A friend and I hunted for a couple of days during Iowa's first season. The weather on Monday sucked, it was cold, windy, drizzle, windy, sleet and windy. Did I mention windy? lol. Sunday afternoon was in the mid 70s, Monday (Opening day) it barely reached the 40s with NW wind gusts to over 40.
We started out in the timber in a spot that has been good before, but by 9 had moved out into a protected area in a fresh burn. We had seen birds here the day before while scouting.
One hen wandered about the burn for a while, then nothing. About 11:30 I saw a gobbler in strut down the fenceline, making his way towards us. He didn't gobble, but he put on quite a show. My buddy John killed him at 25 yards. Nice three year old, 23 lbs with sharp spurs.
(http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/marshboygreg/IMG_0025.jpg)
The weather on Tuesday was much better. No wind, sunny, and it warmed into the 60s by early afternoon. We started in the timber again. Very little gobbling on the roost. I did watch a tom fly down about 50 yards from us, but I never saw him again. Later, we had a bird gobbling in semi-circle around us, but I never could see him...the woods are already so green.
We moved back to the burn by 9. I let loose a series of yelps on my slate at 9:35, and got an immediate gobble in response. It was classic, he gobbled in response to every series of yelps, and cut me off a couple of times. After he about blew my hat off with a gobble, I got my gun up. He came out of the timber and strutted right up, and I killed him at 30 yards. Nice 2 year old, not much for spurs but he did weighh 23 lbs. I was stepping on his head at 9:50.
(http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/marshboygreg/IMG_0027.jpg)
(http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz169/marshboygreg/IMG_0030.jpg)
It is a long wait now for Iowa's 4th season.
Greg
Nice!! :happy0064:
Congrats!!
Way to go Greg!!! Great pics!
Wess
Nice bird!
Congrats! :icon_thumright:
Congrats Greg and to also to your buddy John.
Thanks for sharing the read and the pictures.
Good Luck 4th Season my friend.
bird
Congrats
Nice job!! Congrats
Thanks, guys.
Bird, I see on that "other" website that you had quite a hunt yourself earlier this month...most impressive. Congrats. I think I recognize the landscape in those pics!
Greg
Quote from: marshboy on April 21, 2012, 04:33:28 PM
Thanks, guys.
Bird, I see on that "other" website that you had quite a hunt yourself earlier this month...most impressive. Congrats. I think I recognize the landscape in those pics!
Greg
Yes I did. A very good year indeed. :icon_thumright:
I hate turkeys so they call me AngryBird! :funnyturkey:
Great pics and write up Greg! Congrats to you and your friend on two fine gobblers! Good luck on that second tag!
Congrats to both of you. Some nice looking birds.
congrats on the birds
Congrats!!
:icon_thumright:
Congrats