tell us the story of your hunt, and don't leave out any details!!
Osceola down. Story.
weight 17lbs 7 oz
beard--9"
lft spr--1 1/8"
rt spr- 1 1/8"
score is 57.9375
I had a couple birds gobbling. Some how a bird ended up behind me on the road I walked in on. He probably gobbled over a hundred times. I heard one out in front of me, to my left, but thought he was a pretty far out there. Just tried to do some soft calling, every now and then I would get a little more aggressive. I think it was a hunter, but it could have been a hen, out to my right. Every time they would call, I would cut them off. If it was a hunter I was trying to let him know I was there. After about an hour, the bird behind me is still gobbling his head off, and every now and then I would hear the bird to my left gobble. Finally I see a white head coming through the woods. He is not coming to me and I do not think he ever saw my decoy. He is making his way past me to the bird on the road. As I called to him he would start to strut and look my way, but would not come in. He changes his angle and was coming closer but was still heading to the road bird. He was directly to my left at about 50 yards, he was moving slowly to the road and would gobble at my calls. I decided to get my gun on him when he went behind some pines, I was able to get on him and only had a small window to shoot.
I estimated him at about 40 yards, When I shot he went down. The shot did not kill him, so I ran over and stepped on his neck. He was probably further then I thought.
long walk back to the truck, He felt like he weighed 30 pounds by the time I got there.
Congrats! Job well done. :icon_thumright:
Congrats buddy!!!!
Congrats!!!
I am not the best story-teller, but here goes...
We had about 10 different birds gobbling from the get go. We decided to setup in some oaks just off of the swamp (where the birds were gobbling). We had a hen walk out of the swamp and to our right and right behind us, so we knew it was a good sign. After that, we had a hen walk in at about 20 or 30 yards and start kee-keeing, it was one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Next thing I knew, my cousin was telling me not to move, that there was another hen in the road, then a second, then possibly a gobbler. Out of nowhere, three hens flew back up into the swamp, and we thought we were done. Next thing I knew, he was telling me there was still a bird, and it was in full strut. He gets his gun up, and BOOM! While we were admiring his bird as it made its final flops, we heard another gobbler sound off maybe 50 yards from us down in the swamp, but we could not get him to come. So, after 10 minutes or so of taking pictures, I was getting anxious and wanting to get on another bird. So, we walked maybe 100 yards to hang his bird on an old rub shed and try to get on another one. My cousin let out a few more yelps, and a bird immediately answered back about 50-100 yards down in the swamp (we think it was the same bird that answered after his kill). How that bird didn't hear us talking I will never know... After one more set of yelps, it was evident that he was getting closer, so we jumped down against the nearest trees we could find. One more set of yelps, and the bird was maybe 30 yards from us, but we could not see him. I was expecting him to come down the road, but he cut in through the thick stuff and was making a bee-line for my cousin. I saw him pop up through the brush, and I pulled the trigger on him at about 10 yards. Unfortunately for me, it was a bad shot and he took off running (he did not fly off, though). I jumped up and sprinted after him, down the hill into the swamp, faster than I have ever run in my life. All I could think was "I'm running too fast for snakes, I'm running too fast for snakes..." I pulled the gun up and shot him again at about 30 yards. I ran to him and put the final shot on him. My cousin and I were pumped! Doubling up on opening morning is definitely something that we will remember for a long time...
That's a pretty cool story. Its amazing how fast you can run when you need to, lol. Sounds like a freakin blast of a morning. Congrats to both of you on a great hunt.
I went to listen this morning and I only heard one bird way off and I knew where he was. I have hunted this bird several days and knew he would be henned up. I have been sick this week and I wasn't feeling real good so I went back home to try to eat something and rest up. Around lunch I felt better so I decided to give him a try on a midday hunt. I set up where some woods meet a big field. I figured they would be out in the sunshine. I was pretty sure I was close to where he had roosted this morning. I sat down and called a for the next 30 minutes on and off. Then I heard a stick break. I eased around and got ready and 5 minutes later he walks out. Sometimes things are just meant to be.
9 5/8 beard, 13/16 spurs 17 lb 13 oz.
