New to the forum but wanted to share what's been a pretty eventful first few days of season down here in E central Florida. I was fortunate enough to be able to take off the first several days of season and chase a few birds around.
Opening day: Had a hunter drive from Kansas to try to complete his slam. We planned on trading him an Osceola or two and a gator for some whitetails this fall. Birds waited till flydown before they said a word, which made me a little nervous but they gobbled well on the ground. 15 minutes in and he had his slam. We moved to a different piece and got on a bird gobbling later in the morning which is rare for the pieces we hunt. We were able to get ahead of him and punch his 2nd tag right at noon after the bird hammered at 30 yards and let us know he was right around the corner. We were also able to put him on a nice gator on a nuisance tag!
Day 2: I tried a piece that I did not get a chance to do an early morning listen prior to season but saw quite a few tracks the couple times I walked it mid day so figured it was worth a shot. Daylight came and 2 birds were letting loose on the limb but well across the property line. I was able to watch them strut and gobble through the binoculars for an hour or so before they moved into some cover. Gave it till 11 with no more action. Might be a better afternoon piece.
Day 3: Ended up boogering a bird pretty early that I thought sounded much further than he really was...wish that was the first time I had to admit that I've done that! That afternoon, a buddy and I set up in a block of grove that we hadn't hit yet but I had seen multiple strutters in a couple mornings before season opened. About 30 mins after getting set up my buddy whispered that there was a bird coming down the road, looked like a gobbler. I couldn't see him but he said he lost site of him. 15 minutes later he was in full strut at 20 yards about to assault the jake decoy! I let it fly and filled my first tag for the season.
Day 4: Same buddy and I returned to the piece I spooked the bird the prior morning. As it got light a bird was hammering about 150 yards away. As I was scanning with the binoculars to try to find him in the tree, I noticed a silent bird strutting on the limb. It looked like he could see our decoys from the roost so we held off on calling at all. Curiosity got the best of him and about 30 mins after daylight he was right in our lap. My buddy knocked him down and I was able to get a short video which I'll try to post.
Day 5: Had a hunter from PA working on his slam. We set up in a block that was untouched so far with high hopes. The birds were awfully quiet with some wet weather but we did hear one gobble on the roost and saw a few jakes. We returned back for the afternoon. Spotted the same group of jakes as we were walking in and were able to get by them and set up without getting picked off. I had seen a nice long beard with the jakes while scouting so we were hopeful he may slip in. An hour or so went by without any action so I decided to call a little, moreso out of boredom than strategy! A couple cuts and 2 or 3 soft yelps and a bird hammered at no more than 50 yards! Told the hunter to get ready and within seconds the bird was on us. He made a good shot through some cover and that was that.
Back to reality for a few days and then hopefully we can round up a few more!
(https://i.postimg.cc/LnfHR0rt/129-D9892-83-F2-4-E09-83-E9-BC9005-DDB39-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LnfHR0rt)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qh5kMfJL/1-DF58787-8-E46-4-FC1-BF25-5539-D0-F30-AE0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/qh5kMfJL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/QVvX2rnN/6-AD08469-DE93-41-D6-9-D7-C-31669-AF04482.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QVvX2rnN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/PCjdqQjB/7-F83-A970-FF64-4-AD2-91-A1-ABAB41393-C46.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PCjdqQjB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/34JXQGNG/861-B402-F-54-D8-41-D6-A6-AC-A06-FB72343-FD.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/34JXQGNG)
Excellent adventure for all! Congrats!!
*welcome to OG - nice 1st post
Congrats and welcome
Welcome to OG and congrats
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Man what a week. Congratulations!
Congrats and welcome.
Way to go! Welcome
very impressive, great work!
You're having too much fun. Congrats!!!
Welcome to the site and congrats on your Gobblers. :firefighter:
awesome stuff. congrats.
Congrats.
Nice work
Congrats, lots of Osceolas taking dirt naps. I still need one to complete my slam. Came real close on a same year public land slam in 17 but a Osceola hen kept it from happening when she flew down between me and him.
sounds like you're living the dream
congrats :icon_thumright:
Quote from: Gobblerslobber on March 22, 2019, 05:19:55 PM
Congrats, lots of Osceolas taking dirt naps. I still need one to complete my slam. Came real close on a same year public land slam in 17 but a Osceola hen kept it from happening when she flew down between me and him.
Public land osceolas are no joke. Insane amount of pressure and educated birds. We chased a few around last year and only connected on one.
sounds like there was some awesome hunts going on, congrats to everyone involved.
Congrats
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Great hunts for ya! Congrats on your success! Welcome to OG.