Mossy Oak Forum / Hunting / Wild Turkey

DOUBLE BEARDED BIRD DOWN!!

BowBo — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:35:38 GMT

Me and Romer packed up the truck and headed for our annual turkey hunting trip southwest of here, on Monday. Got camp all set up and then went riding around and scouting the rest of evening.

Tuesday morning we knew right where we were going to set...... has paid off couple times in years past! And it was a very foggy start to the morning! It was thick, and didn't seem like it would ever lift. It was calm and quiet though!

This was my set up, where I saw 4 hens in all from...

At 7:20am I heard a shot ring out through the fog, it was Romer for sure! Waiting patiently for a calling on the radio..................... waiting.......... BIRD DOWN BO!! BIRD DOWN!

WooHoo, my buddy is tagged out in the first few minutes of his first hunt of the season! Not to mention, he had TWO LONGBEARDS on top of his jake deke.......... we could have doubled out once again, had we been working together that morning!

So now at least I know birds are on the move in the fog. Haven't heard any, haven't seen any YET! But it wasn't too much later, had a hen come out and feed all around for a long time, then she exits. Bout 30mins later, 2 more hens ease out into the field to feed. They worked it over for quite a while too. Then a big rumbling storm started moving in, and rain started. So I packed out to meet Romer at the truck and see his bird.

18.5 lbs
10.5" beard
White-ish 7/8" spurs

We had some lunch and then hit a strip pit for a little fishing after the rain let back up. There we discussed a strategy for my evening hunt. I wasn't returning to my morning spot, just don't like it for afternoon/evening so much.

So by the time we rode and checked a couple more spots, I then decided that I would hit a location we tried last year, even though it was not successful then! Mike decided to go sit with me in the blind, and was going to video any good action that might take place.

We had now been set up for quite a while with no sightings or gobbles, when we started thinking about what the plan was going to be for the next morning's hunt (starting to get discouraged with this spot again)..... not to mention it was getting HOT in that blind! Knowing temps the next day would be over 85 too!!

Our view.......... big strip pit 80yds in front of us surrounded with thick woods...

Well at 7:20 Romer starts elbowing me mumbling something along the way while he's peaking out the right side window.......... when all of a sudden a see a BRIGHT RED FLASH appear into my view to the right! It was a longbeard in a FULL OUT RUN right beside the blind tearing in front of me to the jake decoy!!! He was about to shred that sucker until I let him have that 3-1/2" Magnum #4 right in the back of the head at about 13yds!

Where he lays in front of the jake deke (in tall grass)

20 lbs
Biggest beard: 11"
Smallest beard: 7-7/8"
Spurs: Very sharp 1"

Needless to say since it all happened in LESS than 10 seconds..... Mike never did get it on video
But hey, that's quite alright....... we laughed our butts off in that blind after I pulled that trigger and he folded right there! It was an AWESOME hunt!!!

Me and Romer scored on the same day this year...... exactly 12hrs apart! 7:20am/pm

Sokin em in VA

bowtechhntr — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:55:15 GMT

We are having an awesome season here in Virginia. The birds are hot and seem to be getting hotter. I called in my girlfriends first gobbler on the 22nd of April an watched her lay the smack down on an respectable long beard. 10inch beard 1inch spurs and 19 pounds. lets just say I found my new turkey hunting buddy!
Also here is a picture of my buddy Buck's opening day thunder chicken.

My Maryland success

jbmabrey — Sat, 21 May 2011 06:03:10 GMT

I live in Delaware but hunt in Maryland also. These birds were taken in Caroline county on the eastern shore.

Scopes for turkey hunting

cwthunderchickens — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:35:13 GMT

What kind of scope would you recommend for hunting turkeys and what kind of reticul do you like to use?