Quote from: birdman67 on March 23, 2017, 07:40:50 PM
I went to listen this morning and I only heard one bird way off and I knew where he was. I have hunted this bird several days and knew he would be hemmed up. I have been sick this week and I wasn't feeling real good so I went back home to try to eat something and rest up. Around lunch I felt better so I decided to give him a try on a midday hunt. I set up where some woods meet a big field. I figured they would be out in the sunshine. I was pretty sure I was close to where he had roosted this morning. I sat down and called a for the next 30 minutes on and off. Then I heard a stick break. I eased around and got ready and 5 minutes later he walks out. Sometimes things are just meant to be.
9 5/8 beard, 13/16 spurs 17 lb 13 oz.
I like to think that everything works out the way it does for a reason. Congrats!
Congrats. That is where scouting paid off.
Nice job.
Congrats!
Way to go and yes that's where the scouting did pay off. Glad your feeling better too. Congrats!!!
Congrats everyone! Keep the stories coming
Killed a second bird. not big enough to bump the score the of the last one, but ill share the pic here. public land bird after work. killed at 6pm. crappy beard. 9" long but super thin . lots of broken strands up top. decent spurs though. came in quiet. latest ive ever killed a gobbler. happy to get him
Congrats dzsmith.
Congrats!!! You guys are starting to stack em up,lol. Still have 3 weeks to wait.
we got 4.5 weeks left. going to florida april 8-10. going to Missouri on a bowhunt may 2-4. Lord willing unless I don't get to go. ill finally have me a stud gobbla
Good shooting fellas. They are starting to get fired up in MD. I am itching.
Quote from: dzsmith on March 26, 2017, 12:47:37 PM
we got 4.5 weeks left. going to florida april 8-10. going to Missouri on a bowhunt may 2-4. Lord willing unless I don't get to go. ill finally have me a stud gobbla
What part of the state you hunting?
I went out to public land this morning. I got there way too early, as I did not see another vehicle until daybreak. I had one gobble about 150 yards from where I decided to stop next to a field and listen for owls/gobbles. He would answer my hoots, but nothing else. Eventually, I decided that he went the other way, as he would have had to cross an open field to get to the patch of woods that I setup in, so I got up and went in that direction. I didn't get 50 yards from the tree I started on when a truck came riding through (right next to the field...). I decided at that moment that I would rather be home in bed with the wife...
Quote from: turkey harvester on March 27, 2017, 01:04:13 PM
Quote from: dzsmith on March 26, 2017, 12:47:37 PM
we got 4.5 weeks left. going to florida april 8-10. going to Missouri on a bowhunt may 2-4. Lord willing unless I don't get to go. ill finally have me a stud gobbla
What part of the state you hunting?
Ormond beach. near Daytona. then on my drive back if I have time ill stop in Hamilton county for a quick hunt right there on the Georgia line
Just found out I wasn't getting updates...I thought we hadn't scored yet! Congrats on the birds guys! I'll be opening up my season in a few weeks in Kansas then heading home to Illinois to hunt for a few weeks. You guys are making me antsy to get out there
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Got number 2 at 6:30 this morning. I roosted the birds yesterday afternoon. I went to hunt but they were henned up so I did a lot of watching. I went back this morning and tried to get between the hens and gobblers. At 6:10 they started hammerin. Hens were going crazy so I let them know where I was. As soon as they hit the ground, hens were running to them. I just happened to be a little closer to the hens so I beat them to the punch. The strutter stayed under the hill and I couldn't get a good shot so I took the closer bird. A nice 3 year old: 8 1/2 beard, 1 inch dagger spurs, 16 lbs. 3 oz. Even though this bird is older he is not an upgrade.
(http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg137/yelper67/AA4400F3-88F7-4F81-92C9-1058EE57E2A3.jpg) (http://s247.photobucket.com/user/yelper67/media/AA4400F3-88F7-4F81-92C9-1058EE57E2A3.jpg.html)
Heck ya!!! Dang guys still have a week. Congrats Tandy
Congrats birdman.
Nice!
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Congrats!
Congrats
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Osceola down in Florida.
