b-line to the decoy.  Still not sure what that was all about
Heck of a day you had - congrats again

2 great hunts, that is an awesome season! Congrats again! Great read.

The Band is Back Together:

I've been itching to get into the game since you gentlemen started laying down birds in the south. Well this year found A_jabbo and I split up on opening day. I can't remember the last time that's happened but my boys had baseball pictures and I didn't want to cut the hunt short for him so I bowed out and took my oldest for a quick hunt while A_jabbo took his cousin. It was a frustrating day for both of us. Then the band got back together and man the music was sweet on the first dreary Monday up here in Pa.  Rain was in the forecast but we saw a lone gobbler the night before in a spot we had never hunted. We had to give it a shot. An early work meeting would ensure it would be a quick shot but the chance of hearing a gobble with a gun in hand will always be worth it. When we arrived at our location the rain was worse than we thought. We called an audible and pulled the blind. On our way to set up things almost turned for the worse when I didn't see a groundhog hole and sunk up to my knee. While it briefly scared the crap out of me there was no damage and we were set up shortly after.

In the dark we sat and talked about how one gobble would be a win for the day when we got our wish and heard that first gobble of the morning. Shortly after a couple calls from A_jabbo told us there may be a group of birds all together. Immediately we thought it was jakes but they were split from another bird with a much healthier gobble and all birds were working and slowly getting closer. At 7:10 a lone gobbler showed up and, although it was brief, he put on a good show. At my shot he fell and the group of birds gobbled. Mission success!

Quickly A_jabbo got on them with the fighting purrs and I joined the chorus by slapping my hat....we made a racket!! And the group kept gobbling. So we started watching the clock. That 8am meeting is coming fast and I have to at least be in the truck for the call. 7:20 I started getting antsy but I really didn't want to leave. A_jabbo told me we should go and I told him we had time but I might have to do something I haven't done in a long time.....that would be sprinting up a hill. Shoot let's be honest, I haven't ran anywhere in a long time. Luckily we didn't have to wait long and not shockingly there were jakes. What was shocking is that in front of those jakes were 5 longbeards. That's not a typo.......5 freaking glorious longbeards. They fought the decoy they chased each other it was chaos!!!! Fantastic craziness all unfolding at 12 yards. At 7:25 A_jabbo's target separated himself from the group and it was over!!!! Absolute and total mission success! On a morning that we would've been happy with a single gobble we had heard plenty of gobbling and pulled off a double. It was amazing and now I can't wait to get out again. The weather is looking good for the end of this week and Twyatt is coming up.

Stay turned, hopefully there's plenty more to come!

We weren't able to get good field pictures because of my work meeting but I think you guys get the idea.

(https://i.ibb.co/9ZQSRm7/IMG-7571.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/PYmmKqH/IMG-7554.jpg)

Fantastic! Congrats guys!

Congrats to the both of you.

Well done fellas!


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CONGRATS X2 !!!!!

:you_rock:    :you_rock:

Love that!! Great job guys! What an awesome hunt!

Killer B points on the ground, boys !!!

Story to come..........

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52867945898_942cafbfce_c.jpg)

Congrats Don, way to go ,looks like a nice Tom!!

Way to go Gents, a great late flurry!. Congrats to all!!!

Looks like just about everyone has managed to find at least one this season....great job!

Good luck my friend, you'll get him...

It was an incredible morning. And the way it played out on a day that I didn't expect much action, to say we were pleasantly surprised would be an understatement.


Awesome Yoder!!!! Great looking gobbler you got there. Love those white spurred behemoths.

Congrats guys!


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Called some hens in early but their boyfriend (who I gave a pass to last Saturday)  skirted well outta range. He's a very subordinate bird and very skittish. About 9:30......slushy snowflakes hitting me like bird crap...... I found one gobbling at the far corner of a big field. Probably 300+yards out. I glassed and found him through the trees in front of me.  VERY big bird !!!    There was no way for me to get to the edge of the field without a huge risk of getting busted.  So, I formulated a plan to back off and get on a farm road that leads into my near corner of that field. I got down on the road and called from about 100 yards back in from where it enteres the field. He answered me immediately. I cut him off and he in turn cut ME off. I cranked right back at him and he cut me off again. He was wound up tight !!  I beat feet for as close to where the road dumps into the field and was getting set up off to the side of it when, through some greenbrier, I see a gobbler in the field walking toward me about 50 yards out !!! Not the hard gobbling bird.........but one of his buddies coming in on the sly all quiet-like. Got the dot turned on and waited............and waited.......and waited. I didn't think there was any way the bird could have left without me seeing it. Heck !! He was nearly in range when I got sat down. Just that one wad of greenbrier thicket between us....... I was just starting to raise up to try to see over the greenbrier when he steps from behind it......leaving the field and coming into the road  to my right. He caught me in a semi-awkward position. But I got the gun on him and the hammer back right as he stopped and ran his head up at 32-33 yards.  The hard-gobbling bird out in the field corner gobbled at the shot.......and was still gobbling as I toted his sidekick off, over my shoulder.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52868106080_134984aff3_c.jpg)

Way to go Don. Tough weather, your perseverance paid off. Well done, congrats!