Slate Pot Call Recomendations?

trkychsr57 — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:07:28 GMT

Looking for a quality slate pot call. Any recomendations? TC

Turkey hunting

thwack — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:11:27 GMT

As i was senting up my blind i saw 8 turkey working a corn field.Ran to the truck to get my bow and get my camo on.Took off for a Spot And Stalk.On my way to cut them off i ran into the hens.Busted.They ran off.I gave a call up and 2 tom sounded off.1 was right in front of me working my way.He got to 44 Yards and stopped.He was looking for his hens.With no decoy i knew it was almost over.Gave one more call and he looked ,turned.Just then i let my Victory arrow tipped with a New Muzzy MX-3 75gr go.THWACK.I hammered him at 44yards with my bow.

What a day!

Flintlock1776 — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:19:45 GMT

Well, after working my usual 70 hour tour I know I can get Saturday off to try getting a Turkey. I got one nice Tom on my opening week permit (story of the 4/26/11 posted elsewhere on the forum). I have the Saturday's only permit. Saturday's so far were a bust, 'Dead Woods' . The tours I pull can get tiring but I was determined to get up this Saturday and early.

So, with only 5 hours sleep the alarm goes off at 0230 HRS. Good intentions but I hit the 10 minute snooze button. 10 minutes pass fast and when the alarm goes off again my finger starts heading the for snooze button. However, my other part of the brain said "NO" get up and get out early. Perhaps the woods were dead as you got in too late and they may have moved off unbeknown to this writer I said to myself.

Get dressed, load the truck ,grab a fast bite and up and out the door drive to my property. I get there and walk into the woods at 0400 HRS. Half way through as I traverse the property, I am scanning the area with my SureFire flashlight. Sure enough, the beam falls on a pair of eyes looking at me. Yep, my property is loaded with bears and I can see the faint outline of the bear's body with those eyes shining back at me. I pick up the pace and angle a bit left away from the bear as it watches me pass at about 100 yards.

I get to my spot on my land about 1/2 mile in. I place my Primos Gunthunter's Blind, Double Bull Chair, Mossberg Shot gun, Tat'r Vest carefully on the ground. I take my three hen decoys and one Jake Fan and set it up about 20 yards away from where I will set up my blind. As I walk down to the place to set up my decoys and my foot catches a stump or rot or something and down I go. My keen hits a rock and the PAIN was great. I lay there for a moment thinking I might have broken my knee as I though how hard it is going to be to crawl out to my truck. I lay there in pain and slowly start to recover. No blod, nothing broken but my knee is HOT. OK, not too bad you have been in worse situations on the job I told myself. Get up and get on with the hunt I said to my self.

The decoys are set, I placed two of three on the ground and one on stake with the Jake fan behind the set up.

Back, slowly, to my blind and I get everything set up. Man, it was great to be in a nice chair to let me knee rest!

I checked my GPS and it said best times today were from 9am-11am. OK, so it is a bit later than I would have liked but at least I am set up well before sunrise. The place looks beautiful as the night looses to daylight. Woods are quiet. I hit the Primos Battleship paddle call and Cody Drop Dead slate call sparingly. Nothing.

At 0800HRS something way to my left catches my attention. With the lay of the land whatever it was dropped into a little dip but I hold my focus. There! Movement, maybe it is a Tom! A few moments later it comes into view. A Mother bear with her cub on a dead walk towards my blind. I had been running my Thermacell since dawn. As the bears were 15 yards from my blind the mother stops. She reaches down and picks up the cub with her mouth and urges it to do a 180 degree turn from my blind. Off they go. The woods return to the undisturbed state.

I call very, very infrequently and then stop altogether. I am just enjoying the woods and a nice day. At 1030HRS I am thinking if I should leave or not and decide to pick up my calls. I call, nothing. Ten minutes later, I hit the call once more. I get a Gobble! Hit the call again and another gobble! The calls were binding me not in front as I had expected them to come! I then realize I can open the back of the blind. I turn my chair around. I unzip the back of the blind slightly, peek out and there he is, a TOM with Red Wattles! Can I unzip it enough to get a bead on him. Carefully, slowly I made the attempt. I get the blind open as much as I cared too. I hoped when I slipped out the barrel he would not spook. I get a bead on hi, pull the trigger. BOOM! The Hevi Shot 3 1/2" Hevi 13 sure sounded louder in that blind! I can see the Tom do a back flip and flop down. I flip the blind over and run to my trophy! He went nowhere after being hit just like every other Tom I have taken with my Mossberg! I feel fortunate! 1050HRS and the deal is sealed!