Beard-7"
spr 1"
Spr 1 1/16"
weighed 14lbs
score-48.625
1st bird scored higher.
I went to a spot we know about on public land. The bird never gobbled at all. About 9:00 I had a hen fly into my set up and hang around for an hour. I would call every 10-15 minutes, I kept hearing some more birds in the direction the hen came from. At 10:00 they walked thru my set up, there where 2 hens, 3 jakes and the Tom.
He looked at the decoy, but never went to it. The hen must have bumped the decoy earlier and it was kinda sideways. Shot him at about 25 yards.
congrats on a pretty bird, is that it for your season?
Quote from: ruination on April 10, 2017, 04:57:41 PM
congrats on a pretty bird, is that it for your season?
We are allowed 3 in Mississippi so I still have one more to get.
Yep, I am done. Only a 2 bird limit in Florida.
Maybe when I retire I can try for a slam.
Good luck to everyone still hunting.
went to florida last Friday night. got there at 2 am. couldn't get a hotel, not that I would have gotten any sleep anyway, was supposed to meet up with my partner at 5am. got bad directions, and never got hooked up with him til about 6am. didn't make it to the woods til 645am. dude told me there was one bird gobbling in the block I was hunting, which was discouraging because the last time I went here there was 10 gobbling. he also told me he was henned up and id probably have to come up with a game plan to kill him in the afternoon. bird flew down at 0700. he was not roosted where they said he was. he went straight to his hens and shut up at 730. I waited around til about 8. slipped down a fire lane after him. called pretty aggressive and located him. as he started making his way up the road to circle my fire lane. I scratched only from that point on. two hens led him right by me. big ole bird. 1 3/8 spurs. pulled the trigger at 830. ive been to this property twice in the last three years, and have only been in the woods a total of 2 hours. with 2 birds to show for it. I had been up for over 30 hours when I killed that bird. had little preparation so I was very please with the quick outcome.
#4 for the year. after killing a bird in florida Saturday morning, I went and scouted some public land in florida that afternoon. I hunted it sunday morning until lunch, and did get on a gobbling bird, but he didn't gobbler for long and I wasn't able to strike anything up after that. so that afternoon I drove back to Mississippi. Got to the woods late Monday morning about 0700. parked and hunted one spot. called in 3 jakes about 830. let them leave, and drove to another spot that I had originally planned on hunting, but couldn't because somebody was parked there already. I had been hunting there the previous week, and worked a bird a few times. he wouldn't gobble much, and was pretty sneaky. but I thought about my game plan for him the whole time I was in florida, and it was to catch him mid day. I went right where I thought I would find him at, and low and behold he was there, but about 400 yards away if not further. It was windy but I had specifically brought my long box , so I cranked on it real hard for about a minute. had a different bird answer me, but I payed him no mind. after making that call I saw him coming my way. so when he topped the next ridge closer to me I used another loud box I had and made a more aggressive and slightly complex call. he actually gobbled to that. I put the call up, layed on the ground, and he walked the whole way to me. this was on a big pipeline by the way, just so yall can picture what im talking about. very hilly. which was to my advantage at that moment. the gas company left some small pines on one side, and tall grass. there was a lil nole there, that I walked to in order to glass the next 3/4 mile of line. its also the highest point on the line. I was able to simply sit down and nothing could see me, so It was a relatively comfortable other than I couldn't lean up against anything to shoot. he walked smooth by me. from the time I saw him to his death was only 15 minutes. unfortunately it was a 2 mile walk to get there. limited out in the home state
Great stories! Congrats on the birds!
Congrats on the birds!! Great story. It will be on Monday morning, providing the rain holds off. Got a private farm we've hunted before with great success, soooo hopefully something will want to come play. You guys are really whackin some birds!!
Congrats!
Tagged out and my season has not even begun yet. Niceeee.
Congrats on the birds, everybody! I'll be back out to public land on Friday morning.
Nice job guys. Congrats and keep it going.
My 3 day weekend starts when I get off work today. Gonna try to go roost some birds this afternoon.
I am having trouble finding when the contest ends. We are currently in 5th place. The top three teams are already above 300 points. That makes me think most of them are possibly done scoring birds. If we have enough people who have yet to score a bird, I think we may have a shot at winning this thing.
