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Nutoy
Administrator
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Posted: Mon Apr 28th, 2008 08:18 pm |
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This has been one of the most enjoyable turkey seasons I've ever had. I've been having such a good time locally, I passed on the annual trip out west to hunt Rio's. That was a hard call to make but theres something about these sly, crafty easterns that just keeps me begging for more punishment. The local birds have been fairly vocal this year and even with the increased pressure they somehow keep coming to my calling. Even tho everything that has come within scatter gun range has been jakes and small two year olds it's been very exciting. Theres something about having a gobbler six feet from your boots with him gobbling, strutting, spitting and drumming. It's just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
This morning started just like 26 of the last 28 days (it was raining cats and dogs on two mornings).
Up before the alarm even had a chance rattle off, guzzle down a half pot of coffee, fix the thermos and make that all important decision of the day,,,, where to go listen for a gobbler. So far I've been lucky almost every day and heard at least one gobbler. With only three days left I decided to go back and check on the spot where I saw the only bird I would have shot this year. It is one of those out of the way places that is not known for having turkeys but there always seems to be one there year after year. The biggest problem with going there is if nothing happens theres not enough time to get to the other spots before the birds usually shut up for the morning. A couple of other fellas know about this spot and one of them went there Saturday and he told me he didn't hear so much as a peep.
I pulled up on a ridge top at 5:40am and with the clear sky you could just barely see that the crack of dawn wasn't far off. As soon as I opened the truck door I heard a faint gobble off in the distance but I wasn't sure which direction it came from. I eased the door shut and stood there on alert. C'mon you rascal gobble again I said to myself. He gobbled again, and not by himself. It sounded like three gobblers ringing off at the same time. I was in such a big hurry to grab my gun I almost left the shells in the truck. Shaking my head, I opened the door and grabbed a couple shells and dang near shut the door on my fingers. The race is on.
After what felt like a marathon run I figured I'd better slow down before I busted in on top of them so I slowed to a casual walk. After a hundred yds of walking they all blasted off again and it sounded like they were still on their roost and only a couple hundred yds away down in a deep bottom. I looked around and picked the highest spot on the ridge and sat down in a small patch of brush. Within a couple minutes I heard the flapping of wings followed by a series of gobbles that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Double gobbles, tripple gobbles. Am I still in bed dreaming I thought. It was time to find out if they wanted to play. I put in my diaphram call and made a couple soft yelps,,, nothing. A couple more soft yelps,, nothing again. This is about right I thought. Okay, lets see what they think about this. Yelp, yelp, CUT,CUT, yelp, yelp, yelp. GObbbbbble, gobbbble, gobbbbble. Their headed my way and fast. within three minutes I start seeing red heads weaving through the trees. Theres birds were going NUTS. Three jakes come from my left side and two jakes flanked around to my right. One bird hung up about 40 yds behind the three jakes to my left and I thought "thats the one". The jakes are about to step in my boots and the hanger is continously gobbling his head off. The jakes to my right moved over with the ones on my left. I've got the barrel pointed in thier direction waiting for the hanger to make his move. Spttt, Voooommmmmmm Comes from over my right shoulder. HuH? I cut my eyes to my right and OH MY GOD!!!!. Theres boss daddy standing not ten yrds away in full strut and I've got my gun pointed the other way. If I move I'll get busted by the jakes so all I can do is sit there and watch him strut. I let out a couple of very soft peeps and one of the jakes throws his tail up and gobbles. That was all it took to piss big boy off. He heads for the jake at full steam ahead. He never made it. The bird that hung up behind the jakes was just a two year old.
Maybe the wife will say I'm back at the top of the food chain. 
6 yd shot. 22 3/4 lbs, 11 1/2" beard, 1 3/8" spurs. He had 38 pellets in his head and upper neck.
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Dan Tanner
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| Joined: | Thu Jun 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Maine USA |
| Posts: | 352 |
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Posted: Tue Apr 29th, 2008 12:32 am |
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congradulations buddy... great story and real nice bird..
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brucet
Administrator
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Posted: Tue Apr 29th, 2008 12:31 pm |
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Congradulations.Nice turkey.
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4everbowhunt
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| Joined: | Tue Feb 5th, 2008 |
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Posted: Tue Apr 29th, 2008 05:35 pm |
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| Congrats!!!!!
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firedawg226
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| Joined: | Sun Oct 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Suwanee, Georgia USA |
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 11:33 am |
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| That is a fine bird Nutoy..... i can say that i hunted some yesterday, and i truly think our wierd weather pattern is putting the birds down----- still silent and not moving around much.. If it warms up and stays warm i might get the big bird i've been watching....
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Chick
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | Orange, Texas, USA |
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 06:23 pm |
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| HA! That's allright!
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trapper dan
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 06:51 pm |
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| NICE dude thats what its all about.
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