I have never gotten more than one bird in spring season, ever. 2011 was now the exception. It was not a big Tom, just a Jake, 16 pounds 4 1/2 beard and stubby hooks but I was happy! All those season I hunted after getting my first (and only) bird but now to have gotten two in the same season. Each hunt is a priceless memory!

Thanks for reading through my narrative. 12 hours later, I am still pumped!!! Tonight I will put an ACE banadge on my knee. I have been using an Ice Pack too!

(click on photo)

Opening day in Oklahoma ...

billnsarah — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:06:39 GMT

Had an excellent hunt in Oklahoma . Opened the season on the 6th , put down 2 long beards and a coyote . Pic's are posted on my blog page and facebook .

turkey shot size

turkeymaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:10:14 GMT

what is your favorite shot size for turkeys

Spring turkey...logging operations?

magtomp501 — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:55:25 GMT

I have a hunting area that is currently being logged, some clear cut, some thinning. Will that affect the current turkey popultion in that area, i.e., will they leave that area? Should I even try to hunt before the loggers start their day?

Tom

Biggest Turkey I've ever seen in Georgia!

242outdoors — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:38:39 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXHtfpxob_w

This is the biggest turkey i've seen in person in georgia....at least a 12in beard. didnt get a good look at his spurs but he has the deepest gobble i've ever heard in the wild. he came to 85 yards and stopped. i worked the fan on my strutter decoy and he just wouldnt come in. hope i get a shot at him next year. hope ya'll enjoy the video!!

242 Outdoors

Turkey Videos online

jwhunter — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:02:26 GMT

hey guys new to the forum. just posted some videos and id like you guys to check them out. hope this gets you excited about the upcomming season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNiaXak-Lq4

check out all my videos turkey and deer
jw

A little help would be appreciated

ccoutdoors — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 04:50:08 GMT

Hello, I need some experienced people to help me with articles, forums, tips, etc for our guns, guns and accessories, optics, turkey, varmint, predator, elk and exotics, archery, fly fishing, bow fishing, saltwater fishing, salmon and trout fishing.

If you are interested we are also giving away some nice products in our free raffles. I can be reached by email at ccoutdooradventures@nvc.net, phone 605-395-7776 or just click http://www.huntingandfishingtheoutdoors.com/forums.html

You can also send me a message on this site but I might not be back for a couple days.

If you have an outdoor business I will trade free ads for a couple posts each month. My other site is very high in the rankings. The C & C site is just getting going and as you can see already is doing quite well with it’s ads and information.

We made sure there were plenty of resources for our users and quality information. This is why I need your help. I know nothing about some of these other types of hunting and fishing. Thank You very much…

Fullfan's 2010 season

Fullfan — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:13:15 GMT

Started off in MO where the weather whipped us every day, wind blew non stop for 9 days. Connected on a good 2 year old and then miffed two shots on mature birds. Both were around 35 yds. Guess I still get excited. Home in PA both tags filled in two days. Off to NY where work would only give me one day to hunt.

I can tell you this, the new hevi shot #7 is nasty stuff.

NWTF HERITAGE BANQUET

mikebo4 — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:01:18 GMT

Iam having my second heritage banquet for the NWTF
last year banquet I had about 50 people show up. So
Iam trying to get more hunters to come but I know that
some of you are in southern parts of states and mid west
and eastern states Iam in southern california it is hard
to get people out here to come and to understand what the NWTF
does for hunter and the habatit out here. I hope I here from anyone

Thanks
Mike
NWTF Member
bouman4@verizon.net

1 Tom + 5 Bears on ONE day!!!!!!!!

Flintlock1776 — Sat, 01 May 2010 16:31:07 GMT

Today was pretty awesome but it really started yesterday.

Friday April 30.

