User Panel
Quoted: I'm fortunate to live on a few hundred acres that has fields, pines, hardwoods, rivers, ponds, and a boatload of turkeys, so keep that in mind as you read what I write. I like to get out to a listening post about an hour before official sunrise. I'll just have a seat, get my decoy ready, and just listen. At first gobble, I don't do a damn thing. That guy might not be the only bird out there and the last thing you want to do is spook one off the roost. I'll wait 15-30 minutes, to make sure I'm not sitting under a roost. I'll then decide which bird to go after (if more than one gobble). Now, I know the lay of this land like the back of my hand. I know if a bird gobbles over there, this is how I need to set up on him. Over here, do it this other way. My goal is to set up silently 80-100 yards out from a roosted bird. I won't even look at my call until I'm settled in, decoy out, gun on my knee. I'll give out a few soft yelps, maybe a cluck or two, and shut up. I don't care what he's doing on the roost, I shut up. I'll let him do his thing, maybe softly call again at 10-15 minute intervals, as long as he's on the roost. At flydown, I try to give a few excited yelps and clucks (fly-down cackle). he knows where I am from hearing my on the roost, what I'm trying to do is make him think I'm a hot & horny tramp hen, and if he doesn't get here soon some Jake is gonna get all the action. Then it's a waiting game. If he's interested he'll slowly start coming your way. Might take him 5 minutes, might take him 3 hours. If he's not interested, it's going to be tough. Now, on the setup. It really helps to know the land. I want to set up so that the FIRST TIME I really see him, is the instant I pull the trigger. I don't want him to be walking around all in the open, able to eyeball me and decide something doesn't look right. I like to put my decoy about 20 yards out, and at about a 45 degree angle to the expected approach of Tom. You don't want to be sitting right "behind" the decoy, because he'll be able to see you while he's eyeballing the deke. Two things will screw up a hunt faster than anything: Impatience. Be patient. He's got all day, and you're not his only option. Just because he's silent or seems invisible doesn't mean he's not RIGHT THERE. I can't say how many times I've gotten frustrated after sitting for 90 minutes, deathly still, and say Fuck it. That guy is GONE. Only to stand up and hear the dreaded Put! and watch him as he runs away. Calling: Don't call TOO MUCH or TOO LOUDLY. Granted, every set up is different, but hammering him with yelps and clucks and purrs every time he gobbles will probably not work. That's making him think one of two things: Horny hen and he can play hard to get, or that ain't no hen over there and ain't no way he's coming over to find out. Now, it's not unusual to be doing everything right, and he still won't come in. Could be he gets henned up, could be he gets suspicious (but not suspicious enough to just run w away). One tactic that can work pretty good, if you're sure he's outside that 80-100 yard circle, is to sneak back out of the woods, silent as a church mouse, and go get some breakfast. Take a nap. Play with the kids. Bone the wife. Then, maybe 10:30-11:00 in the morning, head back out. see, the daily mating pattern is: -Gobbler gobbles on the roost, letting al the hens know wher ehe is. -Turkeys fly down and hens come to him -He engages in turkey love -Hens, once bred, go off to the nest to sit and/or lay Once the hens have gone off, if he's still looking for action, and you're in the right place, you've got pretty good odds. It's important to understand that the spring hunting method of calling a gobbler in is the exact opposite of what they are biologically programmed to do. Hens come to Toms in nature, and you're trying to reverse that process. Now if you catch him after the hens are gone, THEN it is much more likely he'll come to you with less wariness and increased speed (I called in a gobbler from about 3/8 of a mile away, across fields and woods, in about 12 minutes one time at 11:00 am. That bird was LOOKING for action). I like to go back to the exact spot I was at before (after all, he heard a "hen" over there a few hours ago, right?) and give out a few very loud yelps. What you're trying to do here is let him know "hey, sailor, I'm still here, and I got a room rented for the next hour!" If he gobbles, maybe follow up with some soft yelps/clucks/purrs. I like those same 10-15 minute intervals for calling. Finally, don't get discouraged. I hunted for 3 years before I shot my first bird. Think about everything you see and hear in the woods, regardless of whether you're set up on a bird. Why do those trees and plants grow there, but not over here? Is that something that turkeys might like to eat? What do squirrels and deer sound like when they get spooked? Why oh why does a murder of crows always want to seem to land in the tree you're sitting under and Caw! Caw! for freaking 20 minutes. In the end, to be successful, you HAVE TO get out there and fail. I learn more from my turkey tragedies sometimes than I do from my turkey successes. You have to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and still have a not insignificant measure of luck. And for God's sake, leave that phone in your pocket! I