With a couple weeks to recover I have finally found a minute to upload the pictures from this spring. This season was choked with hard hunting and it seemed like everywhere I went it was a test to see how far I'd push it to be successful. Determination was key as nothing came easy, every bird (especially out of state) was well earned.
Instead of starting the season in South Florida, it was Mississippi this year. And as I said, it was a challenge but on day 5 of a 6 day hunt I connected on a fine MS 2 year old public land gobbler on a nail biting hunt with 3 longbeards in gun range at the moment of truth.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0328.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0323.jpg)
The home state was kind but the 2 year old numbers were not here. Which means the older birds took a little more caressing but the hooked rewards were worth it.
Georgia Birds
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0335.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0338.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0339.jpg)
A double with my OK buddy, these guys made movie stars.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0341.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0346.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0358.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0363.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0374.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0365.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0463.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0464.jpg)
Next, I made a run to familiar Oklahoma and brought my brother along to chase him down his first Rio. We had a great 3 days there and made 3 movie stars along the way.
Drew's Rio
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0394.jpg)
Mine.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0379.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0385.jpg)
Shane
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0387.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0393.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0389.jpg)
Then it was off to the west- New Mexico and Arizona. A really demanding 9 days of hunting slammed with uncooperative birds and long days up rocky, steep terrain. This is definitely a location you want to be physically prepared for the rigors of thin air and fast moving birds. My buddy Mark K took his bird on day 2 but for some reason I dont have pictures of his bird?? I guess we took them all on his camera. It took me til day 4 to finally run one down.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0413.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0416.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0420.jpg)
Random Scenes from NM.
Long way to the top.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0408.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0409.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0401.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0399.jpg)
Arizona- more grueling terrain with birds that didn't mind gobbling but just wouldn't do what a Merriam gobbler is suppose to do. After this hunt, I swore to NEVER again say a Merriam turkey is the easiest to kill. NEVER! It was day 4 in AZ before I got in the right spot and called this beautiful Merriam up a roadway to the gun. He put on a spectacular show.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0436.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0440.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0448.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0449.jpg)
Great season Dave!! Congrats to you and Drew!
Another "encounter" I could have done without was this mountain lion that slipped into my set up and began screaming at 25 yards. I suppose she was looking for a kitten or mate but either way she was voicing her disgust. I was able to get a few pictures.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0427.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0428.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0431.jpg)
Random AZ
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0433.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/Out%20West%202012/SAM_0424.jpg)
The last leg of the season took me to NY, NJ and PA. Usually I finish in the west each season but thought this year I'd change it up. I'll be reverting back to the old style next year. The birds were non existent but the weather didnt help. I hunted 8 days, hoping back and forth across state lines and in those 8 days, 7 of them saw heavy rains at some point. I stayed soaked to the bone the entire trip and ruined a pair of boots. Between 2 guys, we heard 4 birds the entire trip and of those 4 birds- 3 were called into gun range. We both managed to miss a bird each (of course) and I was able to connect on a really nice public land PA longbeard, in the rain obviously.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0479.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0486.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0490.jpg)
More from the northeast.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0474.jpg)
Last Set of 2012.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Covehnter/Turkey%202012/SAM_0491.jpg)
Congrats on great year...I enjoyed the pics
Great pics Dave! Tough hunting, but you stayed in there and made the most of it. Congrats on some nice birds.
congrats on a great year!! So how many birds did you end up with?!?
Enjoyed the pictures!! You seen some country this spring!! Congrats!!
Awesome pictures - congrats on a great season!
You clearly have a talent for photography. Incredible pics.
Congrats on an outstanding season.
Greg
very nice pictures and fantastic job on your hunts. glad to hear you were successful in Arizona.
Congrats on a great season! Enjoyed the pics. That mountain lion would have had me down to my last nerve...
congrats,and some great pics.
Those are some sweet photos.
Looks like you are living the dream.
Congrats.
Great job Dave. Congrats on a successful season. I keep telling everybody that a Merriam is still a wild turkey and not a barn yard animal. Lol
TRKYHTR
Quote from: TRKYHTR on June 03, 2012, 06:06:10 PM
Great job Dave. Congrats on a successful season. I keep telling everybody that a Merriam is still a wild turkey and not a barn yard animal. Lol
TRKYHTR
They wore me thin this year. I mean really really thin. Even had my buddy slow me down and remind me, you are having fun right? LoL
They can really treat you wrong if you find them in that phase.
Great pics! :icon_thumright:
Quote from: Covehnter on June 03, 2012, 07:41:33 PM
Quote from: TRKYHTR on June 03, 2012, 06:06:10 PM
Great job Dave. Congrats on a successful season. I keep telling everybody that a Merriam is still a wild turkey and not a barn yard animal. Lol
TRKYHTR
They wore me thin this year. I mean really really thin. Even had my buddy slow me down and remind me, you are having fun right? LoL
They can really treat you wrong if you find them in that phase.
This year made my third trip after Merriams and I have yet to have one come running into the call like I was told they would. I always managed to get my birds, but I had to work for em. And the places they call home are not very nice to 40 sumthin year old legs.
Great Job Dave. Great pics as always.
Congrats on an awesome season ! Beautiful Pics ! :icon_thumright:
vaturkey :newmascot:
Congrats. Very nice pics.
Great season, Really see a lot of The Good Lord's handy work in those pictures.
Nice recap of an awesome season!! Congrats!
Very nice!
Great Season Dave!!! you sure did earn it... get ready for 2013 :you_rock:
Congrats on an awesome season!! Love the pics, especially the waterfalls! :icon_thumright:
Once again you are living the dream !!!!! traveling to distant places and getting some exciting hunting action
The pictures of the out West are spectacular - I want to be able to move out , or have a place out there one day - the scenery out there will change a person
Man do you put on some miles! That's awsome. Great pics, and Congrats on all the birds.
Another epic season in the bag, CONGRATS Dave!
HC
Quote from: Old Gobbler on June 07, 2012, 10:55:36 PM
Once again you are living the dream !!!!! traveling to distant places and getting some exciting hunting action
The pictures of the out West are spectacular - I want to be able to move out , or have a place out there one day - the scenery out there will change a person
I couldn't have said it better. The west has a draw to it that I have to return to each year and some day will call home, no doubt.
Thanks alot guys, it was a trying season and it's nice to look back at the rewards from all the struggles.
nice work man!! Congrats!! i'm jealous lol
Thanks for taking us along on a great season. :icon_thumright:
You are a killer!
:)
Wess