I have a permit for the Monday-Friday Turkey hunt. The season opened Monday. It was raining heavy, cold windy but it was the first day. What was I to do? Work was tough and I sure needed a break. I even posted for suggestions from the forum members on what to do. In spite of all the encouragement to get out opening day, I passed!

I never passed on a deer opener but now I'm older and I just did not believe the Turkeys would be out. So, I did not go.

I did not go Tuesday as storms persisted. Wednesday was clearing but heavy, heavy winds. It was killing me not to go out.

Thursday was milder but I figured I would give the birds and the woods another day to dry out. With temps predicted in the low to mid 70's I prepared to go out.

Friday I head out and set up in my spot deep in the woods. I out out the B-Mobile and 3 hen decoys.

At 6:30am I hear a gobble off to my left! Here is comes! A nice Tom. I was in my Primos Gun Hunters Blind. This Tom cam up and went from my left to right and is was just enough to be out of range but close enough to enjoy the show he out on fanning his tail and gobbling to my calls. Off to the right he goes but not after over 30 minutes of gobbling to my calls and doing a little back and forth trying to find the source of those call. Off he goes. Rats!

I get up, drag the blind about 20 yards further out and reset up. he gobbles again comming back right to left! He struts looking for my call. I call again and he gets up on a log and is peering out trying to find the hen calling. Still, on his return trip he is further out still again. After 40 minutes off he goes right to left and out of sight. Rats!

Again, I get up, move the blind further out and wait & hope. About 20 minutes later he is back! Heading left to right as I look out my blind. Still too far away although he is gobbling like heck. Finally, off he goes staying out of range. Rats!

We have to be out of the woods here by noon so I pack up, happy with so many encounters although no bird!

That night I go all over the details. I remember last year's Tom I got using Hunter's Specialty back pack blind. The Tom kept looking at the decoys but would not close in. I figured it may have been the B-Mobile. Although it brought a Tom in last year; this time I think he just was not going to mess with another Tom and that is why he resolved not to close the gap. I resolved tomorrow to use different tactics. Back Pack blind; hens only and get into the woods a bit earlier even more than Friday. I finally got to sleep and the alarm went off at 3AM found Round #2 Turkey Season 2010!

Saturday May 1 2010

The alarm goes off , I hit the 10 minute snooze button as I am beat. Just before it goes off again I look at my watch; 7minutes later, what are you doing! Don't keep sleeping dozing off you will miss getting out in time! Get up and get hunting I told myself!

As I walked into the woods I said to myself : "You are going to have a good day". I never said something like that before and just too it as a good omen.

I set up my back packer blind, 3 hens decoys and wait. I'm facing a bit to the left as I hope the Tom from yesterday will hit the same patter. I figure out yesterday this must be their strutting zone!

There I am, waiting. Suddenly, a gobble ahead but to my hard right! There, a Tom and a good looking one! He gobbles and struts and holds tight! he keeps looking over to the decoys I sent out. I gave a call as he walked behind a tree. He was holding back. I gave another call as he went behind another tree and I gave one more call and said to myself, no more calls. He gets a little closer, and slowly closer. At 40 yards it seemed he was going to come in no further. Could this be the Tom from yesterday? At 40 yards I set the Bushnell Holo Sight on him; pull the trigger on my Mossberg Ultimag 835 with the Primos Jelley head. One load of Hevi Shot 3 1/2" # 6 and he was down for the count!!

Nice bird! I pack him and my stuff and head to the check station. 19 pounds 10" beard!!

On the way home I stopped at Lowes and picked up some stuff but got out quick as the temps were rising and the bird was in the truck.

Breasting out a bird can be a chore so I decided to do that out behind my shed in the shade. It is about 10:30 and away I am working when after a few moments I look up and see a black bear!

I get up, at a slow pace back up leaving the bird on the ground but I come back with my new DSLR to get pictures of this. By the time I get back the bear is heading back over the ridge about 20 yards away from my deer feeder. I stopped feeding the deer last fall but kept the feeder out there empty but as it is big and I used duct tapes to hold it from toppling over I just left it there.

