Drove up to the hills from Louisiana. Left last Friday evening and arrived at our campsite Saturday around 3. We set up tent and camp then decided to go look at a few spots we had picked out. This was me and my cousins first time here. Walked a ridge looking for sign and roosting areas. I hit the box call here and there. About midway thru the first ridge I hit the call and a bird hammered. Pretty far down below. So we eased down to the edge of the hill called and he answered but still far. Next we hear a hen. Shes answering and getting closer. Then we see 2 turkeys coming down a trail at us. 2 hens! The tom is still answering me but still in the same spot. So we let the hens walk past us then take off towards him. We get around the edge of a foothill and i see him strutting in a flat about 200 yards. Hes answering but just strutting. Next the hen is coming back! She cuts in front of us headed towards him. My cousin jumps up and flushed the hen. Only option. She flys over the tom out of sight. Next i hit him with some fighting purs and a gobble he double gobbled then we see him pop up coming our way. Gobbling about every 5 steps. Ill never forget that white fan when he strutted. Let him get to 30 yards and let him have it. The rest of the week was a lot tougher. Was on birds every day but just could score. Couple close calls and a couple mess ups but unfortunately my cousin wasnt able to fill his tag. All in all a blast and would like to do it again.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/20170422_185115.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/codyvid/media/20170422_185115.jpg.html) (http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/20170422_191557.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/codyvid/media/20170422_191557.jpg.html) (http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/20170422_185138.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/codyvid/media/20170422_185138.jpg.html)
That's awesome. Congrats!!!
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Absolutely awesome!!!!! What a gorgeous bird!!! Congrats
Thanks. Forgot to mention that all day tuesday was a wash. We had a snow of about 9" come thru. Kept us at the camp that day.
Sounds like a cool adventure. Congrats!
Few more pics. 1st its hard to see but its a bull elk that walked up on us 1 eve (http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/20170422_185138.jpg)[/URL] (http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/20170423_192121.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/codyvid/media/20170423_192121.jpg.html) (http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb445/codyvid/part0_1.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/codyvid/media/part0_1.jpg.html)
yeah buddy! Good Killin
Congrats!
Beautiful bird!
Beautiful Merriam's. Congrats!
The grin says it all. Congrates on a nice bird. I rhad the oppertunity to take one in the snow last year. It sure proides a different perspective!
Congrats :happy0064:
Congrats!
Very nice
Congrats, beautiful bird. :icon_thumright:
Another thing that amazed me about these birds is how fast they cover ground! We joke say those birds wear nikes. We were trying to roost one evening and heard a bird behind us late. We closed in on him thought we were within a hundred yards of him so we waited. Next time he gobbled he was 500 yards away on the next ridge! Within minutes! And it was late. From wear he gobble the first time we heard him to wear he eventually flew up was nearly a mile.
Quote from: Tomfoolery on April 28, 2017, 07:23:00 AM
Another thing that amazed me about these birds is how fast they cover ground! We joke say those birds wear nikes. We were trying to roost one evening and heard a bird behind us late. We closed in on him thought we were within a hundred yards of him so we waited. Next time he gobbled he was 500 yards away on the next ridge! Within minutes! And it was late. From wear he gobble the first time we heard him to wear he eventually flew up was nearly a mile.
I also found out last year that there's no terrain or land feature too steep for them to climb or descend. They're half mountain goat I swear ;D
:z-guntootsmiley: beautiful country and bird!
Good job and beautiful photos.
Beauty!!
Congrats!
Congratulations! Those are some beautiful birds!
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Congratulations
Congrats! Awesome bird and sounds like an amazing trip!
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
Very Nice! Headed there in two weeks, can't wait. I'm a little concerned about finding the birds, guess we'll see how it goes. Congratulations on a beautiful bird.