I went out this weekend to check some cameras and look for sign in 1 of our spots. I did not hear and gobbling, but it has been cold and very windy. Checked 3 cameras and had some hens on 1 camera , no Toms yet.
I have 2 more Saturdays before the opener, hoping to get out and listen and check the cameras at least 1 more time.
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Im still on crutches but I got up yesterday and went to a spot I've hunted before. 44 degrees and heard 2. They didn't gobbler but 4 times so my buddy and I bailed to another spot. It was actually my honey hole that I have had a problem with hogs in the last year. Pull up at 6:45, hooted and one fired off not 150 yards away. We could hear some jakes in the mix gobbling so we decided to hobble out and sit and listen. There were 11 jakes and they ran that longbeard until he flew up into a tree. then they all flew up into the trees bout 70 yards from us. Gobbler pitched one way and jakes decided to come our way. My buddy hasn't got to experience the stuff I had and is younger so thought what the heck, lol. I threw out 1 call and before we knew it they were in our lap gobbling, runnin, actin a fool. we couldn't get to our phones to record it, they finally lost interest as teenagers do and walked off. Pretty promising at 2 spots. I wont call to them anymore but temptation got the best of me, lol.
I went out and placed some cameras around some green fields Saturday. I checked another camera and had a nice gobbler on it. Sighted in the turkey reaper and got my vest ready to go. Next week I wil be out listening some mornings. Youth season opens this Saturday. My back should be ok to go by the opener. May not move as quickly as usual but patience is the name of the game anyway.
I'm planning to head out one morning this week and take a listen. I've got a couple cameras still out from deer season so I need to go get them anyway. Can't wait to hear some gobbles!
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Went out again today to listen and check some cameras. No gobbling this am, but did get a couple of good Toms on the cameras.
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Also was able to shoot the 20, I think I am as ready as I am gonna be: 2 weeks from today.
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Looks like you got a couple of superstars on camera. The forestry decided that Friday was a good day to burn off some of mark twain. Just happened to be right in the vicinity I hunt lol. Didn't hear anything, didn't figure I would with all the traffic from forestry dept. I'll give it a week or so and they'll be back in there. Hit another spot yesterday morning but didn't hear a peep. Kind of chilly this weekend.
I went and listened yesterday. It was a little windy and I didn't hear anything. Rainy this morning, so I'll go out again tomorrow and give it a listen. During deer season I saw 7 gobblers in one of my fields. So I'm sure they are close. Just gotta figure out where they like to sleep. Ha
ive listened one time . Heard 52 gobbles between 0600 and 0649. They never stopped gobbling I simply just left. Hope they are still there by the time I get to hunt, which is slim.....
Been out listening the last couple mornings. Have located a couple groups of gobblers. Also my cameras are starting to catch them moving around a good bit. Hoping the weather cooperates Saturday morning.
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went again this morning. weather wasn't the greatest around daylight. little on the windy side and overcast. Didn't expect much...Well I went to a spot I deer hunted and saw birds regularly "public" I had a spot I had picked out during deer season to listen from which is a real high spot. I went in probably 30 minutes before first light...and busted a flock on the limb 1/2 way to my listening spot in the pitch black.... I assume hens...at first light birds started gobbling across a clear cut from me which is one of the spots I expected them to be. I hooted a few times, and they gobbled every time, even heard some more distant gobbling but due to wind it was hard to tell really how far they were. I didn't go in any deeper due to busting the first bunch. A few of them flew down after daylight and they were indeed hens and it was from the same tree so I assume the first 2 were hens...who knows. I drove to another spot and heard nothing.....and about 0800 I drove to the very first spot I ever turkey hunted on public with my dad years ago....we hunted there together one time on easter sunday and worked a bird after our daylight service at church. It rained and we had to leave. I never hunted there again...well I decided to go there this morning, rather late to be "just listening" and I walked to the exact same spot and hit a crow call. "ROOOAAAR" an old old dude lives down there now. Nice to hear them old ball bearing rumble lol. Maybe I can take my dad to that spot sometime this season and get a little redemption. I have never killed a turkey with my dad outside of my youth....and hes getting old. Would be nice to score with him one more time before he gives it up.
Looking good so far on the scouting reports, no we wait and hope the birds
Cooperate when the time comes.
scouting paid off today
Went out this morning to listen and check the cameras.
Heard 3 different gobblers and possibly a 4th.
Had 2 Toms on one camera together ana strutter with hens on another.
1 of the birds we heard gobbling was so close to the 3rd camera, we could not
Check it.
Hopefully I can get in between 2 birds we heard today, on opening morning.
If it don't quit raining I may be scouting by boat lol. Guess I'll have some time since they've closed our school till April 6th. Hopefully in the next 2-3 days the rain will stop.
im working but the weather has been warm and mostly over cast since the season started. we haven't had any rain since right before the season started. we don't per say need the rain as even the seasonal creeks are still flowing very well with water, but a good rain followed by sunshine the next morning is always death to a gobbler. early early green up. even the wisteria is fully bloomed and will be done in a week. the first peak in gobbling could very well be behind us here, but neither bird I killed had appeared to have done any breeding . so who knows whats to come. Ill be working and avoiding the corona virus.