Congrats Yoder!!!!! What a stud!!!!

Awesome stuff! Can't wait to see the pics of the ring leader after you kill him ;)

I want him bad.

Gut feeling is that he'd have ended up getting capped if his buddy hadn't tried to run the gauntlet first.

Gotta get some sleep but by all accounts day one of Twyatt's Pa turkey extravaganza was a success. Story to come.

(https://i.ibb.co/ZfGJG2P/IMG-1090.jpg)

Quote from: zsully on May 04, 2023, 09:12:24 PM
Gotta get some sleep but by all accounts day one of Twyatt's Pa turkey extravaganza was a success. Story to come.

(https://i.ibb.co/ZfGJG2P/IMG-1090.jpg)

Hot dog!


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Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about, boys !!!!!    :you_rock:

CONGRATS X2 !!!!

Very nice!


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There's not much to tell about the bird I posted in the kill thread today.  To be honest I'm almost embarrassed.  The biggest thing I did was roost this Tom yesterday.  This all started yesterday morning when I decided to ride by a spot that's easy for me to hunt on week days because it's very close to work.  Gobblers have eluded me in this spot so far this year, and I was afraid the one I had seen earlier in the season had been killed by one of my co-workers in this particular place.  After he killed his, all I had been seeing were jakes and hens.  Yesterday morning I saw a big red head in a wheat field, and although he didn't strut and I didn't see his beard, I figured he may be big enough for a closer look.  So I rode back to this spot yesterday around 6:15 PM and found 2 red heads in the wheat field.  I watched them a while, and they watched me until they decided I wasn't a threat and started meandering there way away from me between the wheat and the woods where I couldn't see them at all.  I knew they were going to an open ground area so I drove to the edge of the opening and waited.  As predicted they showed up and I saw a nice beard on one and the other was a jake.  I watched them until 7:15 PM which is when they disappeared into the woods at the corner of the field.  So I felt like I knew pretty well where they'd be this morning.  This morning I showed up about 30 minutes before legal shooting time and picked a spot for the decoys and then picked a spot for myself.  Legal shooting time was about 5:39 AM but I didn't call for 20 minutes because I hadn't heard any gobbling.  I usually announce myself with calling once I hear some gobbling on the roost, but only once or twice.  About 6:00 AM is see a hen making her way across the field to me.  She's walked across where the gobblers could see her from where I thought they'd be roosting so I just didn't complicate the situation by calling.  She starts angling away from me to the right and the jake walks out from the left about 150 yards away and doesn't pay much attention to the decoys.  I figured I'd call then as I had the diaphragm in my mouth already but the gobbler came from around the edge of the woods where the jake came out at a fast pace, strutting and heading right for my jake decoy.  He began flogging the decoy and I knew I had him so I took my time and watched him through the "green" dot on my Swamp Fox Kingslayer and waited for his head to be clear.  Once it did I shot him and he went down without flopping much.  They were exactly where I thought they'd be this morning and the hunt was over by 6:07 AM. Not much of a memorable hunt but it makes you more appreciative of the more exciting ones.  He scored better than my last bird I posted in the kill thread so he's there now.  I have one tag, 6 days left and 3 birds I have targeted that appear to be much nicer than the one I shot today.  Gonna sleep in tomorrow and get after one of them Wednesday.

Don't be embarrassed...that just means you figured it out to the letter. Not all hunts can be exciting as some others. The good thing is you were able to enjoy another morning in God's creation.

CONGRATS on a stud of a bird!!!  Sounds exciting to me, you got to see the sun rise, strutting, flogging the decoy, made a good shot.  I'd sure trade you for what I was doing - working

Thanks guys!  Twyatt caught that I made a mistake on the legal shooting time.  It's been corrected.


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Congrats my friend!

Congrats buddy! Way to stay after them!


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CONGRATS, MG !!!!

Well done by any standard.

Congratulations guys! Only one point away from leading this thing!

I've spent the last week chasing Merriams with my best friend. It was an absolute blast. We got our tails handed to us more times than I can count but were able to find some success.

After my buddy killed on Monday afternoon, I was up to bat on Tuesday. We heard no gobbles on the roost, but struck a bird at 9:30 who proceeded to beat us like only Merriams can for 3.5 hours. After conceding defeat with him, we struck another bird on the opposite mountain from 800 yards away at 12:20. After driving around and coming in on top of him, he answered the first call. We closed some ground and called again. He was on a bench directly below us. We sat up shop and yelped again. He was on his way up. One final yelp and he announced he had made it to the top with us. He then strutted and drummed to 37 yards. Adding drama to this moment, my red dot decided this moment was appropriate to be low on battery, causing it to blink 3 seconds, appear 5 seconds, repeatedly. Luckily, he did not know we were in the world and allowed me to take my time. He did perfect in every way and gave us the experience we came all that way to have. He also had no spurs at all, and my buddy's only had one.