My Trail cam I discovered later got a picture of this bear and HER 4 CUBS!!

The trail cam photo has all 4 cubs, one partially hidden by the log it was going over. My DSL pics I took and you can tell as they don't have my nickname on the bottom as the trail camera does. I tried to sneak up on the bears and when I saw momma bear ushering her cubs up the tree at my approach, I figured I was close enough! I got some quick pictures and then backed away.

What a day!!!!!!!!!!!! One Tom and 5 Bears on my land!!! I never knew a black bear could have so many cubs!

I am old enough to remember this was May Day for the communist in Russia that once was the enemy but this May Day will be special to me!

10 years ago I got published for my best Turkey ever in Buckmasters ("Cinco de Mayo Tom").

Wow, I am still pumped. Sorry for the long report but this has to top my experience of 10 years ago in Missouri!

Here is a slide show of today's events!

CLICK on photo

You wish you could do this

242outdoors — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:02:16 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osmbBK0PA-Q

Just watch and you'll see one of the best turkey seasons ever.....be jealous

Turkey Montage! Cool video

242outdoors — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:37:45 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osmbBK0PA-Q

Hey guys....we put together a little video to recap our turkey season and wanted to share it with everyone. Hope everyone had as much fun as we did. Look us up on youtube and facebook under 242 Outdoors.

Georgia Turkey Hunt- Double on video!!

242outdoors — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:30:48 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qslDSqbJy4A

This is a 242 Outdoors Spring Turkey hunt in Georgia. We are just 3 guys having fun and putting some footage together of our hunting! Check it out on facebook and youtube....we will have predator, duck, and deer hunting coming soon! Any tips and comments would be greatly appreciated!

242 Outdoors

What time of day are you killing most of your birds?

Bobbyparks — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:53:24 GMT

I'm pretty new here so this may have been asked before?

I do well out west with birds on the roost but in Georgia they pee in my corn flakes alot.

I probably take about 20-25% of my birds in Georgia off the roost and roughly 70% after 9:00 a.m.

The other 10% are afternoon birds.

I just wondered how everyone else does?

April 26, 2010

Flintlock1776 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 10:58:53 GMT

One week from tomorrow for the season opener. Rain in the forecast but I'll be there regardless.

Out at the range with Mossberg Ultimag 835; Bushnell Holo Sight; Hevi Shot 3 1/2" #6; Primos Jelly Head

60, 40 and 20 yard shots

Click on photo

Favorite Call Brands

turkey30 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:31:41 GMT

Thanks for answering the Poll!

April opening weekend in Texas

RajunCajun — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:34:50 GMT

Arrived at Rancho Vedado in Mertzon Texas with Matt and Jimmy on Friday around 2M. We settled in, then rode around scouting for some birds. At dark we drove by a whole bunch of hens roosted in a tree and busted them off the roost.

I set up there Saturday morning.

Day one was great! I had one bird gobbling in a draw 30 yards directly in front of me right at daylight. Then two hens came in between us and went to him and led him off.

I had 4 long beards gobbling for two hours, walking up and down a fence on another guys property, but they would not fly over the fence.

Day 2 found high winds and heavy clouds. Matt and Jimmy scored early, right after daylight.

I did not have a bird work, so I covered a lot of ground looking for birds. I was on a bench up on a hill, traveling it slowly and callng every now and then.

I had some hens walk through the mesquite 30 feet from me and never busted me.

About 10 minutes later I did some calling and had a good bird gobble way out on the mesquite flat. He was so far out, I thought I would have about 20 minutes before he got to me, so I went down the hill (5 minutes) dropped my backpack and was sitting down when he came in running with his neck stretched out.

He was 15 yards when he popped out of the mesquite and we saw each other. He hit the brakes, did a hard right was gone in an instant.

I sat down and began working my call, I had an older deep sounding bird start hammering on the bench above me...... and coming to me.

I worked him for an hour but he would not come down off the bench, and there was no way I could get back up there without him busting me.