I made it out to my WMA this morning. My brother and I split up and we located about 7 different Gobblers. Two of them were a pair out strutting in a cutover all by themselves. I'm hoping they'll hang around until Saturday. I'm taking my little girl out on a youth hunt Saturday and I feel like we'll have a good shot a these unless we get some public interference. I'm ready!
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Here's an update for you guys. I didn't have much time to go last week. I got out a couple times but the weather has been awful. I'm a teacher, so I got the call Thursday that we would not be returning to school until at least April 17th. I will have to teach my students using different internet resources. The good news is, I should have plenty of time over the next four weeks to get out and get us some points. The outdoors is probably the safest place to be at this time. Good luck guys and I will update again soon.
I hunted the last 2 days. I had a gobbler around me for over an hour and could not get a shot.
He came in behind us and, I only saw him for a couple seconds. By buddy could have shot him several times. The Tom would not come into our set up, he is obviously had his butt kicked several times and did not want any more.
Today I had no action at all. I will be back out there on Tuesday. I am not sure how many more times we will get with the way the world is going right now. The corona virus is effecting everything and it is hard to focus on hunting with so much going on.
I am not even sure this contest will last thru the spring season. Everyone stay safe.
Our school is out till April 7th. We're doing all we can too considering the type of hands on classes we teach. Did hear 4 this morning and 2 Friday morning.
I hear ya John, with the way things are going we may have no choice but to call it. But until then I'll self isolate in the big woods lol.
I got up this morning at 3am. It was raining. I left about 5 and drove to my camp an hour away. It rained the entire way there, and continued to rain until I walked out about 10 this morning. The rain did slack off but it never technically stopped. Never heard a gobbler, but I don't know if I could have heard one through the rain. It wasn't worth getting my gear wet, but I checked the forecast last night and when I left as always it was just flat out incorrect. Yes there was a chance of rain but not that much for that long. I went this afternoon for about 2 hours on public. the woods I hunted were pretty flooded. I heard a gobble in here a couple weeks ago before season, an old gobbler. To my surprise this gate didn't have a lot of fresh human activity around it, but in the 2 hours I stayed there I heard nothing. It wasn't raining, but with all the water rushing from the woods and the swollen creek I still couldn't hear as good as id like. Oh well better luck next time, I only stayed 2 hours because I had to go back to work. I really had no intention of hunting anymore public being I killed 2 there already, but I really wanted to hear a gobble today...
I've been out twice with my kids for our youth hunt. What really sucks is I saw two gobblers in a cutover the other day so I took my girl out early and we got set up in the cutover. At daylight a few birds gobbles but not very close to where we were. I called to them a got responses. We got up and moved closer to one bird but didn't have any luck and left. My brother drove by an hour after we left and he said the gobbler was out there right where we were. The next day my son and I drive to the cutover. We don't see any birds and drive on to a spot where I know a gobbler is. After a hard walk we sneak in to the spot and a turkey flys out of a tree behind us. This was around three in the afternoon. We sit there a little while then go back to the truck and drive back by the cutover. Yep the gobbler was out there again. So twice if I would have just went out there and sat down and stayed put we would have had a shot at a gobbler.
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Hopefully he will be in that cutover next time you make it out there.
Keep at it.
Third time will be the charm. Got 2 weeks till our youth season. With school being out and all of our contest canceled, I'll actually get to take my nephew on opening morning instead of working, lol. I'm walking without my crutches or a cane but still ain't 100 percent but givin it 100 percent in my effort lol.
Found one good group, about 40 total still flocked up. Hanging out right where I can get to them. Cameras up on Saturday so hopefully I'll have some good pictures this weekend
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Got a midday bird today. I went this morning and heard nothing. So I went to the house and took a break for a couple hours. I decided to go to a spot I hunted yesterday morning. I was on a bird that was henned up pretty bad. I was hoping he would be lonely today. I sat down in a small line thicket over looking a field. After about 30 minutes of soft calling, I heard a gobble in the distance. I sat and listened for a few minutes and could tell he was fired up. I gathered my things and headed his way. I got to within about 150 yards of him and sat down. It was tough to find a good spot to sit. He was in some rough stuff. I sat on the edge of a road with my back to a steep hill. After a few soft calls, he fired back. I thought he would walk straight up the road to me. Things went silent, then not one but two birds gobble right behind me up on top of the steep hill. I eased to my left and repositioned a little. One more soft yelp and here they came down that steep hill.....soon as they got to the bottom I dropped the first one. The other one ran out about 30 yards and started hammering again. It's good when you can save one for later. Looked at my watch and it was 12:40.
10 inch beard, 1 inch spurs, 14 lb 15 oz.
well done bud
Congrats. Is that a typical weight for birds in your area? I killed a couple two year olds last year over here in Alabama and they weighed in the 18's.