I'll try to post a link to the video my buddy took here.
https://www.facebook.com/parker.durham.16/posts/pfbid02EmoZhBWdUSf53MoZ4FrssxDnwh77oURe91yPxkfzxw46ywsvrp4Q2buVU8T1m1sLl?notif_id=1684013623190871&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif

I also found success in the rain and wind gusts Friday morning. This turkey had been attacked, as he was missing 5 tail feathers and all his back feathers, and had healing puncture wounds in his breast and wing.
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Way to go my friend. As usual, great pics, fine story! Congrats!

Congrats again Delmar, incredible season, great pictures!

OUTSTANDING job, Delmar !!!!!!!

MUCHO congrats !!!!

Beautiful bird! Even more beautiful country. Congrats


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Thanks, guys! It is always humbling traveling out West and seeing the landscape and views we don't get here in the South. Certainly some of my fondest memories have been made out there with my best friend. I've got one more trip planned; my dad and I are taking are annual trip next week. This time, we are headed to the Northeast. Hopefully we come across a long-spurred Eastern that will close that small gap between us and first place! (Although I will gladly accept any hard gobbling 2 year old that wants to play.)

Good luck and happy hunting


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Like Delmar, I'm also hunting mountain merriams and experienced similar hunting conditions. Some turkeys seemed "done" while others were still with hens.

I hunted two different states and only tagged out in one of them in 5 days of hard hunting...which was perfectly fine.

I glassed up this turkey after driving, calling, and hiking ridges with absolutely 0 gobbling that day in areas I had high confidence in. I created a ridge and saw turkeys in a clearing across from me approximately 300 yards away. I at first just saw 2 hens and a few jakes, but finally saw there was one longbeard in the group. I said to myself "just be patient and see what they're doing to do". I really didn't want to screw this up as hard as the hunting was. I had a Tom spotted, it was in the afternoon and I knew if I didn't blow him out, I had a turkey to hunt in the morning.

Well after watching them for a bit, the male birds separated from the hens. I was in a good spot to call from, tucked into the pines and so I called as lightly as I thought they could hear me from 300 yards and in some 10 mph winds. Most of the turkey picked their heads up. I called again a bit louder and only 4 yelps if I remember right. Well they all took quick steps to my right and RAN off!!! I couldn't believe it! I went from "don't screw this up" to "what the he** was that!" In a matter of minutes.

In haste, I quickly followed but then thought about the situation and slowed my roll. I've spooked enough turkeys to know they usually really don't go anywhere and I just truly didn't believe these turkeys were going to move locations from some yelps.

I circled to a high point where the turkeys had headed towards and almost immediately saw them entering the same clearing we had all just vacated. Game back on but calls put away. The timber is not typically thick in the west and this was no exception. I crawled around them for a couple hours waiting to make my move but keep track track of them the best I could. I finally got my chance as they fed close to a ravine. I used the ravine to sneak in, and crawled to a scraggly ponderosa pine. I rose up and waited to make sure I picked out the longbeard, and ended my chase at less than 30 yards.

Also adding in a pic of my buddy's little boy with his Mom's Turkey and some scenery shots just for good measure

(https://i.ibb.co/PrGgDYc/7-BF4-B7-DE-E8-C1-4-DC6-9567-EF8-A9154-A559.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0nyrsXC)
(https://i.ibb.co/QP3N8sy/3757-AE1-A-B9-C1-43-EE-89-B7-02-C687-D8-CFC9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dPw2bn8)
(https://i.ibb.co/FDp0mXX/51-CAE814-6356-49-DF-A165-D979-F77-F15-E0.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W2CPG00)
(https://i.ibb.co/602Jx7V/38592-B84-7259-4-A24-AE98-9162-D5-B439-C5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N2XnPdQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/17Dwj7Y/CDCF9-F94-04-CB-4624-8-E14-BF1400336181.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0mgdvmp)
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Heck yeah Pok!!! Congrats, and GREAT pictures!

CONGRATS, Pok !!!!!!

Outstanding pics !!!!

Congratulations


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WAY TO GO TOM!!! Killer B's take the lead!

Heck of a bird you posted in the harvest thread Tom!  Well done sir!


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Thanks team, I appreciate being a part of such a fine group of guys!

Congrats POk3, great read and even better pictures, thanks for sharing the picture of your friends son, that's a frameable picture.

Congrats Tom! A_jabbo and I are still grinding here in Pa. The last three hunts have been tough. We have a swing and a miss, a morning where absolutely nothing went right, and a morning where my oldest son learned a lesson about checking the weather and the value of blinds. More to come hopefully. The grind continues.

Quote from: zsully on May 21, 2023, 11:46:34 AM
Congrats Tom! A_jabbo and I are still grinding here in Pa. The last three hunts have been tough. We have a swing and a miss, a morning where absolutely nothing went right, and a morning where my oldest son learned a lesson about checking the weather and the value of blinds. More to come hopefully. The grind continues.

Thanks my friend. Good luck to ya........be safe......