I got a surprising phone call Monday. A buddy of mine called and said that he saw a turkey in a field on one of the places that I hunt this past weekend. I had scouted this place two or three weeks before season and couldn't find any sign. It looked like we might have a break in the rain Tuesday afternoon so I picked him up and we went hunting for a little bit. I dropped him off at the property he has permission to hunt and I continued on to the place that I have permission on.
I scouted/hunted for an hour or so when the thunder started gettig closer and closer. I was hoping to hear one gobble, but it wasn't to be. I did, however, find lots of fresh scratching! Then about 5PM the rain set back in and I headed back to the truck.
The weather showed it raining from Tuesday evening until Wednesday afternoon, and clearing off after that.
I told Jake I was going to be in the woods this morning, it was going to be the first sunny sunrise in 8 or 9 days!
I was slipping in to my listening spot when he announced his location at 06:00 this morning!! He was roosted about 300 yds away so I cut the distance to about 150 found a tree and set up.
He was really gobbling good, I sat back and enjoyed the show untl I thoght it was getting close to flydown. I gave a few tree yelps on my persuader mouth call and he hammered back!. I pulled out my wing and did a fly down cackle, and he went nuts!!
He finally flew down and I went to work on him with some plain yelps and cluck and purrs. Every once in a while I would throw in a few light cutts. He was gobbling his head off, double and triple gobbling! I got quiet and I could tell he was on the way! I finally saw him about 70 yds out heading directly in. He stopped to strutt and gobble a few times! He got to about 30 yards but was behind some small trees, he turned to go down hill , I found a hole he was about to walk into and once he stepped into it I took the shot! He went right down!
This is the first bird I have killed in Arkansas in a LONG time!
He is a nice bird, he weighed 19#2oz, had two beards one 10" and the other 3 1/4", and had 7/8" spurs
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0910.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0918.jpg)
(http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/OpenSeason1/IMG_0934.jpg)
You da man Stephan!!!! Congrats on the razorback turkey! :you_rock:
That is one good looking bird. Congrats!
Nice!!
way to go! congrats on a fine bird :icon_thumright:
Congrats on the nice gobbler. The double beard is a bonus..Way to go..Mike :you_rock:
Congrats on a great bird! :you_rock:
Congrats on the double beard!
:icon_thumright: Congrats!!
Congrats on a Great bird.
Congrats!
Glad you guys are gettin' some sunshine finally.
Great looking turkey Stephen. Congrats on a great hunt.
TRKYHTR
Nice bird, congrats
good bitd,congrats.
Nice one, congrats!
nice double bearded gobbler! congrats! :you_rock:
Awesome story and a great bird!
dadgumit man.. those birds just dont stand a chance with you in the woods.... :z-guntootsmiley:
Congrats!!!
:z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley: :z-bdayparty:
Very nice going,congrats!!!
:jackson:
Congrats! Very nice bird... :you_rock:
Way to go Stephan, sounded like a great hunt. Congrats man.
:you_rock:
That's a great looking bird mate ---Congrats!!!!!
Congrats ! Great Gobbler !! :newmascot:
Congratulations! They are a little scarce here right now.
Congrats!
Congrats! Nice tom.
congrats on a nice one
Sweet. fine double beard