I decided to wait awhile then ease on along the edge of the flat. I eventually got to the head of the valley and was 40 yards out into a wide open area when I saw a hen about 100 yards away near the crest of a ridge.

All of sudden I recognized (9) hens feeding. Another hen flew across the road to them cackling and a gobbler answered.

He strutted where I could see him.

I had to think fast and move slow. I would take a side step with one foot then pull the other to it. I did this to cover 30 yards where I would have some cover between me and the birds. It took me 20 minutes to cover the open ground without being busted!

When I got behind a big bush I called at them. He gobbled again. I eased around the mequite to a big wind row of mesquite logs a dozer had shoved up when they cleared the area.

I skirted it in full concealment, then worked up behind a mesquite bush. I called softly and the hens putted and purred and he gobbled again.

I left my backpack and call and eased behind the next mesquite, rising to peek over it. There was a hen about 12 feet on the other side. Once again I froze till she turned her back and fed towards the other hens.

I saw the gobbler strutting towards my right and eased my Ithica around the bush to shoot.....I pulled the trigger.....nothing!

I eased the gun back to me and slowly opening the chamber, knowing I had forgot to load it, I had it loaded. Now I had to put my thumb on the shell in the magazine while slowly opening the breech, catching the ejected shell with another finger. I then slowly cycled the shell back into the chamber and pushed the pump to close the breech.

I looked to my left and could see him now strutting at 42 steps. I let two hens clear and I squeezed the trigger, all the time worrying if it would fire...... it did and dropped him dead in his tracks! The 3" Winchester Supreme #5's did their job once again!

Day three found high winds, cludy and misting rain. Doodaa (Jimmy) and myself took off in hopes of his and my second bird. About 1.5 hours after daylight he had to take his camera back to the truck due to the misting rain. He came back and we took off across hill, dale, rocks, boulders, catus, and mequite in pursuit of any bird.

We crossed a couple of ridges to an area where we had seen a gobbler when driving through the day before, nothing of any sign. We followed the long flat to where it intersected with to more valleys. A natural choke point or funnel.

We decided to set up, not call, and take a nap till the clouds broke. He dozed leaning on a tree trunk. I eventually just layed on the ground and dozed off.

Sun broke through and woke me up. I started to get up when he said "do not move" so I layed there while he worked the bird in and shot it! Naturally the bird was to my back!

Jimmy killed a nice Super Jake!

We humped it about 2 miles back to the truck and went in. Matt was on the big bird on the bench I had tried the day before, and stayed....

We went back out that evening to an area called "The Badlands" and set up under some roost trees. We had Moufflan, deer, and turkeys come by all afternoon.

We worked a large group of hens, calling them back a few times, but no gobblers with them. Then right before dark they came strolling through the thick mesquite to roost in the oaks we were under.

I saw "red on the head" and when he cleared a pile of old logs, I dropped the hammer on him! However another gobbler walked out behind him when I pulled the trigger and he went to flopping also!

Jimmy chased down the second bird and quickly dispatched it with his hand.

Two jakes.

That ended our trip with a total of three guys, six birds, in three days.

We should have had six long beards but the weather kind of messed that up!

Steve Tepper who owns Rancho Vedado is a first class guy and runs a first class operation!

The lodge, food, hunting was all top of the line! He really made us feel at home

If you would want to hunt turkeys or exotic african species, he can hook you up!

We enjoyed it so much we have booked the opening weekend in 2011!

Here are some pics..........

Deer Vs Turkey

turkey30 — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:25:20 GMT

I would have to take the big gobblers!!!!

The all New Inflatable decoy from the makers of the Floozies

mogobbler — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:58:52 GMT

Hey Guys here is a new inflatable turkey decoy from Floozie decoys.
www.floozieturkeydecoys.com.

I Screwed up today

bowtechhntr — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:54:29 GMT

Today just was not my day in the turkey woods I was walking into the woods this morning I was a little nervous becuz I am not the only guy who hunts this property I turn the corner on the logging road and there is old tommy boy in full strut and his fling standing. Can you say busted then I set up on two more birds they gobble great at firstthen they completely shut down. And I broke the number one rule when in doubt wait it out. I stand up off goes tom number two for the day well guess that's how it goes.

Fun Start in Georgia & Texas

Bobbyparks — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:49:12 GMT

I've been lucky and got my first 2 birds opening weekend and have videoed a couple of others. I just got back from Texas where I got a couple of good birds and got several on video including both my kills. I hope to get my last bird here tomorrow and head to Montana next Thursday

HAPPY EASTER TO ME

ericgnhunting — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:08:57 GMT

What a great easter morning it was. I had three long beards gobblin at every call at 7:30am.Only one of them was strutting,and thats the one i wanted until i saw one of them had two beards so thats the one i took,its turns out he had three 11",7"&5" beards weight 21lb 10oz. 1&1/4 spurs,and i still made it to church.Life is good.

Windy Days

twowetdogz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:50:55 GMT

I know that high wind days can make turkey hunting a lot harder at times. But, I think it also has its advantages.

What does everybody else think? Do you hunt differently on really windy days? Anything specific that you do to help you overcome the wind, or use it to your advantage?

Lead Only vs. Hevi Shot Choke Tube

SCTrky — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:51:36 GMT

Maybe this is a novice question, but what is the difference between the lead only choke tubes and the ones approved for alloy shots? At a glance there does not seem to be any difference in the physical appearance. The choke tube that came with my gun has "Lead Shot Only" stamped on it but when I took it to the local sporting goods store to purchase a new tube the only difference I could tell was the price tag.

What would happen if you fired Hevi shot out of a Lead only choke tube?

Could someone help clear this up for me? Am I missing something?

Thank You.

Intersting Find While Scouting/ A Debate on Weapons Safety

JMPOutdoors — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:52:57 GMT

So I went for a walk out at one of my hotspots tonight, and as expected, I found lots of turkey sign. What I did not expect to find was a shiny piece of metal on the ground. When I picked it up, I was even more surprised to find a mauser action type bolt!! Imagine the feeling that hunter felt realizing it was gone! We had a solid snow pack on during rifle season last year, which would have made finding it nearly impossible.
My only guess was that this must have been a hunter who was traveling either to or from the stand with the action open. Somehow or another, the bolt catch must have malfunctioned or he must have hit the release.
I think this raises a strong debate: When I get out of my truck and start walking in, my gun has a round in the tube and is locked shut, safety on. I know some would say this is unsafe, but there is a thing in the woods of PA known as a mother bear (let alone mountain lions), and I have been face to face with one more than once. Not a very enjoyable experience until it was over! That being said, it should not be taken lightly that complacency (whether at home or abroad) can result in death or injury to you or those you care about. It is subject that I feel very strongly about. I feel that by doing it my way, my skills stay sharp. I am almost OCD when it comes to checking to make sure that my rifle, shotgun, or pistol is loaded (because of what was a nearly fatal mistake in Iraq) and on safe.
I feel that the modern day tactic of not loading your weapon until you are in the stand (or until you see game worth taking) is both impractical and irresponisble. I say this mainly because I think that rather than teaching hunters to be responsible with loaded firearms, it is teaching them to treat a loaded firearm as a bomb that could go off at any second. Weapons do not "just go off". They fire because someone wanted them to, or someone let their guard down one too many times and god willing didnt have to pay the price for it. It should be habitual to check your firearm every time you go through a thicket, or get it caught on your clothes, whatever the situation is, check, recheck, and check again. Muzzle and Weapons Awareness is not a hassle, it should always be uppermost in your mind, whether in a tactical or a recreation environment.
I'll get off my soapbox now, long story short I thought it was one hell of an interesting find, and will make an interesting addition to our collection of things we have found in the woods on Rockton Mountain.

MS turkey hunter

LeadChunker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:52:44 GMT

Anyone in here from MS go on youth turkey weekend last week? I haven't heard of anybody being able to get on any birds. I'm going to go this weekend and see if I can find any. Just wondering if they were getting fired up yet.

