Thanks it was a fantastic hunt. It was raining so wet walk in with my " beat up" homemade jake. Got him setup 15 yrds from the ridge blind and settled in. To my WILD surprise just at legal 6 maybe 7 toms let loose in a semi circle behind me. I caught the first fly down but couldn't see him they were all between 150 down to 70 yrds from me, north running E to W. The West side flew down first 3 long beards and gathered 80 yrds out. The decoy was to my east and thankfully the hens flew down east of me as well. There I sat, hens calling toms and me in the middle. They came right to me. Not as big as first maybe 5# lighter,The beard looks longer and the spurs way shorter but decent. Having coffee then I'll measure before butchering. The other tom gave us 11# of deboned meat and a big pot of stock.
As I deboned him the toms were out back gobbling up a storm.. nice music as I worked . Knowing there are way more toms to service hens than I had thought or seen and heard. I was dead on, on weight. 19#'s the spurs were 10/16 th and 9/ 16ths the beard was 9 9/16th
So I guess us Turkey hunters are taking over this thread for the spring!?! 19lbs, 3/4" spurs and 9" beard 2yr old
Congrats Jeff on a beautiful bird. Shhhhh, I have to admit, I may love turkey season more than deer That could change if only I could shoot a doe this year...lol
Sweetness - what's the story? I love turkey hunting too. I've been out a couple short sits this season, opened May 3. Maybe some this weekend. Probably more in later May.
I got my first rack start on cam , Wednesday at 3:48 p.m. a young buck. I have 2 young buck hanging out in the end of garden food plot. Them a bunch of both raccoon and rabbits, so many rabbits. Also my chicken flock and a few squirrel. This is the first year no turkey to date. I know they are near for they have been scratching things up inthe adjacent woods. The clover blew up over the winter
Its the latest and greatest newest bow for Mathews, shots super-fast, heavy recoil but you get used to it. Drops right in their tracks!!
10 1/2 hrs over 2 days to get this Tom. Worked him and his flock Monday from fly down till 9, they were on private, 100 yds in field, heading across a road to houses. Too much traffic, they got spooked, start heading down edge of public where I was watching from, 1 Tom and Jake walk by me, 20yds on private, 2 hens walk by at 5yds on public, 1 is a Smokey hen, stupid me decides to try and get picture of her, out of the corner of left eye I see the Tom I want standing less then 3yds on other side of rose thicket, drop phone, ease gun up, Hen spots movement, runs into field, one of the Toms gobble, she never putts, Tom I want now takes off into field. I followed them into back of field and deeper into woods, would respond to calls but wont came off private. 6hrs. Go back Wed. someone is parked at spot, plenty of room for 2 hunters, I know most go to center of ground, big field. I really think flock has moved back to where they usually roost, on private and deeper into the area. I just sneak down edge of private/ public line. 5:30 get 1st gobble, weak, kinda short. Guy is where I figured, in middle field, starts cranking on box call. Guy keeps cranking every time 1st bird gobbles, then 2nd bird gobbles, for sure a Jake. I heard 8 different birds gobbling Monday, flock has moved, so do I, get to second area at 6ish, get set up hear him gobble across road on private where they usually are. We talk for a while, I can see a strutter walking across yard. Smokey hen and another hen leading flock to my left, I move around woods still calling occasionally, he answers but wont leave hens. I hear him get closer, but they never show, gave them another 1/2 hour, call nothing, give up, start heading to truck, its 9ish now, cut thru woods to check a field on backside, there they are middle of field feeding, follow them down field, feel they are headed to another safe zone, hear multiple trucks drive by, really thought some one would try to get to them. Follow them for another hour, they again are on opposite side of field, 100yds, as they get to another road, worry they will cross, another truck rolls by, they spook and head towards me, crawl in behind brush pile let 1st Tom and jake walk by see the Tom I want, pull trigger, 10:30. Wasnt a big mature Tom I thought that would be leading flock, but area gets hunted hard.
