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ARCHIVED OLD GOBBLER TURKEY HUNTING TEAM CONTESTS => 2018 OLD GOBBLER TURKEY HUNTING TEAM CONTEST => Team Strut Stppers => Topic started by: turkey harvester on January 26, 2018, 10:27:48 AM

Title: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on January 26, 2018, 10:27:48 AM
This is where we want to hear your story. Tell us the details too.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: dzsmith on March 30, 2018, 03:24:58 AM
Well I guess ill start it off.....some of you probably read where the only hunting I would get is the first 2 weeks of the season, because we will be on a shutdown where I work. well.....That 2 weeks is now over. We had terrible terrible weather here in the sip. It was either 30 degrees, raining, or overcast with 15mph winds. I stuck with it, and missed a bird on day 4. flew straight fromt he roost to my setup, I had been there 5 minutes. He was too close, and I didn't take my time. I was sick. I called some more birds up 3 days later...once again I had not been there 5 minutes, it was 15mph winds, they snuck up on me, and I didn't have my gun up while I was sitting in the wide open hardwoods....I had to let them walk. And then again about a week later, I was hunting in the afternoon, had been sitting there for 5 hours, ive never used a lounger chair, but I will use one from now on on long sits,because guess what my lazy butt decided to do....lay back and nap because it had gotten real late. The birds literally walked right on top of me and here I was laying down...what a fool I was. Once again, I remained frozen...because there was no chance on getting a move on them. All three time these birds were in groups of 3 or 4....as they have not busted up on the properties I hunt yet. So in 14 days 11 birds were called to the gun, and I ruined every single opportunity. You win some , and you lose a lot more. Good luck to all as your seasons open....don't make the mistakes I made.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on March 31, 2018, 04:33:10 PM
We are on the board! Got one this morning. He started gobbling at 6:20 and didn’t stop til he hit the dirt. Came in struttin and waking up the world. 8 1/16 beard, 7/8 spurs, 17 lb 11 oz. I’ll post pics soon. 
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on March 31, 2018, 08:42:59 PM
Nice job!! Congrats.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: Jroddc on March 31, 2018, 08:49:07 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: backwater on April 02, 2018, 06:31:14 AM
 Nice job Birdman!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: Dirtybird552 on April 02, 2018, 02:04:50 PM
Got my bird from Saturday posted but forgot to add my story till now. I had 3 birds on fire that morning. They were all in different corners of the property so I had to pick which one to go after. The first two shut up when they hit the ground. He gobbled once and I headed that way. I knew he was most likely in a small hardwood bottom that is about 100yds wide and 350-400yds long with a shallow branch running through it. I got him to sound off one more time when I finally got over there. I started sneaking and calling up the bottom with no luck. When I got about 2/3 the way to the other end I stoped and called and he fired off. I looked up and could see him strutting about 75-100 yds throughly the trees. So I dropped down and set up. I threw everything at him with no luck. Then I caught a glimpse of the hens with him. After 45 min I couldn’t take it. I dropped everything but my gun and a mouth call, hopped down in the branch and started slipping up the hollar. They were feeding away from me so I had to stop and check several times as I was moving along. Finally I got even with them. The bank of the branch is about 2foot over my head so I found a root I could boost myself up with. The first time I peeked over I couldn’t see anything but jakes and hens feeding. The second time I raised up there he was between two trees, blowed up like a picture. I put the dot on him and let my old 3 1/2 h&r bark. It was a long hot walk back to the truck but it was worth it! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180402/be7fb0bfb303f53ab44bb85c37446972.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180402/89ff84485a54b2f2ee673c48aac10c51.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180402/a8e06fa62accfccd86866e5bd7637dec.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180402/aa37d7e1650b9e7f12f43395748db040.jpg)


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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 02, 2018, 03:10:28 PM
Wow congrats guys. Dirtybird, there has to be a picture with the bird in scales, and a picture of tape on beard too. If no someone will cry foul. If you have some post them up, otherwise they say we have to record it a different way, just to be fair in the contest.
I've been sick for the last 4 days and didn't even get to get out and listen. Congrats fellas
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 02, 2018, 03:12:02 PM
Never mind dirtybird, my bad. I didn't see it in contest entries. Whoops. Congrats
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: backwater on April 02, 2018, 05:16:38 PM
Nice job Dirtybird.    Good story.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: wvhoyt19 on April 02, 2018, 07:56:24 PM
Congrats guys!!