When does the contest end?
I think end of may, not sure. My season starts on Monday so maybe I can add in the next 3 weeks. Lay em down folks.
Some states seasons end at the end of May. The contest ends after the last season closes.
So the contest probably ends at the beginning of June, to give hunters a chance to add there entrys.
WV youth season was great today! I was blessed to spend another day in the woods with my oldest son. We roosted 14 birds on Friday night. He was excited to say the least. I had setup a blind on Wednesday in a spot that has produced well the last few years and we were within 250 yds of the roost tree off a strut path. We placed our DSD breeding pair 15 steps in front of the blind at 5:50 am. We heard several gobbles from the roost. Hens were very vocal as well. By 6:45am, the farm got quiet. At 8:30 we were able to challenge a hen uphill but for whatever reason, she started to putt and walk away. At the same time, we heard a gobble not more than 50 yds over the hill! However, he went with her. Shortly after 9, I spotted several in the field near the roost site. I tried to challenge the hens as we couldn't strike up a longbeard. Then it happened. 2 hens came from the strut zone and was towing a longbeard behind them. He came in full strut challenging the Jake and we let him beat him up awhile as I filmed it all. I couldn't hold my son back anymore and told him "Now". He rolled him off the Jake at 15 yds! Thank ya Lord! 19 lb. 10 1/4" Beard and inch Spurs. Great memories made today!!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170416/a499fcf8116f5e8845b8bdc6d17d72a5.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170416/f541e2004715463d5735aa39123f764c.jpg)
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Congrats to you both. Great story and like you said memories.
Someday he will be taking you hunting. Lol.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on April 15, 2017, 11:16:34 AM
I am having trouble finding when the contest ends. We are currently in 5th place. The top three teams are already above 300 points. That makes me think most of them are possibly done scoring birds. If we have enough people who have yet to score a bird, I think we may have a shot at winning this thing.
When does the contest end?
I should have bumped my first bird with the florida bird, but once he was bagged up he went straight to the taxidermist. I didn't think about the OG until it was too late. But like you said theres enough people who haven't scored yet to change the tide. good luck to everyone. I still got Missouri tags to fill in a couple weeks so hopefully I will be able to bump a bird
Congrats!!!
Congrats!
Way to go!!! Well Monday was and wasn't a bust for me. It was freakin stormin, lightning, thunder, the whole nine yards. But it was opening morning, lol. So me and the wife head to a spot I acquired Sunday afternoon. My other spot didn't work out. Went in blind and had 1 gobble right at daylight. That's bout the time the rain started. We got within 80 yards of him while he was still on limb. put out my full strutter and a hen decoy. Rain got harder and the birds shut up but I knew they weren't far. Seen a white head on the edge of a field we cant hunt and he slowly disappeared. Kept scanning the field edge and looked back to decoy spread and we have an extra fan in the mix. We had 1 come in silent and was fixin to whoop my strutter. My wife cant see his head, I can see the whole show. He finally turns and makes a couple steps to our right and now she sees him, but hes still in strut. I see another fan behind the decoy so we have 2 out there. She says what do I do? I said kill the first one you want. She couldn't stand it no more and rolled him at 25 yards with her 20. I love it when a plan comes together. We hunted the rest of the morning, but no more birds wanted to play. I was good with that cause I was thrilled she got one. 20lbs, 9 1/2" beard and 1' spur, other broke off.
Congrats to her! Sounds like y'all earned that bird!
Nice job. Congrats to both.
You guys toughed it out, and got it done. I know sometimes we do not care what the weather is, especially opening weekend, but props to your wife.
My wife would have stayed in bed or at least in the truck. Lol
Well, I finally did it! I finally called in and shot my first public land bird. I heard him gobble down by a creek, which was about 200 yards, parallel, off the road that I was on. I setup on a tree, about 40 yards into the thin pines on my side of the road. I let out a few soft yelps on my pot call, and he gobbled again. Now, between the road and the creek, the land had been cleared, and the trees were stacked, like a wall, with an opening about every 100 yards. I decided to move over to a tree closer to a thicker set of small trees so I would have a shot as soon as I saw him, when/if he came to me.