don't care how bored you are, if your nose is in your phone, you WILL NOT see him coming in. Eyes up,. ears open, and s-l-o-w-l-y scan the area. https://live.staticflickr.com/5493/30836848971_3968abd62c_h.jpgFlock Entire by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/362/31525249772_108a35a6f0_h.jpgFlock by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/2767/32014489224_bd752a35f7_h.jpgTurkeys 20170212 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/2912/33814978215_bb6fe81ecd_h.jpgStrut 20170403 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4469/23772182808_16be40ab24_h.jpgFront Yard Flock by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4450/36992029583_be0e6c180f_h.jpgFrontfield Flock Bunched by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51944821450_784432fe66_h.jpgGobbler Strut 2022-03-17 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53109960113_8a9c427563_h.jpgFlock in the Yard by FredMan, on Flickr View Quote Solid advice here. Biggest mistake a novice makes is over calling because it breaks up monotony, or because you're amp'd up. I love the after 10am activity, it's 100% adrenaline because if you hear one you have a damned fine chance of getting him to commit. |
|
Quoted: I'm fortunate to live on a few hundred acres that has fields, pines, hardwoods, rivers, ponds, and a boatload of turkeys, so keep that in mind as you read what I write. I like to get out to a listening post about an hour before official sunrise. I'll just have a seat, get my decoy ready, and just listen. At first gobble, I don't do a damn thing. That guy might not be the only bird out there and the last thing you want to do is spook one off the roost. I'll wait 15-30 minutes, to make sure I'm not sitting under a roost. I'll then decide which bird to go after (if more than one gobble). Now, I know the lay of this land like the back of my hand. I know if a bird gobbles over there, this is how I need to set up on him. Over here, do it this other way. My goal is to set up silently 80-100 yards out from a roosted bird. I won't even look at my call until I'm settled in, decoy out, gun on my knee. I'll give out a few soft yelps, maybe a cluck or two, and shut up. I don't care what he's doing on the roost, I shut up. I'll let him do his thing, maybe softly call again at 10-15 minute intervals, as long as he's on the roost. At flydown, I try to give a few excited yelps and clucks (fly-down cackle). he knows where I am from hearing my on the roost, what I'm trying to do is make him think I'm a hot & horny tramp hen, and if he doesn't get here soon some Jake is gonna get all the action. Then it's a waiting game. If he's interested he'll slowly start coming your way. Might take him 5 minutes, might take him 3 hours. If he's not interested, it's going to be tough. Now, on the setup. It really helps to know the land. I want to set up so that the FIRST TIME I really see him, is the instant I pull the trigger. I don't want him to be walking around all in the open, able to eyeball me and decide something doesn't look right. I like to put my decoy about 20 yards out, and at about a 45 degree angle to the expected approach of Tom. You don't want to be sitting right "behind" the decoy, because he'll be able to see you while he's eyeballing the deke. Two things will screw up a hunt faster than anything: Impatience. Be patient. He's got all day, and you're not his only option. Just because he's silent or seems invisible doesn't mean he's not RIGHT THERE. I can't say how many times I've gotten frustrated after sitting for 90 minutes, deathly still, and say Fuck it. That guy is GONE. Only to stand up and hear the dreaded Put! and watch him as he runs away. Calling: Don't call TOO MUCH or TOO LOUDLY. Granted, every set up is different, but hammering him with yelps and clucks and purrs every time he gobbles will probably not work. That's making him think one of two things: Horny hen and he can play hard to get, or that ain't no hen over there and ain't no way he's coming over to find out. Now, it's not unusual to be doing everything right, and he still won't come in. Could be he gets henned up, could be he gets suspicious (but not suspicious enough to just run w away). One tactic that can work pretty good, if you're sure he's outside that 80-100 yard circle, is to sneak back out of the woods, silent as a church mouse, and go get some breakfast. Take a nap. Play with the kids. Bone the wife. Then, maybe 10:30-11:00 in the morning, head back out. see, the daily mating pattern is: -Gobbler gobbles on the roost, letting al the hens know wher ehe is. -Turkeys fly down and hens come to him -He engages in turkey love -Hens, once bred, go off to the nest to sit and/or lay Once the hens have gone off, if he's still looking for action, and you're in the right place, you've got pretty good odds. It's important to understand that the spring hunting method of calling a gobbler in is the exact opposite of what they are biologically programmed to do. Hens come to Toms in nature, and you're trying to reverse that process. Now if you catch him after the hens are gone, THEN it is much more likely he'll come to you with less wariness and increased speed (I called in a gobbler from about 3/8 of a mile away, across fields and woods, in about 12 minutes one time at 11:00 am. That