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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 11:46:41 AM

Title: South Florida Success
Post by: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 11:46:41 AM
Although I never measure a successful hunt in whether I harvest a bird or not it felt good taking this one late Sunday morning. I hadn't taken a bird in a few seasons because I have had my sons hunting, plus their busy baseball schedule and work commitments. I truely find everyday in the outdoors to be a tremendous success. Whether I kill game, catch a limit of fish or accomplish neither I have never spent a day in the outdoors that I felt was a waste of time. I spent the  weekend with a great friend hunting a WMA we have been going to the last couple years and where my son harvested his first turkey. Had several birds respond to the Outlaw call made by Mr. Lonnie Sneed throughout the weekend. On Saturday one came into 25 yards and showed his head and neck but I couldn't confidently differentiate between him being a Jake or a two year old and he slipped back into the oak hammock he came from. I struck two more separate birds, one later that morning and the other in the early afternoon. In both instances hens responded quickly and went to the gobbling of the Tom's and moved off with me in tow but it wasn't meant to be. I took this bird I guess to be a 3 yr old about 1030 Sunday morning. He came in silent in winds up to 20 mph while I periodically hammered on the glass slat every 15 minutes or so when the wind would briefly lay down a little. 18.4 lbs., 1" and 1 1/4" spurs and 9 1/4" beard. Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone this season!

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Title: South Florida Success
Post by: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 12:05:40 PM
Nice bird. I hunted the past  4 days and only heard 2 gobbles yesterday morning. I am from N Ft Myers. You close by??
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: sixbird on March 08, 2016, 12:11:04 PM
Congrats...Nice bird...And you're killin' me (our season doesn't start until April 25th)!!!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: vagrousehunter on March 08, 2016, 12:11:33 PM
 Very nice !  Sounds like a great weekend.
Title: South Florida Success
Post by: buzzardroost on March 08, 2016, 12:13:24 PM
Awesome! Sounds like a great hunt for public land especially


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Title: South Florida Success
Post by: alloutdoors on March 08, 2016, 12:19:23 PM
Nice bird, congrats!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: boatpaddle on March 08, 2016, 12:26:07 PM
Congrats on a fine gobbler... :z-guntootsmiley:

     They are some nasty spurs.... :icon_thumright:

     Continued success....
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: wvboy on March 08, 2016, 12:29:52 PM
And so it begins .. nice bird.. congrats
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 01:54:53 PM
Quote from: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 12:05:40 PM
Nice bird. I hunted the past  4 days and only heard 2 gobbles yesterday morning. I am from N Ft Myers. You close by??
From Bradenton but hunted West of you in Hendry in what use to be the zoo. Still quality game but the panther's are doing their best to change that.

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Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: bigbird on March 08, 2016, 01:57:17 PM
nice spurs
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 01:57:47 PM
Quote from: sixbird on March 08, 2016, 12:11:04 PM
Congrats...Nice bird...And you're killin' me (our season doesn't start until April 25th)!!!
Sorry sixbird. We are tarpon fishing by the time you open.  ;D

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Title: South Florida Success
Post by: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 02:03:15 PM

Quote from: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 01:54:53 PM
Quote from: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 12:05:40 PM
Nice bird. I hunted the past  4 days and only heard 2 gobbles yesterday morning. I am from N Ft Myers. You close by??
From Bradenton but hunted West of you in Hendry in what use to be the zoo. Still quality game but the panther's are doing their best to change that.

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I know exactly where. I will be there this weekend with my 6 year old daughter for her first turkey hunt. Obviously she will be a spectator. Did you hear many birds?  PM me if you have any advise. I have deer hunted it in the past but never turkey hunted it.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: OldSchool on March 08, 2016, 02:11:24 PM
Congrats on a beauty!! Our winter flocks haven't even broken up yet here in NY. May 1st. opener.