So, the next thing that I see is a bird walking in the open area between the "tree wall" and the creek. I let out a few more yelps, and he came running! Next thing I know, he cuts off to my right, at about 100 yards. I was afraid that I was going to have to make a move on him but, next thing I knew, he had crossed the road and popped into the small thick pines. He came in to my right, I got adjusted, and shot him as soon as he stepped into the first clear spot. He was down by 6:35 a.m.
Since I first started turkey hunting, calling in and shooting a public land bird, on my own, has been the biggest turkey hunting goal, and biggest turkey hunting trophy of mine. I cannot express how exciting, and relieving, it was to step on that bird's neck!
This bird was not an upgrade to my previous score.
I was alone, so these are the best pictures that I could get:
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_063400_zps9md0d2en.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_063400_zps9md0d2en.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_065719_zpsws1wd3ng.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_065719_zpsws1wd3ng.jpg.html)
(http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah215/josephferg3/20170421_065747_zpsudr7ebiw.jpg) (http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/josephferg3/media/20170421_065747_zpsudr7ebiw.jpg.html)
Way to go!!! Don't ya love it when things come together. Congrats!! Great story.
Great job on all the birds. Deerbasshunter congrats on the public land bird, always tougher birds.
Keep at it guys.
These stinkin Mo birds are kickin by butt this year!! It rained all day Saturday so I just got wet, no gobbles. Yesterday I go to a private farm I hunted Wednrsday. There is one bird that will gobble 100+ times on the limb and shut up on the ground. Well I got in his face yesterday. Same thing, gobbled his fool head off. Set up on a field edge, cause he was roosted so close to it. Hens started the fly down cackles and he soon followed. He only had 2 hens with him to be gobbling that much and another gobbler who didn't say a word. They hit he ground and he hens immediately started yelping, so I did too louder. Lead hen got angry at the new comer so started to come investigate the noise. Mr. strutter was just tagging along, gobbling once in a while. Things were finally going my way until every turkey takes off running to opposite side of field. I look over and a dang coyote is slipping in. I was gonna blast him but he seen me and bolted. I hung around, changed locations, trying to strike up another gobble and find them. Not a peep the rest of the morning. Our birds are henned up soooo bad right now.
Coyotes are a real problem. They all need to die. Lol
Hopefully it will work out for you next time.
Congrats on the bird deerbasshunter3! Stay after them guys! Those hens will break off soon. I have one more weekend left. Gonna try to locate a couple before work to give me a heads up for the weekend.
Nice job Jroddc. Lets hear the story.
I got set up real early. Was a very foggy morning was misting the whole time I was in and waiting. I didn't get a chance to try to roost them but was pretty confident that they were they had been regularly. Just as it was getting light I gave a few soft yelps just to let them know I was there, they started gobbling sounded like they were about 100-150 yards from me down a hill and after a short while they sounded a little farther off ( must have been that they had flown down). I gave a few more yelps a touch louder and got a response cutting me off so just stopped calling and got the gun up and ready. Well when they crested the hill and I could finally see them coming out of the fog screaming looking for me it was truly an amazing sight. They were 2 lonbeards and came right in to 20 yards and saw my dekes stopped behind a bush. Had the gun up waiting for the lead bird ( which was the larger of the 2 ) to take 2 more steps, well he took 3 I stopped him with a cluck and he put his head up and lights out.
Heck ya!! Great story. Unbelievable here in southern Missouri. We have historical flooding going on right now in our town with the current river. Highest recorded was like 26.80ft back in 1904. Supposed to crest Tuesday at 33ft!!!! Needless to say the hunting hasn't been good for the last 3 days. Butttt I did find a new piece of public 5 miles from house, and no school tomorrow so home boy is goin huntin!! The eleven point river is over the bridge at Riverton on 160 hwy. They say they may close the bridge going into town. What sucks is I'll be flooded in from both directions out to civilization,lol. Guess that means I may get to hunt more,lol. Good luck to those still hunting, and congrats to all that killed. Hopefully some waterlogged bird will want to gobble and play.