bird was LOOKING for action). I like to go back to the exact spot I was at before (after all, he heard a "hen" over there a few hours ago, right?) and give out a few very loud yelps. What you're trying to do here is let him know "hey, sailor, I'm still here, and I got a room rented for the next hour!" If he gobbles, maybe follow up with some soft yelps/clucks/purrs. I like those same 10-15 minute intervals for calling. Finally, don't get discouraged. I hunted for 3 years before I shot my first bird. Think about everything you see and hear in the woods, regardless of whether you're set up on a bird. Why do those trees and plants grow there, but not over here? Is that something that turkeys might like to eat? What do squirrels and deer sound like when they get spooked? Why oh why does a murder of crows always want to seem to land in the tree you're sitting under and Caw! Caw! for freaking 20 minutes. In the end, to be successful, you HAVE TO get out there and fail. I learn more from my turkey tragedies sometimes than I do from my turkey successes. You have to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and still have a not insignificant measure of luck. And for God's sake, leave that phone in your pocket! I don't care how bored you are, if your nose is in your phone, you WILL NOT see him coming in. Eyes up,. ears open, and s-l-o-w-l-y scan the area. https://live.staticflickr.com/5493/30836848971_3968abd62c_h.jpgFlock Entire by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/362/31525249772_108a35a6f0_h.jpgFlock by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/2767/32014489224_bd752a35f7_h.jpgTurkeys 20170212 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/2912/33814978215_bb6fe81ecd_h.jpgStrut 20170403 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4469/23772182808_16be40ab24_h.jpgFront Yard Flock by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/4450/36992029583_be0e6c180f_h.jpgFrontfield Flock Bunched by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51944821450_784432fe66_h.jpgGobbler Strut 2022-03-17 by FredMan, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53109960113_8a9c427563_h.jpgFlock in the Yard by FredMan, on Flickr View Quote |
|
Went scouting yesterday. Found 6 birds on public. Funny part is they were right in the middle of the disc golf course.
Park employee saw me checking them out and stopped to talk. Apparently they never leave there and it’s an are open to hunting. I joked that I was not sure I would hunt with a bunch of frisbees zooming by me. I could get there at first light before everyone else. But it’s in a pretty karened up area. |
|
Yesterday was a bust. Had a hen come check out my decoys today. No gobbles. My AO sucks for turkey, too many nest raiders.
|
|
|
Have you tried marshmellows? I've never seen anything work so reliably for coons and coons only. Stinks way less as well.
|
|
Took my boy out for his 1st time hunting. Just got the Winchester model 37 .410 a couple months ago(had a thread about it). Federal TSS. Proud dad for sure.
Bearded hen Doesnt look like it in the pic but, 7 1/4" beard Attached File |
|
Quoted: Went scouting yesterday. Found 6 birds on public. Funny part is they were right in the middle of the disc golf course. Park employee saw me checking them out and stopped to talk. Apparently they never leave there and it’s an are open to hunting. I joked that I was not sure I would hunt with a bunch of frisbees zooming by me. I could get there at first light before everyone else. But it’s in a pretty karened up area. View Quote Fuck em. If it’s legal, it’s legal. I mean, don’t make an ass of yourself, but if it’s legit, take advantage of it. I’d for sure pack it in a soon as the first disc stoner shows up, though. |
|
Quoted: Took my boy out for his 1st time hunting. Just got the Winchester model 37 .410 a couple months ago(had a thread about it). Federal TSS. Proud dad for sure. Bearded hen Doesnt look like it in the pic but, 7 1/4" beard https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/396181/20240422_195220_jpg-3195418.JPG View Quote Man, that’s just all kinds of awesome b First hunt, first bird, and a bearded hen, while not super uncommon, is a unique take. That boy will remember this for the Rest. Of. His. Life. |
|
Quoted: State land Michigan bird this morning https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4363-3195244.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4366-3195246.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4365-3195249.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4383-3195252.jpg View Quote Good bird ! |
|
Quoted: Took my boy out for his 1st time hunting. Just got the Winchester model 37 .410 a couple months ago(had a thread about it). Federal TSS. Proud dad for sure. Bearded hen Doesnt look like it in the pic but, 7 1/4" beard https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/396181/20240422_195220_jpg-3195418.JPG View Quote That is awesome! He'll remember that forever ! |
|
Quoted: Yes, it absolutely is! My taxidermist just sent me this on Monday. I’m gonna have an excited 8 year old when we go pick it up https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55554/5B51E5AE-546C-4D42-8241-B9A42CABB386-3177147.jpg View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Man, that’s even better than killing one yourself. Good luck. Yes, it absolutely is! My taxidermist just sent me this on Monday. I’m gonna have an excited 8 year old when we go pick it up https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55554/5B51E5AE-546C-4D42-8241-B9A42CABB386-3177147.jpg Gorgeous. |