What's the most significant......

twowetdogz — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:32:18 GMT

OK...I'd like to hear from everybody out there.

I posted this question on a different forum a while back, and got some interesting responses, so just wondering what people here will say.

In one word or phrase, "What trait do you have, or what do you do especially well, that you think helps you the most in bagging birds.

I'll start it out.

Patience!!!

AIN'T SHE PURTY??

BowBo — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 11:20:39 GMT

Not only purty, but she is THE BEST sounding (fake) hen I've EVER heard in my life!

This friction call is the most forgiving that I have ever touched. You can NOT make a bad sound on it! And from the SOFTEST purrs, to the loud SHARP raspy yelps.... flawless!

It is Titanium over a plate of Glass. Mine is set in Flamed Cherry. (will need to be careful with the shine, but I can work with that)

Custom made, 1 of the very first Titanium/Glass calls that he made, and done with my initials on the striker. Made by Darin at.... DB Game Calls, an Indiana sportsman. http://dbgamecalls.tripod.com/index.html

Hope to call in a great bird with it this spring!

Your favorite turkey call.

Yellowhammer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:43:14 GMT

Whats your favorite call? Box, slate, glass, mouth and so on. I like the mouth and slate. I also like the custom made calls.

Awesome archery turkey hunt with a racoon on Mathews site

SAGITTARIUS — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:28:24 GMT

Check out this video. It is crazy. http://www.mathewsinc.com/mathews-moment/video_45885 It is something special. It is worhty of being rated Aweome.

My 2009 bird - updated

INBowhunter — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:58:06 GMT

Hi guys, long time no see. I was finally able to pick up my bird at the taxidermist this past Saturday and wanted to share with you all.

The bird I shot last year was what will probably be my "bird of a lifetime", so I wanted to do something special to remember it by. I decided to have him mounted to look like he is gobbling on a limb. He was 25 lbs, an 11" beard, and 35mm spurs. One "tough old bird".

The morning of the hunt, he was roosted just inside the woods near a big field on the farm I was hunting, and stood on the limb gobbling for over 45 minutes before finally flying down. Instead of flying into the field and making for an easy hunt for me, he flew into the woods and henned up immediately. Long story short, a couple of hours later I killed him by stalking into the woods and sneaking within gun range.

Here are a couple of pics from the day of the kill.

Here he is now on the wall of my man cave.

I couldn't be happier about the great job the taxidermist did with him. I'm also pumped about the upcoming season which starts 4/21 here. If I'm lucky enough to get a bird this year, he's going into my new smoker instead of to the taxidermist.

Got my permits!

Flintlock1776 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:52:29 GMT

I got the Saturday's only permit and the opening week permit.

That give me 4 Saturdays days to hunt.

Then I got the 1st week of the season permit for Monday to Friday only. I can only get off the opening day which is the first Monday and then follow up with the Saturday hunts.

It is sold by week up here and no hunting on Sundays!

You also have to pick a zone. if you want to hunt different places in the same week you need a permit for each and you can't have 2 permits for the same zone.

Very expensive.

Oh well, I'm going to try and give it my all!

No turkey gobbling yet

Goinghuntin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:24:02 GMT

Ran down into the woods this morning after work with a call to see if I could produce a gobble, but those tight old gents weren't speaking yet. Could have been because of the weather, it's foggy and about to rain, but they should be gobbling by now

Update on the mule-kick Mossberg

hunt12ga — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:41:49 GMT

I took the front factory sight off of my 535 and replaced with with a Tru-Glo sight that I had on my old gun. It sets up about 1/8" higher than the one that came with the gun. When I raised the rear sight up to meet it, it allows me to position my cheek a little differently on the stock. I took some 3 1/2" loads out, and that small change made all the difference in the world. The factory sights were nice, but they were so low-profile that I had to hold it in an awkward way to see down them.

The gun still kicks, obviously, but I don't mind the kick so much when it's in my shoulder and not on my cheekbone!

Beware turkeys, I'm ready to let the big loads fly!

rw