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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: dzsmith on April 03, 2018, 05:23:50 AM
well my vacation ended. no bird in the first two weeks of the season. but I had one day off this week so I went, took 1/2 the day to get in a position to kill this bird which required sitting in the same spot for 4 hours while he spit and drum in one spot waiting for the opportunity to move on him. and that I did. killed him at 1130.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: backwater on April 03, 2018, 06:35:26 AM
Way to stick with it DZ.    congratulations
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on April 03, 2018, 06:39:05 AM
Congrats! Persistence paid off!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: Dirtybird552 on April 03, 2018, 08:04:45 AM
Good job


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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 03, 2018, 10:52:12 AM
Dang, way to stick it out!!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on April 03, 2018, 03:53:08 PM
Congrats guys, nice job.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 05, 2018, 12:11:26 PM
If anyone kills anything, I'll get to as soon as I can get online. I'm on a school trip with 22 kids in Jefferson City. Good luck. I'll try to check in from time to time.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on April 11, 2018, 04:24:41 PM
Nice job backwater. Been rough down here this year, birds just do not want to work. They are either hened up or to scared to come in.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 11, 2018, 07:23:17 PM
Nice job backwater!!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on April 21, 2018, 03:49:48 PM
Well I have tagged out here in Oklahoma. Been a great trip. My dad still has one to get so I will be with him hunting this afternoon and tomorrow morning. One of my birds was a double beard and even though you can’t count the second beard in the contest, he is an upgrade. I will share pics and stories when I get home Monday or so.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on April 21, 2018, 06:11:04 PM
Nice job birdman. Public or private land in Okl?
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on April 21, 2018, 10:44:25 PM
It was private. Been a great trip.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on April 23, 2018, 08:43:26 AM
Heck ya!! Way to go. These public land birds are driving me crazy!!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on April 26, 2018, 08:23:32 PM
Ok guys. Here’s my Oklahoma story. I arrived on Thursday afternoon and after hunting Thursday and Friday, the birds kinda had a pattern going on. Saturday it was suppose to rain, so before daylight we placed a blind up in a spot that the turkeys liked to frequent. I prepared for an all day stay since the rains were coming. Around 8:30 I spotted a longbeard by himself making his way toward me. After 45 minutes or so, he had passed by me and was on his way away. I yelped to him softly and he turned and walked straight to the gun. Dead at 20 yards. 8 inch beard, 3/4 and 7/8 spurs, 17 lbs. After tagging the bird, I took him to the blind and decided to sit it out a little while longer.

At around 9:45, I spotted a group of 23 hens and a gobbler. I knew that calling him away would be tough, so I played my cards and let patience take over. I watched them pic around in some hay and move my way a little at a time. Eventually the hens came by me at about 60 yards. When he started by, I gave him a few soft whispers and he eased my may. He went behind my blind and I couldn’t shoot at first. After walking in front of me at 5 yards and gobbling in my face. He took a dirt nap. After the recover, I saw the 2nd beard.
 9 5/8 and 2 3/8 beards, 15/16 and 1 inch spurs, 18 lbs. 1 oz.

My dad was also able to get him a gobbler. 9 1/2 inch beard, 3/4 and 13/16 spurs, 16 lbs
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on April 27, 2018, 09:56:00 PM
Nice job birdman, awesome hunts. That 2nd bird must have been nasty mean: to have 23 hens, he had to be.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on April 29, 2018, 09:15:53 PM
Nice job birdman, awesome hunts. That 2nd bird must have been nasty mean: to have 23 hens, he had to be.
I totally agree. There were lots of gobblers around and he ruled the ladies. The first bird I killed was missing some tail feathers so I figured he had taken a whipping.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: wvhoyt19 on May 06, 2018, 09:10:20 PM
Hey guys! Well it has been a great season. I have been blessed for sure! I have hunted with my sons as well as a good friend from PA.

To start the year, my son and I were sick during the WV youth season. We only hunted until 10:30 and coughed our heads off! After that, I went on a planned fishing trip to Cherokee, NC with a couple buddies. We returned on a Friday evening and I roosted a bird at 8:15. I knew exactly where he was located and setup a blind in the dark around 10 PM. The next morning he fell right in my lap and put on a show. I was able to harvest him by 7:00 and self filmed the hunt as well.

Next my buddy from PA came down for 3 days and on his 1st morning we decided to hunt a new tract of land an hour from the house. Without the ability to roost the night before, we setup in a cluster of trees that I scouted out on my 2 trips on this new property. Needless to say right before shooting light a 2 yr old gobbled on the roost. Shortly after fly down, he seen my DSD breeding pair and came on a string. Within 20 min of being in the WV Woods, my buddy tagged his 1st WV bird!

Last but not least, I tagged out in WV on my birthday! It wasn’t an exciting hunt because the gobblers were pretty silent most of the morning. I moved a little lower just above a field and started to call when two 2 yr olds cut me off around 9:30. Within 5 minuets I had them at 30 yds and was blessed with my last WV bird!




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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 07, 2018, 09:22:50 AM
Great birds and story. Congrats!!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 07, 2018, 09:31:58 AM
Well its not the biggest I've ever killed but he will work. This was our second farm of the morning. We had a deer snort at us at about the time I could see big boy strutting in a field. Things were looking good until the snort. The deer turned inside out and ran, the gobbler broke strut and ran, and I just helped it along I guess. Crap!! So we load up and go to another farm close by. Pull up and listen and no gobbles. It's 6:50 and all is quiet. Few minutes later we see a hen cross the same field I killed my last day bird last year, and enter the woods, followed by a couple of gobbles. We grab decoy and guns and beat feet across edge of field. Got set up, put full strutter out, and started calling. Immediately we could hear more than one gobble. Then a group of 4 jakes, 2 with full fans, 2 with jake fans came running to decoy. They put the whopping on him and I picked out one of the larger birds. After I shot the rest came over to kick my birds butt. The other big jake jumped on mine and is plucking this thing like a feather pillow. I tell bro to shoot before he plucks him. All he can do is laugh and say i don't have a shot. I said you liar and he just laughs. Finally he rolls him off my bird. I think his bird lost more tail feather bulling mine around, lol.  Even with a miss, it turned out to be a great morning hunting with my little brother. This is a tradition now!!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: backwater on May 07, 2018, 01:49:35 PM
Nice job guys.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on May 07, 2018, 03:49:05 PM
Nice job turkey harvester.

We have some “ traditions” as well, some are more like superstitions.

I have shot jakes and have no problem with someone shooting one.

Question: I always considered a bird with a full fan a Tom and half a fan a jake, why do you say it is a jake?
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on May 07, 2018, 10:31:23 PM
Great job fellas!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 08, 2018, 08:44:45 AM
Nice job turkey harvester.

We have some “ traditions” as well, some are more like superstitions.

I have shot jakes and have no problem with someone shooting one.

Question: I always considered a bird with a full fan a Tom and half a fan a jake, why do you say it is a jake?

Lack of spur length, short beard, feathers going up the back side of his neck. But I can say regardless of what he was, he sure tasted good!! Wish we could have got it on video, they really beat up ole ( legend).
The funniest part was, his bird wasn't completely dead when it was put in back of the truck. We both figured he would expire very quickly. But when we got to his house the bird hadn't expired!! So i jump in the back to finish it off, which he should have already done, the stupid thing jumps to its feet, and begins to exit stage left!! He's cleared the bed of the truck, and I grab him by his wings and body slam him to the corner of the bed!! After a short WWE bout, he's done. I just look at him and say really. He's once again laughing his ars off tryin to video it.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: bornagain64 on May 09, 2018, 12:05:05 PM
Lol. Thats  what friends are for.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 09, 2018, 01:07:43 PM
Lol. Thats  what friends are for.

This was my youngest brother, lol. He cant even start the story without hee hawing for 5 minutes. Good times
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: Dmason3 on May 21, 2018, 08:29:59 AM
Well guys I struck out for the first time in my life this year. Bad weather, crazy work schedule and bad luck ruined my season. Learned a lot this year though. Good luck to everyone and thanks for letting me tag along


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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 21, 2018, 11:22:32 AM
Always glad to have ya. Hopefully you'll be around for next years contest. I'll agree, this has been one of the strangest seasons for sure. Weather was crazy, work, and henned up gobblers.
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: birdman67 on May 22, 2018, 07:09:50 AM
I will agree with that also! This season was different for sure! Weather was a huge factor I believe. That’s what makes the sport a challenge. So many factors affect a hunt that when we are successful, it is so sweet!
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: dzsmith on May 24, 2018, 10:37:28 PM
Always glad to have ya. Hopefully you'll be around for next years contest. I'll agree, this has been one of the strangest seasons for sure. Weather was crazy, work, and henned up gobblers.

this seemed to be a nationwide issue this year. glad im not going crazy...because I thought our Mississippi season was very strange indeed
Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: Dmason3 on May 24, 2018, 10:39:45 PM
Ill be here next year for sure! Also had a little one born in the end of March so I’ve had my hands full. Good luck fellas.


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Title: Re: Strut Stopper StoryThread
Post by: turkey harvester on May 27, 2018, 07:11:12 PM
Congrats on the little one!! Hopefully we're all here next year!!! We're beginning to have a pretty good thing going here. Where I'm gonna be working during the summer, had a guy tell me they've been gobbling all day now over there. Not 8 miles from my house.
It was defiantly an interesting season for all. All I can say is" Next Year Fellas". I'm already wishing it was around the corner again. Better than Christmas Time,lol.