|
|
Quoted: Took my boy out for his 1st time hunting. Just got the Winchester model 37 .410 a couple months ago(had a thread about it). Federal TSS. Proud dad for sure. Bearded hen Doesnt look like it in the pic but, 7 1/4" beard https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/396181/20240422_195220_jpg-3195418.JPG View Quote Outstanding! |
|
Quoted: Hey guys, sorry I am late to post. Our youth weekend was last weekend and my favorite little hunting buddy is tagged out We had deep-fried Turkey nuggets for dinner last night. All the friends and family showed up. Made my little man proud to feed everyone (he’s 8). 23.3 pounds 12.4 inch beard 1 and 3/8” Spurs https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55554/462D44C6-DCC8-45A5-B128-1E24E29946C8-3195478.jpg View Quote Congrats young man!! That's a bruiser of a tom. |
|
Quoted: Took my boy out for his 1st time hunting. Just got the Winchester model 37 .410 a couple months ago(had a thread about it). Federal TSS. Proud dad for sure. Bearded hen Doesnt look like it in the pic but, 7 1/4" beard https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/396181/20240422_195220_jpg-3195418.JPG View Quote awesome that he did it with that old single shot!! |
|
Quoted: Hey guys, sorry I am late to post. Our youth weekend was last weekend and my favorite little hunting buddy is tagged out We had deep-fried Turkey nuggets for dinner last night. All the friends and family showed up. Made my little man proud to feed everyone (he’s 8). 23.3 pounds 12.4 inch beard 1 and 3/8” Spurs https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55554/462D44C6-DCC8-45A5-B128-1E24E29946C8-3195478.jpg View Quote Nice!! |
|
Indiana's season starts tomorrow the 24th. I'll be out at my brothers property bright and early. Seems there has been a big cat out his way so the prospects are a bit thin right now.
|
|
How come random turkeys never show up when I’m hunting? Attached File
|
|
|
|
Quoted: Can't even get the right species to come in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/236052/IMG_1376_jpeg-3195975.JPG View Quote Lol, nice. Last year my PA bird gave me notice he was there because he shock gobbled when 2 geese flew over head. |
|
Quoted: Can't even get the right species to come in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/236052/IMG_1376_jpeg-3195975.JPG View Quote Snow turkey. |
|
No pics - if you’ve seen one trapped coon you’ve seen them all - but I got another coon this morning.
No wonder nesting success is so low here. |
|
Quoted: No pics - if you've seen one trapped coon you've seen them all - but I got another coon this morning. No wonder nesting success is so low here. View Quote We've had bad hatches the last 5 years or so. Stupid hens keep nesting in low areas and losing out to flooding. Used to see 30-40 in the fields, now 10... tops. |
|
|
Quoted: Have you had a chance to tell if trapping is helping nest survival? View Quote Not with any statistical certainty. I'll give you some background before I say more: 20+ years ago I got a degree in forestry/wildlife management, then lost interest in working as a biologist, and pursued other stuff. But I have been involved in private-land habitat management for deer, turkeys, quail, and various nongame critters, for ~30 years now. I've seen a few things and read a few journals and I absolutely believe that in *perfect* habitat intense predator management wouldn't be needed - turkeys could produce larger numbers of poults than the raccoons, opossums, skunks, snakes, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and....people....could consume. But we don't have perfect habitat, and probably never will. The anti-trapping crowd will tell you - rightly so, I must add - that trapped populations rebound quickly and therefore intermittent trapping doesn't accomplish much in the long term. They're correct, but that's only part of the truth. The rest of the story is this: -If we're trapping and only impacting predator populations to a level they can easily rebound from, then we are NOT hurting them, from a species stability standpoint, by trapping. Period. -Trapping must be a long-term effort to make large-scale improvements. It does little good for me to trap a few coons on one property if I don't do it every year and my neighbors don't do it also. -But even short-term efforts can help. Will my local coons rebound from what I've done this week? Yep, guaranteed. And the local coyote population will rebound from the two I've killed in the last few months and the bobcat population will rebound from the one I killed a few months ago. This is virtually guaranteed. *HOWEVER* it is absolutely certain that the three hens I believe to be nested right now, on my property, are in less danger now than they would have been had I not killed the half-dozen aforementioned predators. Sure, the predators will rebound, because when you suppress their numbers there's more food to go around - but having more food to go around means that there are more prey animals. Yeah, the