Bob
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: WisTurk on March 08, 2016, 02:12:59 PM
Dang!  Those spurs could definitely do some real damage!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Rio Fan on March 08, 2016, 02:26:09 PM
Congrats on a very nice bird!  :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: bbcoach on March 08, 2016, 02:34:30 PM
CONGRATS!!!!  I thought it was time for South Florida to kick off their season.  I've been down there a couple of times and LOVE chasing those Osceola LB's.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 03:35:33 PM
Quote from: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 02:03:15 PM

Quote from: tjmurphy on March 08, 2016, 01:54:53 PM
Quote from: eorlando on March 08, 2016, 12:05:40 PM
Nice bird. I hunted the past  4 days and only heard 2 gobbles yesterday morning. I am from N Ft Myers. You close by??
From Bradenton but hunted West of you in Hendry in what use to be the zoo. Still quality game but the panther's are doing their best to change that.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk

I know exactly where. I will be there this weekend with my 6 year old daughter for her first turkey hunt. Obviously she will be a spectator. Did you hear many birds?  PM me if you have any advise. I have deer hunted it in the past but never turkey hunted it.
I'll PM you tonight or tomorrow. I'm trying to think of an area to get a 6 year old into. It's a little more wet this spring then in past seasons, but not flooded. I heard 5 or 6 different birds my buddy in the same general area only heard 2. But I think your hunt is going to be hitting it at the right time.

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Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Stickbow98 on March 08, 2016, 03:46:31 PM
Congratulations. Great public land bird, and very nice pics!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: tomstopper on March 08, 2016, 04:17:28 PM
Congrats on a nice bird
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: spaightlabs on March 08, 2016, 04:40:29 PM
Very nice bird!

Congrats.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Happy on March 08, 2016, 07:32:46 PM
Congrats on a fine bird sir. I will sit on the sidlines and watch as you southern boys put it to them. My turn will come.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: SteelerFan on March 08, 2016, 07:38:37 PM
 :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: Congratulations, nice bird! (from a jealous northerner)

Lonnie Sneed Outlaw Hen doing it in the way south!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: LI Outdoorsman on March 08, 2016, 07:50:21 PM
Its beginnnnnnnnning......
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Beards and Hooks on March 08, 2016, 08:23:36 PM
 Congrats Awesome bird and great story, looking forward to using my Sneed calls for the first time in a couple months  :turkey2:
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Tail Feathers on March 08, 2016, 08:27:00 PM
Congrats on a fine bird!

And I think, the first one posted here this season. :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: owlhoot on March 08, 2016, 09:22:46 PM
 :icon_thumright:  nice one.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Macbee25 on March 08, 2016, 09:24:20 PM
Awesome,  nice bird.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: bmhern on March 08, 2016, 10:29:28 PM
Congrats.  :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: cramerhunts on March 09, 2016, 12:35:57 AM
Congratulations on a great bird! Love this time of year!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: vman on March 09, 2016, 05:01:15 AM
Thats a fine bird with great spurs, congrats!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Dr Juice on March 09, 2016, 01:30:45 PM
Congrats, awesome bird. You got my blood boiling to get after 'em!  :turkey2:
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: MiamiE on March 10, 2016, 09:01:38 AM
Congrats! I'll be at that same panther sanctuary this weekend.  ;D
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: tjmurphy on March 10, 2016, 09:33:07 AM
Quote from: MiamiE on March 10, 2016, 09:01:38 AM
Congrats! I'll be at that same panther sanctuary this weekend.  ;D
Good luck it should be good!

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Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Meadow Valley Man on March 10, 2016, 10:18:56 AM
Very nice gobbler, congrats!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Wrangler95 on March 10, 2016, 11:36:02 AM
 :z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley:Very nice gobbler,congrats!!
Title: South Florida Success
Post by: eorlando on March 10, 2016, 11:41:51 AM

Quote from: MiamiE on March 10, 2016, 09:01:38 AM
Congrats! I'll be at that same panther sanctuary this weekend.  ;D

See you out there. I will be in a gold Toyota tundra with duck stickers on the back.
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: Fireengine70 on March 10, 2016, 10:02:21 PM
Congrats!!!!
Title: Re: South Florida Success
Post by: TURKEYWHACKER on March 11, 2016, 08:18:54 PM
Congrats on a fine bird. Hope your success is contagious .  :icon_thumright: