Mossy Oak Forum / Hunting / Wild Turkey

Day 8 '08

NerdHick — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:49:09 GMT

Well HTH came up this AM and we headed up the hill...

long story short...we got screwed!!!

Had a tom come in and stop short, turn and walk behind us...no windows open...

We'll fix him, I got the new blind in the mail today! I'm like it!!

Ameristep INTIMIDATOR BLIND pretty nice set up...

Day 7 '08

NerdHick — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:15:18 GMT

I don't even know why I try...

I'm a stupid idiot and I knew I shouldn't push my luck this AM with going into the woods..stay on the edge I thought...no, I want to get in a bit...get a little closer.

Yea well I'm sure you all know what happened next...I ended up 2 trees away from the roost and was busted.

So I figure I'm done and I head out. Get to the bottom of the road that goes up the mountain, you know what I'm talking about HTH, you can see my house and that field where you always hunt...guess whats on the road...GOING HOG WILD WITH A HEN!

Folks I can't make this stuff up...

The tom and his little lady are in the middle of the road!!! I can hear what he's saying...move along jack-o, nothing to see here...

GRRRR!!! So I go to the house to lick my wounds and get ready for work...come out and that stupid tom is STILL going after it with his lady...so I drive closer to get a better look and he's got 3 of them...what a stud!

Dear Tom,

NY911Bowhunter — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:26:52 GMT

Dear Tom,

Hey! It's me, NY911! We havnt seen each other in a few months, but I have been looking for you!

I have been up at 0400 and out there awaiting you all last week - I call you, and call you, but you never return my calls! I havnt even heard from you yet this year!

As soon as I drop Drew off at school - I race out there to meet you....all for nothing...Where are you?!

I have big plans for a nice dinner with you Tom - just please - respond to my calls!

And to add insult to injury - what did I see yesterday Tom? Thats right - I saw you and your buddies! How did you know I was getting drug around grocery shopping all day? Huh? It was raining - and I just KNEW I'd find you out in the feilds....and sure enough! There you were - gobblin' your fool head off! As I drive - I see 13 of your buddies too! I feel so cheated Tom - I thought we had something special!

And much like a love lorn teenager - I ignored my pain, and planned to try to meet you once again this morning....but alas...it was not to be. Work,again gets in the way of our affair...

But this time Tom - It was me that dropped the ball, didnt hold up my end of the agreement...because as I drove to work - I see you..... I see you all over the place - on the outskirts of two of my properties.... places where I KNOW you would respond to my soft calls....Today was to be OUR day Tom....but no.....I messed up....please forgive me! I counted 27 of your family members today!

I'll be there tommorow morning Tom.....please...wait for me!

what kind of turkey is this

danielfrancisco — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:12:27 GMT

hi everyone im from Ontario Canada and we have eastern turkeys here. Today I seen an all black turkey with a white tip tail I dont know what kind of turkey this is, so if you know please help me. Also the turkey sounded like a hen then when it came in it started to strut. Do females strut and fan there tails to? this turkey had no beard that I could see

2008 Mossy Oak Forum Member Turkey Success Thread!

NY911Bowhunter — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:44:30 GMT

Post up a pic of you and yer birds here! Feel free, and please do, start a new thread with the details and pics, but put at least one here.

We like to see the forum members sucesses!

1st Saturday

Flintlock1776 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:27:55 GMT

Got back from a big trip down south. In bed by 11pm up at 3am. On my new property upstate NJ and set up before dawn.

Temps rose fast. 80 degrees by 10am thereabouts

No birds, not a peep.

Kicked up a hen in the shade as I walked out.

82 degrees by the time I got home.

4 more Saturdays left to try!

Week 2 in Pennsylvania

whitetail101 — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:14:31 GMT

After having the week of Ninja's, as my buddy called it. Our first week resulted in 2 birds being shot out from under us before they got within range of us.

We decided to go to a buddies camp in Potter County this past weekend. We hunted Friday and Saturday. Friday early morning resulted in another ninja'd bird. Later that morning, we had a bird answer us and my buddy discovered he had nine lives. He dropped the bird with the first shot, and while we were celebrating his 2nd turkey ever, it got up and started running, my buddy dropped it again with a second shot, only to have it get up a fly away never to be seen again.

Guess thats why they call it hunting and not shooting

I'll be out again before work and this comming saturday, hopefully get a bird to finally come in.

I need a few good men....or women.

beardcollector — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:00:11 GMT

Hey Folks,

I am the Regional Pro Staff Mgr for the Southeast and deal with dedicated turkey hunters that want to be a part of this great Mossy Oak family.

I am currently forming a team of Mossy Oak lovin' turkey hunters to fill many positions of pro staffers in the states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.

If you are as dedicated as I am to the passion of turkey hunting and Mossy Oak camo, I would love to hear from you....just drop me an email at mossyoakse@yahoo.com and I will get you an application out to fill out and return to me.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!!

Mike Cockerham
Regional Pro Staff Manager

08 spring gobblers

Michaelmac — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:39:27 GMT

These are my 2 spring goblers for the 08 season.

Michaelmac from Missouri

Three Years in a row!

xOZx — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:42:34 GMT

WOOOOT!!! The string is stil alive! 3 in a row!

Man, my hot spot did not pan out this season. I was sure I was gonna score yesterday, I was in the honey hole and the conditions were perfect. However, no luck. Few birds and the fellow down the line had a lead on em and he scored one.

So with the forecast and dim prospects on a new location, when I woke up (without alarm at 4:30) I expected rain and it was dry. "Do I go, don't I go?" I asked myself that question at least 20 times over the next half hour. Finally I said heck with it, I will not kill one if I stay in bed, so off I went.

In the woods about 30 minutes later than normal, I was not set up at fly down. I heard a couple fly down but was not sure their exact location, and heard a distant gobble on someone elses land.

I set up in a couple of places and did some calling to no avail...so at about 6:40 I get up to look for a gobbler. I walked about a hundred yards and hit the Real Hen box call and BOOM! Gobbie fired back. I think maybe this could be good. I walk about 10 more yards and hit it again...BOOM. Now I KNOW this is good.

I jump in the strip of timber and just sit. Here he came, about 70 yards down hill on ground I have no permission to hunt. He struting and doing his best dance to lure this hen to him...she ain't budgin' He is gonna have to come into or through this strip of woods I'm in and up a hill for this to continue to go in my favor. Guess what? That is what he did!

It was at this point I realized I was gonna have to shoot through some major junk to score. Alas, the Benelli M1 Super 90 with a HS turkey tube fell to a shot of Winchester Supreme 3" #6. I am down to 7 shells from that box of 10...should I buy more?

He was named HOT Gob-eee because he was hot for that Real Hen call.

24lbs
10" beard
1 1/4" spurs

Got A ? about turkey meat

TheRomer — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:00:07 GMT

I just debreasted my turkey and the meat has a stintch to it(wife says it smells like a fart lol)

i dont remimber if the jake had that smell last year and i dont want to throw it out if that is normal.

I had it in a cooler with ice packs on it over night.

so my ? is do you still think it is ok or not?

I keep it and put it in the fridge

Thunderbirds

mohuntdr — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:36:05 GMT

This weekend I took both sons out and let one of them use my Benelli. I decided to take a new Beretta that I had won at the DU banquet a couple of years ago as a back up gun. No shots were fired. The birds just wouldn’t cooperate. Hopefully, they’ll get their chance next weekend. This morning it was my turn. I headed to a different place that can be a little more challenging. I try to save my favorite spots for the kids. I took the Beretta since it was in the truck and had my sling on it. It was overcast, muggy, and very still out. Just as I got out of the truck, a big bolt of lightning ran across the sky. I almost turned around and headed home. Fortunately, I had left my blind up after hunting there last week and headed for it. I was early, so after I put the decoys out, I had a long wait before it started to get light. I closed my eyes and listened to the nearby Whippoorwill and distant thunder. The first gobbles I heard seemed far off. As more birds woke up, I could tell that there were at least 2 or 3 on the property and south of me. I could not tell where they were, but I knew they were not close. I tried some soft yelps with the slate, but no response. I took out the box call, started with some soft yelps, and slowly increased the volume until they would answer my call. Even though I could get them to gobble, they would have to come a long way to pay me a visit. The thunder was getting closer and the birds would gobble to each loud report. As it began to rain lightly, I realized that it probably wasn’t going to happen today. Each time they gobbled, they were in the same place. I put my calls down for a moment and looked up to see a red and white headed, black bodied, creature, coming out of the woods. I grabbed the binoculars, and sure enough, he was dragging a beard. He came out at 60 yards. Just then I began to panic. I had not patterned the new gun and choke tube. I was missing the Benelli. He walked out, gobbled, and went into strut. He saw the decoys and cautiously crept closer. He stopped at 45 yards. He had drawn the line. I eased the gun out the shooting window and waited for him to come out of strut. As he finally stretched his neck, I put the bead on his head, and anxiously pulled the trigger. He folded, hit the ground, and never moved. I was using Winchester Extended Range #5's with my Kick's Gobblin Thunder choke tube. It must be a good combination and pattern. The Beretta is no longer a virgin. He looked to be a 2 year old, and probably weighed 19 #'s, with 3/4 to 1 inch spurs, and a 10 inch beard. As I walked out of the woods, the birds were still gobbling.

Day 6 '08

NerdHick — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:05:39 GMT

What a great morning...no pics at this time, sorry, I'll get them later.

Got out early and had some time to relax, at sun up I could hear toms all over in the trees, heard some fly down and then heard a hen making some noise...about 50 yds away I hear a tom going nuts.

As normal they want nothing to do with me...in the mean time I'm checking on the deer about 30 yds behind me and I turn back and I see 2 hens running away! No toms...then a few min later another hen appears and walks around, still no toms. I hear them off in another field and they won't make a peep when I call.

I pack it up and head to work early. Will post pics later if I can.

Keep after it!

me

Indiana Bird Down

TheRomer — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:47:51 GMT

Got in my area i was going to hunt around 3:30 pm was looking around for a place to set up the decs then out of nowhere i hear a gobble about 200 yds or so away from the way i came in but at the bottom of the ridge i was on. so i head back up top of the ridge to close some distance on him went about 100 and he hammers again but closer so i decide to head down the ridge to cut him off, got half way down he gobbles again this time i can see his bright blue head at the bottom of the hill about 75 yds away.there is a dip at the bottom that he goes behind to where i cant see him and he cant see me. so here i am standing right out in the open figure i better hit cover so i see a big fat tree in front of me, and dunk and work my way to the tree when i get there i can see him still at the bottom, still standing figureing id just use the tree for cover i make 3 soft yelps and a puuurrrrr with my slate call baaaammmm another one slammers off a gobble staight to the side of me and the one i was watching hammers after him WOW 2 of them, luckly i didnt get busted by the one one the side of the hill from me. that was all it took on the call they come straight to me the one on the side of the ridge got to me first. 20yd shoot down he goes at 3:55pm

You still cant wipe the grin off my face .this is only my 2nd year of turkey hunting and i called them in all by myself. WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO.

Here he is
20Lb
Double Beard
Biggest beard 10 1/4in
Littlest beard 7 1/4in
Spurs 1in

Beards

look at how they change colors

Spurs

Day 3 '08

NerdHick — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:31:59 GMT

GRRR

Jelly Head Fever

Miss judged the distance and thought he was close enough...got a big miss under my belt!

I think 911 and HTH could be right, the 3 toms could care less about the decoys...didn't even flinch...I may go get me a B-Mobile or Pretty Bow today!

They walked around the middle of the filed, the boss hen and I would carry on and the toms would go nuts but they wouldn't come to the decoys...they broke strut and walked from left to right, I thought I had the distance at 35 yds or so let the *cough* shotgun go and they just flew off...I walked the shot and it was well over 40. The gun was great at 30 on paper so I thought I was good...anyway, no go. I know where to sit next time to get them walking into the field...how long should I leave them be? 1-3 days?

I got one pic of the set up and then the hens started showing up...

Fatrooster strikes again!

Fatrooster — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:06:14 GMT

This was a great hunt that started off slooooooow. I get to my spot 1/2 hour before sunlight and this place ALWAYS has birds. It's just a flip of the coin in which direction you want to go, pretty much endless public land. But on the way in there were no vehicles what so ever. So obviously I'm concerned, no hunters may mean no birds. I jump out of the truck and try to locate a roosted bird, nothing. I keep tryng all morning and nothing. By now I'm 3-4 miles in and still nothing. Then way off I hear a faint gobble. I head towards it probably another 3/4 mile or so and hear it again. I do a quick set and start to chat with the bird and he lights up but he's still a long ways off. I decide to stay put. After 1/2 hour or so I grow impatient stand up and yep BUSTED. It was only a hen though. I made my way just a bit closer to where I thought the bird had been and set up again. I call maybe 3 or 4 times then this hen absolutely lights up about 75 yards in front of me. So I answer and whammo HE lights up. This bird is on fire, but so is she. I call she answers but closer each time. Finally just through the aspen thicket I see ole Tom. He's fanned out but just hauling ars down the logging road after the hen. They head straight towards me, then the majic happens. Ole boy sees the decoy and it's GO time. He does 2-3 full circles around the decoy and I let him have it. AWESOME hunt. I saw a few loner hens on the way back to the truck but didn't hear another gobble. Weird wonderfull day.

Bird was smaller than I would have thought. 16lbs, 1" spurs, 7 3/4" beard. But I'll take him anyday.

P.S. I havent shot a bird since 05. Got skunked in 06 and never got a chance to get out last year. This is also the first time I've got two in one season. Well, gotta run & get some more peanut oil for the deep frier.

My only bird of the year.

FireStrut — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:58:22 GMT

Had a very strange season in this part of NW Alabama. Heard very very little gobbling and didn't see much either. I did manage to call this bird in on 04-28-08 and some time around 17:00hrs. I shot him at forty feet with a Remington 870 Super Mag, with a Indian Creek Choke, with Hevi 13 3.5 inch, number 5 shot. He had a five inch beard, 3/16 spurs and I have no idea about the weight.

Days 4 & 5 '08

NerdHick — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:20:24 GMT

Sunday AM I had an odd sounding hen talking a bit...yea, not a hen but two other hunters. I thought they were on the neighbors place, turns our they were tresspassing, they left and I moved spots. Ended up heading home and 50 yds from my first spot there were 3 toms. They wouldn't answer a call so I left them for another day!

Monday AM, I set up on a trail I've seen turkeys use, I knew there were back on the mountain but it was too cold or I didn't sound right, they didn't come down! Made LOTS of noise but wouldn't come off the hill. I had to get to work so here I am.

Here's some pics from both days.

Tagged out in Tenn.

tngobbler — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:58:44 GMT

I got this double bearded bird this morning(5-5-08) at 9:05...I had to take my daughter to school this morning so I got into the woods around 8:55....I had just got set up and grabbed my Williams custom call cherry/cherry and threw out a yelp and this bird hammered from not more than 100 yds. from me.....I clucked a few more times and set the call down....he gobbled all the way in and strutted for me out in a power line right of way...I couldn't take it anymore so I let the Remington do its job...dropped him at 39 yds.....I knew he was a good bird but I didn't know how good till I rolled him over and there was TWO beards..my first double bearded gobbler

all total it only took 10 minutes from the time I called till this bird was on the ground

23 lbs..beard #1 4"..beard #2 9.5"..1 1/8 & 1 3/8 spurs
YEEEEEEEHHAAAWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back yard bird

toad13 — Sun, 04 May 2008 19:42:22 GMT

Turkey season ended here in Mississippi Thursday . I got on a few but didn't seal the deal . There are a few birds that I have been watching across the road for a year now . I saw the tom this morning , and then I thought I heard one gobble behind the house . I said to my self - had to be a dog - had to be . A minute or two later he hit again . I pulled out came the slate call for a encore yelp or two , he hit right back . I made a few more calls and he got quiet so I went back to my yard work . A hour later I tried him with a mouth call and he was still close by . I moved to the west side of the house to get a little bit closer and he gobbled back pretty quick . So I moved to the back yard and it was on . My wife and youngest boy were all smiles every time he gobbled back . Then my wife said - "There he is " about 50 yards back in the trees he was easing along a hill top , a few putts later he was gone . I heard him again a hour later 10:00 and then again at 3:30 this evening . It felt good to hear one before they go quiet for the year .

In Need Of Mouth Calling Help Please

jared33445 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:04:02 GMT

If anybody can help me use my primos sonic dome mouth call i would be greatful. I need to know what calls to use, and how to say them. if anyone can help i would be so happy. thanks for your time.

Turkey Marinations

gobble — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:47:22 GMT

how do y'all cook your turkey(s)? what do you use to marinate, etc...

i marinate mine in pineapple juice, for about 24-36 hrs..

then wrap in beacon, with onions, peppers, and such, then bake away! its awesome..

Copper for a calling surface.

FireStrut — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:05:08 GMT

Has anyone ever used copper in a pot call? If so, please post some info about it. I am thinking about buying one just to have a different surface but I would like to know if they are any good before I waste my money.

Forgotten 10 gauge?

NoDak_Hunter — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:15:09 GMT

I have a question, maybe someone can answer. Today's turkey loads for 12ga are often very heavy loads, around 1 3/4-2 3/8oz of shot. My question is, why is the 10ga not more popular than it is in turkey hunting? Given it's capability to carry more shot, you'd think it would be the better candidate to shoot the heavier loads of shot.

I see Hevi-shot is carrying 10ga in 'Hevi-13, with 2 3/8oz loads....

When I think of the capabilites of 2 3/8oz of #5 hevi-13 through a tight turkey choke.....

I spose the simple answer here would be that nobody NEEDS that much load, or, what do you guys think?

Anyone here use the 10ga for turkeys?

we had an incredible turkey season ...pics and stories inside

Holtzer1 — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:33:52 GMT

let me start with this being said. My son and I have been hunting turkeys for the past 3 years now, always coming up empty handed. Either luck came over us like a tidal wave, or i learned a few things over the dry years.
missouri youth turkey season
Day1:
Matt and I get out in the blind at 5am, get ourselves set up and wait till the first gobble of the morning. i started with some light calling every 5-10 minutes for about 1/2 hour or so. we were hunting in the timber, so visibility is very limited. out of nowhere, around 7am, a group of hens and a few jakes shows up. I asked Matt if he wanted to shoot a jake...and he wasnt too sure one way or the other. then i got to looking a little deeper in the woods, and right behind some thick cedars stood 2 huge toms in full strut. they were a little out of his range so we sat and watched. just then a nice gust of wind blew in and spun our decoy a full 180 in a heartbeat...and spooked off all the birds. kinda bummed, we sat and contemplated what to do..we'll sit tight and do some more calling. so, its now 8am, and we hear some rustling in the leaves. a bearded hen and a few more jakes came within 10 yards of the blind, but after seeing those big gobblers, he had his mind set he was going to wait for one. so we sat and watched these birds mess around for about half an hour...and they walked off. 10am, we were froze. it was 34 degrees opening morning of youth spring gobbler here. we called it a day and headed back to the house.
Day 2:
same morning ritual..almost identical to the day before, only we were both tired. we didnt have any birds showing up at our set-up so matt decided to catch a few Z's. Little did I know..so did I. Out of nowhere i woke up, the kind of waking up like your dead asleep and then BAM...your awake. I hit the call a few times and had a gobbler sound off 50 yards behind us. I woke matt up ad told him to get ready, i think this is his bird. to our left 2 hens came running down the hill to our blind. i couldnt figure out for the life of me where the gobbler went. About 5 minutes later, i heard the buzzzz buzzzz of a tom in strut. and there he was..huge bird..just showin off for the lady folk. matt got his gun setup, and waited, and waited and waited...i thought he was never going to shoot. i then whispered...whats wrong? which he told me he didnt have a clear shot..so he was waiting. (not bad for a 9yr old with his first turkey only 20 yards away from his barrel) 5 minutes had passed, and i whispered, the second you get a clear shot of his head, let him have it. no sooner did i say that..BOOM...and there was a turkey floppin on the ground. came out to be a 15 yard shot.
Matt
9yr old
First turkey
27lb
7/8" spurs
10.5" beard

Regular season
I wont go day to day..as ts been 2 weeks of spring gobbler here already.i'll just cut to the chase.

I got set up in the same blind matt got his bird from at 6am, lots of gobbles..lots of replies to my calls. 7am, i see a black blob sneaking through the trees. turns out its a jake..legal, and hey, i havent got my first bird yet. and when i say first...yup..my first ever. he stops in a little opening 35 yards out and i drop the hammer...he jumps...and walks away. i waited a few minutes and snuck up to where he was standing when i shot...no blood, no feathers..nothing. so i settle back in the blind and do some more soft calling. and hour goes by with no action, no gobbles. nothing. 8am, here comes the turkey i missed an hour ago..coming back the same trail he left on. he hung out at 35 yds again, so i waited. he jumped down into a drainage ditch that runs down to our lake, and disappeared. i've got my gun up..and i'm searching. out of nowhre he pops up, 5 yards from the blind...staring in...and that was it. i got my first turkey.

so, now to up the ante and see if i can just beat the odds against me...i decided i was going to try to get both my spring birds...i figured, we got lucky with matt and i both getting our first birds in one year..there no way i'll get my second bird.

week 2:
driving up the driveway at the farm around noon, i saw a nice big tom running across the lower field. since the woods are really greening up, i decided a field would better suit me now. I hopped on the 4 wheeler and retieveed my blind and went and set it up down in that lower field. a few days go by and i finaly have a free morning to drive out to the farm and hunt. heres how it went down...
I decided last night to take my youngest son, Owen with me turkey hunting. He's 5, doesnt hunt...but likes being in the blind. 5am rolled around and we headed out. we got to the blind at 6, and settled in for what i thought was going to be a no bird day....the wind was insane this morning. no gobbles until 6:30, usually theyre gobbling their fool heads off before daylight. anywho, we got the decoy set out in front of us about 15yds out and started doing some soft calling. never got a response. we were set up along a creek in a field...so it was foggy in the morning. as the fog lifted i noticed some heads bobbing around about 150 yards out. 5 hens live decoys I tried everything i had to get the hens over near me but it never happened. about 6:30...the gobbles started coming...4 different birds, all on the same ridge...all about 200 yards away. one by one, they started filtering off the hillside and into the field which left them 100 yards away from us, and only 30 yards away from the hens. there they were, 4 toms just strutting for the ladies..i thought, what the heck..the hens are starting to walk away..the gobblers are following, what do i have to lose? i put in a mouth call, and picked up my PV slate and went to town with both of them. it wasnt 5 minutes later, all 4 toms left those hens and came running full bore across that field to my decoy where they strutted their stuff. that is until one of them (the lead tom) showed himself in front of one of my open blind windows at 15 yards, where he met his doom. the hens took off like a shot from across the field, but the other 3 toms stayed and watched my bird do his death dance. owen got out of te blind to go check out my turkey, and the other toms just looked at him stupid for about 10 seconds...then reallized he wasnt supposed to be there and ran slowly across the field clucking.
so...i have beaten the odds i think
i got matt on his first bird during youth portion-8am
i got my first bird ever the first week-7am (missed bird) , 8am got my bird
i tagged out the first year i have ever shot a bird. -7am

i went up to the house and showed off the turkey, and took my nephew out to the same blind i just got this turkey from, we had a gobbler coming in, but he hung up about 100 yards out and wouldnt budge, then just walked off.

Jeremy
29yrs young
first succesful year turkey hunting...filled both my tags
22lbs
1" spurs
11 1/4" beard

Bird #3 down in Tenn.

tngobbler — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:21:11 GMT

Dropped this bird at 12:30 this afternoon 4-29-08.

A buddy and I took his boat and went up on one of the local lakes. We put in and started cruising the lake banks calling to the birds and fishing as we went. I hooked 4 largemouth around a pound each and 1 smallie also at a pound.

About 12:00 I threw out some yelps on my Hook's executioner and had a bird gobble about 200 yds. up in the woods. We pulled the boat in and worked our way up the ridge about 75 yds and sat down. I called to him again and he gobbled. I waited a minute or 2 and clucked at him and he had closed the distance. I could hear him coming so I got my gun up and ready.

After only another minute or 2 he popped out around a downed pine tree at 39 yds and the Remington did its job.

19 lbs...9.5 beard..7/8 spurs

NY Opener Tom down

Squirrelhunter91 — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:38:11 GMT

Yesterday was the opener in NY and I had a pretty good day. I headed upstate with my neighbor to a spot he had in Orange County. We called some birds in, but were unable to seal the deal because of hens. Also saw a lone tom walking around. When I hit the call, he would stop, but not respond. He had a big beard and a huge body.
So we went to another spot in Sullivan County around 8:30 and couldn't get a gobble at all. So since we were only 4 exits away from my family's property, we decided to go check out the house and property. He had never been there before so I wanted to show him our little weekend getaway. After being at the house for 5 minutes or so, a bird gobbles not a few hundred yards away. That was just way too tempting for a couple of turkey hunting fools on opening day. So off we went to try and get that bird. I kinda knew where he was headed, so we circled around to cut him off, but he covered ground way faster than I thought he would. So it was around 9:15 and he was down in some fields that are annual strutting zones. As soon as I hit the call, he hammered back at me. He would gobble every so often, while closing the distance. Instead of coming back straight the way he first went, this bird decided to do a big J hook around the backside of us. At first I had Mike sit facing the field, then he turned 90 degrees, facing down the hill, then finally he turned another 90 degrees, facing the total opposite direction he started out facing. I told him that if the bird came out in front of me, it was mine and if it came out in front of him, it was his.

So needless to say, after 30-40 minutes of working this bird and him double gobbling, he pops up about 30 yards in front of Mike. I can see the bird over my right shoulder, but he still can't see him. I tell him where he is and the bird took 3 more steps out in full strut and I hit the call to get him to break strut. He lifted his head a hair and BOOM! He ate some Winchester #4's at about 30 yards. Tom down!

He was ecstatic and jumping around like a little kid the whole time. This was his first turkey and I'm glad that I was able to call it in for him.

This call is made by http://www.purdyscustomturkeycalls.com . This is the 3rd tom in two years on that call. I'd say those Sullivan County toms like it. =]

It was a decent 2 year old tom. Roughly 20lb, 9-10" beard and 1/2" and 1/4" spurs. The one spur was all banged up from rocks.

Lost a Brother Gobbler Chaser

NY911Bowhunter — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:22:43 GMT

From our local paper;

[quote]While hunting, man has fatal heart attack

MILLERTON - A 54-year-old Katonah man apparently suffered cardiac arrest and died while he was hunting Thursday morning, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office said.

The man collapsed while he was hunting turkey with his wife in a wooded area off County Road 83 at 5:30 a.m., police said. He was transported to Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, where he was pronounced dead. The man's death was not suspicious, police said.

Millerton Rescue assisted the sheriff's office at the scene.[/quote]

I feel for his Wife - just breaks your heart.

God Bless

Day 1 '08

NerdHick — Thu, 01 May 2008 07:39:21 GMT

Had great music as the sun came up. Had hens all over the field, they moved out and the music continued until the deer bolted across the field and the yote circled the far edge and ran into the woods.

HTH, There was Tom in your field, same deal as last year...I tried to put the sneak on him but that didn't work so well.

I'm at work for meetings. I don't think I'm going to work tomorrow.

Great Morning!

Day 2 '08

NerdHick — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:40:18 GMT

SUCKED

South Carolina gobbler Down...

gobble — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:50:10 GMT

Got this hard head last saturday.. nearly 25lbs, 11 inch beard 1 1/2 spurs.. i went in the woods at daylight.. birds gobbling everywhere but as soon as they hit the dirt, the hens carried them out of hearing distance-- was about frustrating! soo.. i went in the woods again at about 2pm and hit the call, birds gobble... 2 hard heads came in from about a mile away (hens must have bedded down) and got this one and the kid i took with me killed the other (pics coming soon). i'd have to say that this bird is the fattest one i've ever killed.

Bird Down!

NoDak_Hunter — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:52:37 GMT

Took this fellow today. Scale showed 16.5lbs. Beard is about 4-5in long.

I followed a river bottom and came up over the edge, and there I saw 4-5 of them, all pretty much the same. I didnt know when the next time i'de get out, so I decided to take a decent bird when he's right in front of me. I didnt measure, but just estimating the shot at 30-35 yards.

Using my 20ga SxS with Rem HD.

Good luck to the rest of you NY'ers

Hilltophunter — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:54:14 GMT

Tomorrow has been the long awaited day for sure.......GOBBLE GOBBLE yelp yelp

turkey gun pattern

dsharp01 — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:13:31 GMT

I was patterning my new Mossberg 835 and am wondering if my results are poor. Test was done with a 12 ga shotgun with Federal and Win. Supreme 3", 1.75 oz No 5's and Win Super X 3", 1.75 No. 4's. here are the results:

Federal- 22 pellets in kill zone @ 30 yrds

Win. Suprem- 14 pellets in kill zone @ 30 yrds

Win. Super X- 12 pellets in kill zone @ 30 yrds

Any help would be appreciated and should I consider a new choke and maybe 3 1/2" shells?

First Rio 2 year drought ended!

Fatrooster — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:56:02 GMT

Finally the drought is over! Caught this bad boy in the roost saturday morning and quick threw out the decoy and got ready. We did a little soft calling and when it hit the ground it lit up! It started strutting but then there were hens all around him and he wouldn't come. After about 15-20 minutes he couldn't take the jake decoy and made his way towards it. This bird was very wary it hung up at what I thought was 40 yards so I crumpled him. It turned out to be exactly 45 but he went down like a truck hit him. Gotta love that Indian Creek choke! Didn't weigh him but he has a 9" beard and one 1"spur and one 7/8" spur. I'm a happy boy! Time to break out the deep frier!

NY Youth Hunt

Squirrelhunter91 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:09:43 GMT

NY Youth hunt is this weekend.. anyone heading out? I'm looking to get my brother a bird tomorrow morning. We're leaving this afternoon. I took off from work tonight and tomorrow. He better shoot one. Wish us luck!!

Good luck to everyone else if they are heading out!!!

What is your GO TO turley call!?

NY911Bowhunter — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:57:28 GMT

Mine is the old Primos The Freak slate call with Frictionite ! I bought this bad boy the FIRST year they came out and have totall abused it - still has perfect pitch!

need some help or advice

Krt3716 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:30:33 GMT

So for ever since I have been turkey hunting I have noticed that the birds tend to roost on neighboring land next to mine. There is about a 10 foot creek that seperates our property lines and a field on the neighboring land prob about 100 yards from the creek. So far every morning I have gone there has been atleast 4 gobblers (i know this because you can hear them at different distances and they tend to gobble one after the other). First morning I went I was able to get them to cross no prob and they stopped talking, next thing i know 2 birds came running in behind me within 10 yards i had no shot and they stood there awhile and then just walked off. The next week it took them longer to start gobbling in the morning and they came in 50 yards just a guess i couldnt see them but they just kept walking right on past. I was not calling much since I was in the same area I was the week before and I didnt want to get get used to the sound of me calling but these birds definitely seemed like they were on a mission they never stopped walking once. They walked from one side of our property to the other (76 acres) and i could hear them gobbling the whole way once every now and then. My question is how should i go about dealing with this problem should i set myself in the middle of there path or no? They definitely seem like they are extremely smart by not coming straight in but circling around and coming in from behind.

Any Alabama Hunters?

badcreek — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:05:44 GMT

Anyone hunting Alabama this weekend? What are the birds doing? Any help will be appreciated.

Daughter's first Tenn. Longbeard

tngobbler — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:50:22 GMT

Where to begin...I am one PROUD Daddy right now...Addison and I got to the woods this morning(4-27-08)at 5:30 am...I had finished putting up the blind and was setting the decoys when she came to me and told me that she had heard a bird gobble behind us and I said honey it is to early for him yet(it was 5:45 am and still dark!!!!!)...but as I was walking back to the blind guess what???...yep I heard him...stuck my head in the blind and told her daddy was sorry for not believing her

We sat there listening to that bird gobble for a while and then 4 more birds started gobblin at daybreak...I did a flydown cackle and then got quiet for a while...got out the S & S Game calls Deadly 360 and sent some sweet yelps and clucks out...bird behind us nearly choked himself gobblin so hard...I waited for about 5-10 minutes and this bird gobbles again and he has close the distance.

I sent a few more clucks out and he gobbled hard...by this time we could here him coming but couldn't see him as he was just over a small rise...I threw a few more clucks out and he nearly blew our eardrums out...I asked Addison can you see him..she said no but that she was shakin so hard she didn't think she would be able to be still....a minute or so later she looks at me(cause she is facing me looking out the back of the blind)and says Daddy I see him and he is strutting...I turn my head and see him just as he drops out of strut...he takes a couple more steps and that head comes up...I tell her...shoot him...shoot...shoot him!!!!!!!!!!!...and BOOM...she sends a swarm of Winchester 20 ga. 2 3/4 inch 4 shot at his noggin and drops him at 20 yards...we both jump up shoutin, laughing, and crying and go out to her bird...we just stood there hugging each other and thanking the Good Lord for this day.

stats...21 lbs...10 inch beard...3/4 inch spurs
I ain't ashamed to say that Daddy is cryin with joy as I tell this