population will rebound - but hopefully by then a clutch of turkey eggs will be half-grown poults. The hens I have nested here have acres of clover to eat and find bugs in. They have acres of knee-high brushy cover that hawks have a hard time hunting. We do still have coyotes and bobcats (I have traps out for them too...) but all considered, 'my' hens lead a pretty sheltered life right now. Of course, there's no way I can do enough to have a landscape-level impact. That would require either a full-time paid trapper, or a whole bunch of very committed neighbors that could each maintain a trapline on their respective properties. Nobody has time for that. And I absolutely understand that when people do have free time, they'd rather spend it hunting than trapping. And fur isn't worth a whole lot. *shrug* |
|
Quoted: Not with any statistical certainty. I'll give you some background before I say more: 20+ years ago I got a degree in forestry/wildlife management, then lost interest in working as a biologist, and pursued other stuff. But I have been involved in private-land habitat management for deer, turkeys, quail, and various nongame critters, for ~30 years now. I've seen a few things and read a few journals and I absolutely believe that in *perfect* habitat intense predator management wouldn't be needed - turkeys could produce larger numbers of poults than the raccoons, opossums, skunks, snakes, hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and....people....could consume. But we don't have perfect habitat, and probably never will. The anti-trapping crowd will tell you - rightly so, I must add - that trapped populations rebound quickly and therefore intermittent trapping doesn't accomplish much in the long term. They're correct, but that's only part of the truth. The rest of the story is this: -If we're trapping and only impacting predator populations to a level they can easily rebound from, then we are NOT hurting them, from a species stability standpoint, by trapping. Period. -Trapping must be a long-term effort to make large-scale improvements. It does little good for me to trap a few coons on one property if I don't do it every year and my neighbors don't do it also. -But even short-term efforts can help. Will my local coons rebound from what I've done this week? Yep, guaranteed. And the local coyote population will rebound from the two I've killed in the last few months and the bobcat population will rebound from the one I killed a few months ago. This is virtually guaranteed. *HOWEVER* it is absolutely certain that the three hens I believe to be nested right now, on my property, are in less danger now than they would have been had I not killed the half-dozen aforementioned predators. Sure, the predators will rebound, because when you suppress their numbers there's more food to go around - but having more food to go around means that there are more prey animals. Yeah, the population will rebound - but hopefully by then a clutch of turkey eggs will be half-grown poults. The hens I have nested here have acres of clover to eat and find bugs in. They have acres of knee-high brushy cover that hawks have a hard time hunting. We do still have coyotes and bobcats (I have traps out for them too...) but all considered, 'my' hens lead a pretty sheltered life right now. Of course, there's no way I can do enough to have a landscape-level impact. That would require either a full-time paid trapper, or a whole bunch of very committed neighbors that could each maintain a trapline on their respective properties. Nobody has time for that. And I absolutely understand that when people do have free time, they'd rather spend it hunting than trapping. And fur isn't worth a whole lot. *shrug* View Quote Thanks for the detailed reply. I agree that habitat is key. I plan to do some burning this year. I’m also planting chufa and probably wheat as a cover. |
|
Going out for the first time tomorrow, the goal is to get my brother in law a turkey. I've brought him good Toms for the last 2 years and he's been unable to seal the deal so I hope tomorrow is the day.
I am bringing my new 410 out, so if there's two mature Toms I will risk shooting, if not I will just sit back and watch. *** funny side not on the Funky Chicken. He bought a set of montana decoys with a Jake. I told him we'll use the hen with my funky chicken and he said he wants to use them both. I told him he can hunt somewhere with his decoys and I'll go else where as I only use the funky chicken for a Jake. He doesn't call, so he relented on using his Jake, lol. I've had too many normal Jake decoys keep mature birds off. |
|
|
|
|
Well, jack shit at our first spot this morning. Headed into the woods Instead of a field at 9am, watching a nice knoll I have seen them run a lot in the fall. Sure enough at 9:30 we hear a decent gobble. I soft called with a hen and his Jake decoy as I left the funky chicken in a bag in the other spot and his were lighter to run n gun (my right shoulder is in a sling from surgery). He pops into view at 75 yards away, full strut, proceeds to give us a show for a solid hour but will not leave his strut zone. Instead of risk bumping him out with some half ass stalk I'm sure we would have failed at, we let him get out of sight and leave at noon. We'll be set up on that knoll tomorrow morning.
