No luck today. We were set up about 150 yards away from several gobblers, but they decided to stick with their hens. Hopefully I'll have a little more luck this weekend but the weather forecast doesn't look too promising. There is at least a 50% chance of rain both Sat. and Sun.
Yeah the weekend looks crappy. I'm going to scout 2 pieces of property tomorrow and try to get a game plan. I'm still a few weeks out though. Good luck, sounds like sat will be your best shot.
My dad got a bird this morning. It was a nice tom with a 10 1/2" beard and 1" spurs that weighed 23lbs. Hopefully it's a sign that I might be able to have some luck tomorrow morning! He took a video and pictures of it so I'll see if I can figure out how to get it uploaded onto youtube or something.
Looking forward to it Brandon. I have one more week to wait, actually more than that. On the first day, I am the guide/caller/cameraman. I will be hunting on Wednesday, April 29th before work though.
No luck but bad luck for me today. Generally all of our birds roost on the neighboring property and make their way over to us. This morning there were two shots not even 150 yards away from us right where all the birds were roosted. I guess the birds ran the opposite direction from us and we never really had any more action the rest of the morning session. We went and ate a little breakfast then headed back out to an area where there are usually a lot of scratch marks. As we were getting close, what do you know... there go a couple of turkeys running off. They didn't act completely spooked, but we couldn't get them to come back in. I'm just happy I was able to spend the day in the woods without getting soaked by rain. However, tomorrow they're calling for rain with an 80% chance so I'm not even sure if I'm going to go out or not yet.
I got to check out some locations yesterday. My parents and wife and I went down to the area that my tag is for, and scoped out some potential places to set up. I think I found one field that looked pretty cool. We pulled in, and I started scoping the field from an old access road, and my dad was following behind me a little ways. I heard a very distinct pluck, and we both turned to the direction. Never saw it, but we knew it was there. Then I continued on down the "road", which is covered in downed trees. It stays about 30 yds off of the field edge. I found several scrapes, and a few feathers. No droppings to speak of. The field was covered in medium high grass. Good for cover, bugs, and was surrounded by oak trees. Looked perfect. I scoped out some of the indents, and cuts in the tree lines that I could see from the road. Looked really secluded. I didn't want to go to far. I wasn't exactly protected from the elements, and had already cut my legs up pretty good earlier in the day. But I marked this area off on the map, and Will most likely return to it for a day next month. It's hard to find places with that many people with. I didn't want them to keep waiting in the car too long. I will be going back down there to investigate further.
I found a good place too. We scouted out a piece of property near my parents place. I actually didnt think it would be too promising, but after a good walk we found a nice walk path. It looks like we have many turks roosting in the thick neighboring timber, than crossing the field I have access to, to get to another secluded hay field for sunning and feeding. Pretty promising especially since by the time my tag is active breeding will be pretty much over.
Just set a blind tonight for Saturday. I am the cameraman/caller for the opener, but I am pumped none the less. Good luck to those who are getting out this weekend.
I'll be out again this weekend. My Dad and I finally broke down and bought a blind to hunt in so now I have A LOT better setup than I went in with. I was so nervous about drawing back on a gobbler without him seeing me but now I don't have to worry about it nearly as much. It's supposed to be windy as hell this weekend along with some isolated thunderstorms so we'll see how things go. Good luck on Saturday Ben!
I was up this morning with Rob on camera. Had a bearded hen at 58 yards, no shot. Would have loved to take her. Tomorrow's another day. God luck gents.
You too man, at least you can hunt! I did get another piece of property though. This one is right behind a friends house, he says he's been watching turks each morning, with a couple good toms in the lot. So between the two pieces, and things look promising, I may even take a day or two off of work, that is, if my season EVER gets here!
Well you might end up being better off with your later tags. Heck, so far we haven't had any luck with birds responding to our calls. The tom my Dad killed came in silent as can be following about 10 minutes behind a couple hens. He actually just got back from a hunt in Missouri where he killed a 3-bearded tom and it was actually responding to calls. I'll be out again this weekend, and I sure hope I can seal the deal because driving home every weekend is beginning to get to be a pain in the butt!
My season FINALLY opens tomorrow. I'll be out for Saturday and sunday for sure. I am going to take either Monday or Friday off, which ever looks like it has nicer weather. I have 2 very promising spots to hunt now so I should at least be on top of some birds. I'll let you guys know how they turn out.
Real close this morning. Action was late to start with the fog and all. If we had had another half hour, we'd have killed one. ROb and both had to work. Hopefully it clears tonight. We will be back on them in the morning. Get em guys.
I got close this weekend too. The birds are surpisingly responsive. I've got till thursday, gonna try and get out one or 2 more mornings.