Guys here's the deal. My town is underwater and we are kind of in a state of emergency. I had to drive a ways to make a call so I thought I would chime in. If someone kills something I will need someone to reply to the kill entries. Our power is out, bridges east and west and south closed, and landline is gone. It may be 4-6 days before we get power back or even the dang river going down. Supposed to crest 11 feet higher than all time record in 1904!!! Wife's work is flooded and our school did too some so no work for us. Windy as hell this morning but I went anyway, heard 1 hen and seen where a slew of hogs went through. Gonna try again tomorrow, nothing else to do,lol. If I get back out and happen to get another signal I'll look in. All of our cell reception on all phones is out. All well, make the best of it and thank goodness for my little generator.
Good luck Turkey Harvester and be safe.
Sounds like a possible bad situation there.
Be safe Turkey Harvester. We'll keep you in our prayers! Good luck hunting too
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Take care turkey harvester! Pray things get back to normal formyou guys soon.
Yea back to civilization!!! Rivers down but what a stinkin mess. Its rained and wind has blown for last 2 days. Hoping to get back out this weekend, its out last one. This season has sucked!!
I hope all is well with you and your family, turkey harvester. We had some bad flooding back in 2015 and it took a while to get back to normal, so I know how you feel. Thoughts and prayers for y'all.
Unless the weather does a 180 by tomorrow morning, it looks like my season is done. I can honestly say that this has been my best season yet. I found some public land to hunt (it was right in front of my eyes the entire time, ha!), and killed my first public land bird (or any animal, for that matter) this year, which I called in all by myself. It was the fastest hunt I have ever been on, my second fastest is a deer hunt where I killed a deer after only being in a tree for 15 minutes. Also, this is the first year that I have killed more than one bird.
As good as this season has been, and as much as I have learned on OG, I am going to have to let it (OG) go. I realized that I have been spending way too much time staring at my computer screen, mainly OG and AT, and it has become a problem (nothing serious, but not fair to my family). I am going to wait until after the contest is complete before I deactivate my account because I don't want to risk costing our team the points that I scored. I have not checked the standings, so I am not sure where we stand in the contest, but good luck to those of you who still have some hunts left.
I just built a nice fire pit area in the backyard, so I am looking forward to spending more nights out there with my family and a few cold ones.
Deerbasshunter, much respect to you. It takes a man to see something that could or is a problem and do something about it. It does not have to be anything illegal or bad, but just something that interferes with our priorities.
Some would say it is a weakness, I see it as an strength.
Glad to have met you and been on the same team.
Anybody else still hunting?
Hats off to you deerbasshunter! Nice to have been on a team with ya. Hope all things work out. Enjoy your family. They are where our time needs to be used.
Glad we got to know ya buddy. With everything that has went on this season, flooding, crappy weather, I'm bout ready for a break myself, lol. Have fun with the family, I know I'm ready for summer!! River time.
That's why you OG at work!
But seriously dude, good on you for recognizing an addiction and walking away.
I still have a couple of weeks left to hunt, been getting real close but just not connecting.
Had a windy morning last week so I set up on a tree with my wife in the middle of a meadow. Couple of hens came through around 8. About 10 I hear rustling leaves and spitting to my left in the trees. Whisper to my wife that there's a Turkey right there. Determined he was walking in the direction behind me, so I started to try and get in position but my wife was where I really needed to be.
Heard an alarm put and saw him flying away, apparently he came out about 5 yards away and my wife was afraid to say something and of course I am jostling around trying to set up.
Keep at it ruination, it will all come together for you.
Finally made it come together this morning. Last morning at that!!! He wasn't where they normally are, which is across the gravel on another one of the properties we can hunt. Didn't get to him till he flew down but he continued to gobble so I figured he was by himself. Got on the edge of a wood lot, which had a green strip around it. He gobbled and wasn't 70 yards away. Set up the full strutter and a hen decoy. Made a few calls and he answered every call. Got him really fired up and within minutes he was running to the strutter. Had a Mexican standoff for a few but I couldn't take it no more and rolled him at 18 steps. 21.60 lbs, 10 beard, 1" on one side, 7/8 on other. Hunted with my little brother so it was a hunt to remember!!! Had him on the ground at 6:16. Score was 61.35 I think. I'll post pics up tomorrow, I'm at my sons wedding today so needless to say great day.