Damn fine show we watched though, he's a serious gobbler, I'm guessing at least a 3 year old, HUGE head and fan, didn't have a chance to see the spurs. |
|
My other buddy killed the gobbler we saw the day after we left. Huge hooks, 11" beard, 18.5 pounds, must have been working himself ragged.
Attached File Attached File |
|
Quoted: Hey guys, sorry I am late to post. Our youth weekend was last weekend and my favorite little hunting buddy is tagged out We had deep-fried Turkey nuggets for dinner last night. All the friends and family showed up. Made my little man proud to feed everyone (he’s 8). 23.3 pounds 12.4 inch beard 1 and 3/8” Spurs https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/55554/462D44C6-DCC8-45A5-B128-1E24E29946C8-3195478.jpg View Quote Holy Jeebus. I’ve been turkey hunting for 25 years and that blows my biggest out of the water. That’s a nice fat old bird. |
|
Quoted: Well, jack shit at our first spot this morning. Headed into the woods Instead of a field at 9am, watching a nice knoll I have seen them run a lot in the fall. Sure enough at 9:30 we hear a decent gobble. I soft called with a hen and his Jake decoy as I left the funky chicken in a bag in the other spot and his were lighter to run n gun (my right shoulder is in a sling from surgery). He pops into view at 75 yards away, full strut, proceeds to give us a show for a solid hour but will not leave his strut zone. Instead of risk bumping him out with some half ass stalk I'm sure we would have failed at, we let him get out of sight and leave at noon. We'll be set up on that knoll tomorrow morning. Damn fine show we watched though, he's a serious gobbler, I'm guessing at least a 3 year old, HUGE head and fan, didn't have a chance to see the spurs. View Quote That’s happened to me more times than I can remember. I watched a Tom strut for 2.5 hours one morning, maybe 10 steps to far out. You did good playing it cool; you’ve got a good chance tomorrow. |
|
|
|
Quoted: My other buddy killed the gobbler we saw the day after we left. Huge hooks, 11" beard, 18.5 pounds, must have been working himself ragged. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/133760/1000000174_jpg-3199202.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/133760/1000000178_jpg-3199203.JPG View Quote never turkey hunted, but that looks big! congrats |
|
Quoted: Can't even get the right species to come in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/236052/IMG_1376_jpeg-3195975.JPG View Quote Don’t feel bad. I called in a peacock once, ALMOST dropped the hammer. |
|
Quoted: Don't feel bad. I called in a peacock once, ALMOST dropped the hammer. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Can't even get the right species to come in. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/236052/IMG_1376_jpeg-3195975.JPG Don't feel bad. I called in a peacock once, ALMOST dropped the hammer. Would've been a sweet tail fan mount. Wonder how they taste. Attached File They're just asking for it at this point. |
|
Quoted: State land Michigan bird this morning https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4363-3195244.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4366-3195246.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4365-3195249.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4383-3195252.jpg View Quote Beautiful bird. What area of the state? I’m sitting in holly rec right now. Goddamn the ticks are bad this year |
|
|
|
Quoted: Beautiful bird. What area of the state? I’m sitting in holly rec right now. Goddamn the ticks are bad this year View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: State land Michigan bird this morning https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4363-3195244.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4366-3195246.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4365-3195249.jpghttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/281590/IMG_4383-3195252.jpg Beautiful bird. What area of the state? I’m sitting in holly rec right now. Goddamn the ticks are bad this year We were hunting in Pinckney.....not real far from Holly. Lots of birds....and ticks this year! |
|
Went this morning. Public land. We must’ve called into 30 different hollers and never got a gobble.
It was windy so I don’t think that helped. Either the birds couldn’t hear us or we couldn’t hear the birds. Really disappointing. This was down in southern Ohio which usually has a pretty decent turkey population. I haven’t seen a single turkey in my area of central Ohio this spring. I usually at least see a few even though I usually don’t waste my time hunting them on my own property. |
|
Quoted: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/438654/IMG_9025_jpeg-3201325.JPG Buddy and I are having a debate. Farm bird or wild? View Quote Wild breed, domestically raised would be my guess. Usually domestic breeds of that color have overly large heads and most have no beard. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.