Turkey!

[Guest clutepc]

That's the learning curve that you will never get around. Just when you think you have them figured out, you don't, we just get luck every now and then and bag one. It's fun ain't it!

It is fun, some luck would be nice though..lol

I found two again the other day, had them responding to my calls and coming to me but then they stopped wouldn't come any closer.

Either I was calling too much again or the fact I setup where the sun hit my blind directly allowed them to see me...

[Guest sharpshooter01]

Alot of times they will hang up due to a fence, creek, or whatever, or a hens will intercept them and take them the other way. How long did you stay after they shut up? Sometimes they will go silent and still come in.

[Guest clutepc]

Alot of times they will hang up due to a fence, creek, or whatever, or a hens will intercept them and take them the other way. How long did you stay after they shut up? Sometimes they will go silent and still come in.

That's what I heard they will do,, I stayed about 20 minutes after they stopped, also backed off on my calling. May not have been long enough, everyday is a learning experience with these things.

I feel like I'm hunting 3 different birds, morning, noon and afternoon.

They really seem to respond differently as the day progresses.

I'm sure the hens have a lot to do with that...

[Guest Jcochran88]

I went yesterday evening and saw a lot of birds. Had a few hens close enough to spit on. Seen 4 different toms but they all had a bunch of hens with them, when I started to call they would follow the hens away from me. Had one tom I found by himeself coming in gobbling about every 15 seconds. He got to about 80 yards when my neighbors cow that was out chased him through the woods. Needless to say it was very dissapointing. But the season is still young, by the way I didn't have steak for dinner either.

[Guest clutepc]

by the way I didn't have steak for dinner either.

That was my next question

[Curiousgb]

I got my first bird this morning. I was letting the dogs out before the storm. I heard them gobbling at the end of my property. I am in sweats and a tshirt, so I run in the house grab my shotgun. Throw on a cammo rain suit, and RUN to the end of the property. I am standing by a tree with a call box and my shotgun. I call, they answer! It thunders, they answer. I call they answer. Before I have time to sit I see them running at me. I freeze and they walk behind a tree. I then swing my shotgun down over my forearm, still holding the swawk box. And a second later bang! Holy S@#$ !! I starts storming and I run over pick him up and run to the house. This all takes less that 20 min. Unbelievable.

[Guest clutepc]

Nice!

Can't beat that for being in the right place at the right time.

[memphismason]

I got my first bird this morning. I was letting the dogs out before the storm. I heard them gobbling at the end of my property. I am in sweats and a tshirt, so I run in the house grab my shotgun. Throw on a cammo rain suit, and RUN to the end of the property. I am standing by a tree with a call box and my shotgun. I call, they answer! It thunders, they answer. I call they answer. Before I have time to sit I see them running at me. I freeze and they walk behind a tree. I then swing my shotgun down over my forearm, still holding the swawk box. And a second later bang! Holy S@#$ !! I starts storming and I run over pick him up and run to the house. This all takes less that 20 min. Unbelievable.

]

Awesome story, and awesome bird!

[Rightwinger]

I had the honor of escorting The Bronker and Jchochran88 to a little hunting spot today. Didn't bring anything home but my son and I considered it a GREAT day! We got to hunt together with new friends, heard some good gobbling at daybreak, heard someone get one on the hill next door and then had a late breakfast of corndogs and sausage biscuits! Just what every real hunter needs! I was also proud to pray before hunting with these fine men!

Now, to rub it in a bit on the boys from Dickson Co. Bronker/McFlurry, Aaron and I headed back to the same woods this afternoon. No gobbling at all but around 4:30 we had 6 deer, 2 of them fawns come up that trail and walk behind us at that big sink hole! The boy was all grins as we watched them head into that big cedar thicket we skirted this morning. Around 6 I whispered I wanted to stand up and look off into those fields below us. Aaron stood up looking back at the sink hole, I was looking downhill. He whispers "Daddy, turkey!" That's when I heard the clucks and putts! One of them did see us move but the didn't run off. 6 hens started to answer my putts and slowly moved up the hill to that same thicket. I kept waiting for Mr. Tom to follow but he never did (sigh).