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Im not gonna say its not because hes in another part of the state than me, but I would say that's a little below average for this early in the season for the sip. Ive killed 2 year olds that were 13lbs and ive killed 2 year olds that were 23lbs. id say they average 16-18lbs in southwest ms. really depends on if they are field birds or if they are ridge runners that run a circuit all day. Them field birds tend to get heavy.
dzsmith is exactly right. Most birds in my area are heavier than this one. He was definitely smaller, but he was a runner. He had a wide area that he stayed in and never roosted in the same spot twice. He worked some of his weight off I'd say. He had sharp 1 inch spurs so I'm gonna say he could've even been 3. The biggest I've killed weighed 24 but most around here are 16-18.
Nice job. Congrats
Quote from: birdman67 on March 26, 2020, 06:10:11 AM
dzsmith is exactly right. Most birds in my area are heavier than this one. He was definitely smaller, but he was a runner. He had a wide area that he stayed in and never roosted in the same spot twice. He worked some of his weight off I'd say. He had sharp 1 inch spurs so I'm gonna say he could've even been 3. The biggest I've killed weighed 24 but most around here are 16-18.
after all that....the bird I killed today weighed 14.8lbs. so my running average between the 3 birds I killed this year is 17.6lbs. This was legitimately a small bird. Small feet, small skeleton, small wings, small fan....he was just a dwarf. Not that I care lol.
I guess some birds are just that way. Whether they weigh 12 lbs or 25 lbs, I think we would all agree, it doesn't matter. The memories they supply us with is indescribable. People who have never experienced it don't understand.
no doubt. I could care less. If hes got a swinging beard, and im turkey hunting...hes getting shot.
Congrats DZ on tagging out in MS. Great season!
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thank you
I went out to another wma yesterday: this 1 is a no quota permit needed wma.
I heard 1 gobble way off and could not get to him, I set up a couple times and did some calling, but no luck.
I am not sure if they are gonna shut it down, if not I will be back out next weekend. I have 1 more good quota hunt in April, that will be my best chance at a bird.
I just want to find a 2 year old that wants to play. Lol
Everyone take care and stay safe. The woods are probably the safest place to be right now.
John
This being out of school thing is just about to drive me stir crazy lol. I get plenty of time to scout and listen but dang, there's only so much you can do at the house,lol. Heard 5 this morning at one of my spots. Big hills and hollers where they're at, problem is it's purdy rough on the ole leg. Get to try and call one in this weekend for my nephew. We'll be huntin green fields and blocks of woods. I'm excited
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Hoping these guys stick to the pattern. I can finally go next Saturday
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Well in all this craziness, my son and I have done a good bit of scouting. Been watching a group of 6 jakes, another group of 4 longbeards and several hens. Seems like the Longbeards are still henned up and winter flicks haven't broken up too much but it has started. Gobbling good on the limb but once the hit the ground they have been pretty tight lipped. Should be a great year here in WV!
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I've been to my local WMA twice. It is receiving a huge amount of pressure right now. It's gets a lot normally and now with people off work it is ridiculous. My brother drove around Wednesday and couldn't find a gate to park at, at 4:30 a.m.! I'm hoping it lets up a little before the season is over. From what I've season there is minimal gobbling on the roost and they're flying down to hens.
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Quote from: aclawrence on April 05, 2020, 08:24:54 AM
I've been to my local WMA twice. It is receiving a huge amount of pressure right now. It's gets a lot normally and now with people off work it is ridiculous. My brother drove around Wednesday and couldn't find a gate to park at, at 4:30 a.m.! I'm hoping it lets up a little before the season is over. From what I've season there is minimal gobbling on the roost and they're flying down to hens.
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I believe it. I was watching one of THPs recent videos and after they left their first spot because somebody was in there they had to drive past at least 15 parked vehicle to get to another spot. "bama"..... heres what sucks. slowly but surely a lot of Midwest and other go to states are shutting down their season to non res folks....however us down south with early seasons have been getting pounded by ooser to the extreme. I figure by the time many of these northern states open they'll be closed. and we will be the only ones left to absorb the damage.
I went and listened one morning when I was off last week just for giggles, and to try and locate a potential bird to take my dad hunting. I found 2 birds gobbling on the ground , on there own, later in the morning . I had to work several days after that but I would spin by that gate in the mornings just to see if people were parking there. Well there has been zero activity at that gate since I last listened. I went yesterday evening to try and listen/ roost those birds to take my dad this morning. I owl hooted until I had multiple barred owls literally on top of me cutting up like crazy. Didn't hear a single gobble. I went with my dad this morning we slipped in the woods and sat at a listening spot until 730. Never heard a peep...with the exception of one shotgun shot at 618 am in a neighboring block.....Obviously somebody limblifted one...poached more than likely. We used to that....We got up at 730 and walked an additional mile and tried locating from several locations including roosting areas. Never heard a peep. Weather wasn't great but not terrible. 1/2 sunny 1/2 over cast. No wind....but also no backround noise and pretty low pressure. I wasn't expecting much but we stayed til about 10 oclock...if a bird had heard I just could see not at least getting a courtesty gobble from one. I looked at out state harvest map....and according to the tagging statistics very few birds had been tagged in the entire sector of our state in the last several days. so its safe to assume there just hasn't been much going on....better luck next time. Didn't bother me for my dad to not kill one, but I would of at least like to have one hunt with my dad and hear some gobbling.