I will break this up into two posts as I drove up to this area but had to fly home as I have a kid graduating and needed to come home for some senior stuff. I had basically 2.5 days to hunt before coming home.
I had made an OOS trip to hunt a new state or two and maybe some I had been to before. I got to new state 1 the day before season opened. I did quite a bit of riding and looking and other than some private land birds I didn't find much and didn't hear anything. Day 1- Opening day was overcast, cold, and dreary and more of the same not finding much. At about 10 I got to a spot I was going to walk and it started to lightly rain so I made a cup of coffee and got a bite to eat. After looking at my map there was another block about 30 minutes up the road so I took out to look at it. I got there and it wasn't raining and hadn't rained much at all. I found a nice trail and struck out. Probably 20 minutes into my walk the sun popped out and you could tell everything changed. Maybe 20 minutes later I strike a bird and he pretty much charges straight in and 1.5 days of misery turns into triumph. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240514/a4eaf1b80e1b76377334a0d0acec0eac.jpg)
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Day 2- On to the next state which I had hunted a couple years prior. I had missed a longbeard and killed a jake so I was back for a longbeard if possible. I go to where I had killed previously and heard multiple birds before. This year not so much. I heard 1 gobble 2x way off on private. After riding around and checking a few other places( I did hear one right across in the previous state but didn't go after him). I went to the one I heard at daylight and made the long trek into as close as I could get to him hoping he would be close enough to strike. No luck. I find a new spot that isn't very big and take off. It is covered in sign and I'm liking it but getting no response. About noon 2 owls get into a shouting match and 1 gobbles. I quickly make my way back to a spot I had seen that looked good and closer to him. I made a call and quickly see a black bird headed my way. This is going to be awesome however it ends up being 5 jakes that hung around till the end of shooting time. I knew there was a longbeard that hadn't come in
Day 3- I'm back at this spot and of course the bird is 200 yds on private gobbles a few times and goes quiet. I have until noon before I need to head to the airport. I start trying new spots and actually headed towards the previous state to the bird I heard on day 2 but was focused on trying to kill in this state. I had exhausted all my spots and was almost back to the other state except for this one small block of public. I get out with no expectations of hearing one walk 50 yds into the woods and make a call. He gobbles on top of me. I never never never do this without being ready just in case. This time I get out with no gun, no vest, or anything except for a box call. Luckily he was on the back side of a big rock pile/hill about 75yds away. I scrambled back to the car and luckily a couple cars come by and probably saved the day. I get my stuff and get to the edge of the hill/boulder pile and get sit down. The story took quite a few turns over the next hour or so until I killed him. (and 48 hours till he finally arrived at the home airport). However I was rewarded with a bird I could have never dreamed of killing. I was blessed with a tough but great trip and the bird of a lifetime. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240514/7c9b05306c920465eacddbb3d741fefd.jpg)
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Now that's awesome right there....
Congrats!!!
That's a cool looking bird there. He's awesome. Congratulations. I've never wanted to mount a turkey but I would have to do it for him.
Unreal! Beautiful bird great story. Congrats!
Man, that is awesome. I have never been to New England and the idea of hunting so close to several other states sound hectic. That white winged dove you shot is a real true trophy. Congratulations.
Cheers ;D
FC
WOW, That is so cool bro :drool: :turkey2: Z
That's an awesome turkey! Congrats on a great hunt.
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Hey. You guys need to have your white wing bird and Zelmo's albino gobbler mounted together in an arm wrestling championship.
Just a thought. :happyshake:
FC
Congrats! Awesome bird!
What an awesome bird, Congratulations!
Congrats BBR12, Great hunts, great story and pictures!
Awesome pics of the gobbler congrats.
Rollercoaster ride of emotions on that one. Was so relieved when I got that message that he was in your hands and good.
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