17-18 years ago I was hooked and have been obsessed with anything and everything Turkey related.
I had heard of this Grand Slam and thought to myself "I wanna do that"
I have been blessed and have taken several Easterns, quite a few Rios, and last year went to S Dakota for a Merriams.
I had felt that turkey hunting was way more popular now and that there was so many people to kill their grand slam. It kinda seemed saturated and not as special.
A buddy of mine had a friend in S Fl with leased land. He was more of a deer and hog hunter but had turkeys all over.
My buddy and I got the invite and drove down for the opener.
After several days of tight lipped turkeys I had felt we was gonna have a trip full of good hunts, great memories, and a new friend. (A win in my book)
On our last hunt we struck a gobbling bird, got in close and felt we were in a good position.
Sure enough after a few soft yelps with no answer he was slipping in quietly. Me with my lack of patience had to get up and try to close the distance. I had eased down the trail maybe 75-80 yards and there was a bend around to the left. As I approach I peek around the bend and sure nuff there he was headed my way. He was standing alert and was peeking around the bend just as I was. I eased the safety off, shouldered the 870, and took aim. BOOM!!!
A hunt I will never forget.
Shot was at exactly 7AM, foggy, in the "jungle", palmettos, palm trees, oak hammocks with Spanish moss hanging. Just a beautiful majestic sight.
The good Lord had blessed me again!
We hit the road a little after 9AM for our 14 hour drive back to Tennessee.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230321/4922034369d6b688e7c8395859baadd0.jpg)
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Congratulations!
Also as a bonus, one afternoon sit I caught movement and saw a real pretty snake.
My buddy was not with me and good thing because he was talking the whole drive down there about how he did not like snakes and how he'd probably seize up at the sight of one.
Here it is...
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230321/48d5a2b349e10b437db927f4748e78f4.jpg)
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Quote from: 762hunter on March 20, 2023, 10:13:59 PM
Also as a bonus, one afternoon sit I caught movement and saw a real pretty snake.
My buddy was not with me and good thing because he was talking the whole drive down there about how he did not like snakes and how he'd probably seize up at the sight of one.
Here it is...
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230321/48d5a2b349e10b437db927f4748e78f4.jpg)
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Those coral snakes are pretty
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I agree, I had thought to myself how cool was it that I got to see one of those in the wild. Much less one as long as that joker was.
Everyone I've talked to said oh I woulda shot it.
I said nooooo I was just getting my phone to video/take pictures!
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Congrats!
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Congratulations. I finished my slam in 2021. It's a great accomplishment.
Congrats on the nice bird and your slam, those memories never fade bro. Z
Congrats!!!
Congrats on your slam accomplishment, and thanks for not killing the snake, we all have are part in nature.
That's a great achievement right there. Congratulations!!!
Quote from: roberthyman14 on March 20, 2023, 10:19:38 PM
Quote from: 762hunter on March 20, 2023, 10:13:59 PM
Also as a bonus, one afternoon sit I caught movement and saw a real pretty snake.
My buddy was not with me and good thing because he was talking the whole drive down there about how he did not like snakes and how he'd probably seize up at the sight of one.
Here it is...
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230321/48d5a2b349e10b437db927f4748e78f4.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Those coral snakes are pretty
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I about stepped on one the other day and that was NOT what was going through my head
Quote from: JeffC on March 21, 2023, 07:59:10 AM
Congrats on your slam accomplishment, and thanks for not killing the snake, we all have are part in nature.
Agreed... :icon_thumright: Congratulations for both accomplishments...
Congrats!
Nice bird young man. Good accomplishment!
Congrats on your osceola!! I noticed your pic in the kill thread with Terry. He and I shared an archery deer camp in the 90's in west central Illinois and he was very enjoyable to hunt with. We stayed up one night and watched the Hollifield/Tyson fight after we had both killed our bucks. A little more down that rabbit hole. Fast forward about 10 years and I married a girl from SW Alabama who's father had gone all the way through school with a fellow named Ben Lee and Ben's dad was their ag teacher. If I remember correctly Ben was one of Terry's turkey hunting mentors.
Congratulations!! I really like the picture!
CONGRATS!!! I have mine as well but to me it's not about killing the 4 species. To me it's about the different States I have been able to travel to and the friends and people that I've shared those Hunts with. GREAT MEMORIES!!!!
Very well done. Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!!
That's awesome. Congratulations!
Quote from: Shiloh on March 21, 2023, 11:54:53 AM
Congrats on your osceola!! I noticed your pic in the kill thread with Terry. He and I shared an archery deer camp in the 90's in west central Illinois and he was very enjoyable to hunt with. We stayed up one night and watched the Hollifield/Tyson fight after we had both killed our bucks. A little more down that rabbit hole. Fast forward about 10 years and I married a girl from SW Alabama who's father had gone all the way through school with a fellow named Ben Lee and Ben's dad was their ag teacher. If I remember correctly Ben was one of Terry's turkey hunting mentors.
He was in camp while I was down there. Super cool dude!
Was nice to meet a Hall of Fame'r while in the middle of nowhere FL.
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Congratulations! The feeling you get when you have finally taken that last bird to complete your slam!!
Nice job! Congrats!
Quote from: bbcoach on March 21, 2023, 12:15:24 PM
CONGRATS!!! I have mine as well but to me it's not about killing the 4 species. To me it's about the different States I have been able to travel to and the friends and people that I've shared those Hunts with. GREAT MEMORIES!!!!
I have a number of slams also, but to me also it's the great people you meet along the way. That's why now I end up spending the money to go down to Florida ever other year too spend time with great friends. And hunt also of course, tagged out this year again.
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Huge congrats! Great pics as well. You don't get to see a coral snake every day.
Congratulations!
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Congratulations
WTG Congrats!
Gotta love friends with friends! Cool story and congratulations.
Congratulations.
Good story and pic......Congrats! Thanks for sharing!
Good for you, I hope you've had time to set down and reflect on all of your hunts and experiences across the country.
Congratulations.
Congrats, That's Awesome!
Major accomplishments!!! Huge Congrats!!!
Congrats on your slam!!! :icon_thumright:
Nice gobbler.. Congrats