Congrats turkey harvester, X2. ( sons wedding and your bird)
Good bird too, persist does pay off.
Messed the score up, its 60.125, lol.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170508/87fbee65e64f8388211f0287f711434a.jpg)
Well guys I finally got it done. After being more than excited for this season it turned into my worst season yet. This was only the 2nd Tom I called into my set up all year. The first tom got spooked at 45 yards a few weeks ago and never came in. I went with a buddy to Kansas and we both struck out there.
Got this guy with 3 days left in this Illinois season. As most of you know we got hammered last week with over ten inches of continual rain that screwed up all of my good spots. I got in the habit of hanging out in spots where I had seen turkeys instead of chasing them.
This morning I was so frustrated that I just decided to go after them and look what happens. Got within a few hundred yards of him this morning while he was gobbling. Got where I thought he would go and set up my lone hen. Total silence for 30 minutes after fly down while other birds are going crazy. Decided that he was henned up and went to pull the deke and chase another bird. Had pulled my hen out of the ground and boom he hammered a hundred yards away. Staked the decoy and took off running. Waited a few minutes and through a few soft yelps out and BOOM he's at 40 yards over my shoulder. Watched him lead a hen towards my decoy through some tall grass, hit the field and immediately strut. He zigzagged straight into my decoy and the Benelli did the rest. It was about 43 degrees with no wind and clear skies. Got to listen to my shot echo and be the exclamation point on an otherwise dismal season. Definitely not my biggest but I'll take him.
10" beard
1" spurs
21.5 pound
For a score of 61.5
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Congrats!!
Congrats! :icon_thumright:
Congrats and nice job Dmason. I am the same way, I like to sit as long as I can and stay in an area if I know there are birds there. BUT, after a few hunts with nothing working, I am on the move. Both are great and both work, just have to try something different.
Busted up that head pretty good.
Heck ya, I hear ya on the flooding. Been crazy here too. Send me a pic of the spurs. I'll go ahead and post it up. Congrats and great story.
went to northwest Missouri may 2nd-4th on an archery hunt. waste of time and gas......that's all I have to say. saw one bird in three days and it was a hen. never again
IMO its better hunting in the southern part of the state. A ton of public that nobody ever goes to.
except Mississippi folks...they slaughter the public land birds in south Missouri. Yeah this was a archery hunt with an outfitter in exchange for a deer hunt that I had to cancel, so I kinda had to go under the circumstances, I would have never intentionally picked a late season archery hunt. They had birds, lots of gobbling in the AM but they do not hang around the open there at all. couldn't even drive around and see one, couldn't have payed money for a picture of one. even the guide himself saw no birds while I was there. I was in aww literally. with a shotgun , hunting in the woods, I probably could have scrounged up at least one in three days, but stuck in a blind for 7 hours a day in hay fields wasn't exactly ideal. beautiful country though
Alarm goes off 3:30 and it is raining. Whats new right? That brings the 5 day total at 10.3". But last day of this season and gotta fill my tag. Arrived at my destination and finally stopped raining at 6:10. Had 2 bearded hens walk by me at 5 feet. As I did a couple soft clucks on my Mero snake wood Yelper a big fan appeared. The big boy had 2 hens leading him to my wet and soaked set-up. Taking no chances to watch a game today, lets getter done and celebrate. This just might be in my all time top 5 gobblers. he came in at 24.45 Pounds, he has serious wounds from fightin and those spurs were 1.5" and 1.6". His soaked beard is 10.85". I just wonder how big the other fighter is.
Now to stop in at our great friends and show off the gobbler and enjoy the black coffee with Korbels breakfast at Ed and Ermies.
Congrats Noth of 8. It is really hard to get out of bed when the weather is bad, I have slept in a few times.
That bird is a pig, nice job.
Dang that bird is huge!! Congrats, way to stick it out
Congrats!
Congrats to all who harvested a bird. It was a great year in the turkey woods!