We think this may be the harem of the fellow that got whacked this morning and they were moving to new digs! Going back tomorrow morning and see if they get picked up by a new fellow. Will probably start off hunting over that field at the far end we walked to as that was the way they were headed.

Had a great time. Let's definitely do it again and also hit your woods and Wayne Co.

The only drawback for the day.....who let the bugs out!? Got ate up by small black biting flys the moment we got out of the truck till almost dark.

[Guest Bronker]

I had the honor of escorting The Bronker and Jchochran88 to a little hunting spot today. Didn't bring anything home but my son and I considered it a GREAT day! We got to hunt together with new friends, heard some good gobbling at daybreak, heard someone get one on the hill next door and then had a late breakfast of corndogs and sausage biscuits! Just what every real hunter needs! I was also proud to pray before hunting with these fine men!

Now, to rub it in a bit on the boys from Dickson Co. Bronker/McFlurry, Aaron and I headed back to the same woods this afternoon. No gobbling at all but around 4:30 we had 6 deer, 2 of them fawns come up that trail and walk behind us at that big sink hole! The boy was all grins as we watched them head into that big cedar thicket we skirted this morning. Around 6 I whispered I wanted to stand up and look off into those fields below us. Aaron stood up looking back at the sink hole, I was looking downhill. He whispers "Daddy, turkey!" That's when I heard the clucks and putts! One of them did see us move but the didn't run off. 6 hens started to answer my putts and slowly moved up the hill to that same thicket. I kept waiting for Mr. Tom to follow but he never did (sigh).

We think this may be the harem of the fellow that got whacked this morning and they were moving to new digs! Going back tomorrow morning and see if they get picked up by a new fellow. Will probably start off hunting over that field at the far end we walked to as that was the way they were headed.

Had a great time. Let's definitely do it again and also hit your woods and Wayne Co.

The only drawback for the day.....who let the bugs out!? Got ate up by small black biting flys the moment we got out of the truck till almost dark.

Absolutely, RW! We had a blast! That is some beautiful country up there. That area around the sink hole has got to be a great spot! The vantage point view of the valley is breath-taking. That break we took there was the highlight of my day. Warm sun, peace and quiet, good friends, the harassing volleys from an 11 year-old throwing sticks at me...you tell A that the next time I'll wait until he isn't holding that gun and I'm gonna body-slam him into that sink hole!!! We probably ran every turkey off the ridge when the real stick-fight started. But what a good boy! He's a real pleasure to be around. I enjoyed hunting with you guys, and look forward to doing it again. Keep that 4/25 date tentatively open, ok? And plan to bring the boy too. Also, PM me your mailing address. I have something I want to send to A. I think he'll like it. Tell him its a bundle of switches!!! That is one fine boy there RW, you've done good.

Me and McFlurry and my boy went this evening and saw a few hens way off. Very quiet. And we were worn slam out. 0200 came early this morning!

Going to bed...tell A that I've picked tree bark and leaves out of my hair all day!!!! WooHoo!

[Guest Jcochran88]

Absolutely, RW! We had a blast! That is some beautiful country up there. That area around the sink hole has got to be a great spot! The vantage point view of the valley is breath-taking. That break we took there was the highlight of my day. Warm sun, peace and quiet, good friends, the harassing volleys from an 11 year-old throwing sticks at me...you tell A that the next time I'll wait until he isn't holding that gun and I'm gonna body-slam him into that sink hole!!! We probably ran every turkey off the ridge when the real stick-fight started. But what a good boy! He's a real pleasure to be around. I enjoyed hunting with you guys, and look forward to doing it again. Keep that 4/25 date tentatively open, ok? And plan to bring the boy too. Also, PM me your mailing address. I have something I want to send to A. I think he'll like it. Tell him its a bundle of switches!!! That is one fine boy there RW, you've done good.

Looking foward to you guys coming down to Dickson to chase the thunder chickens. Really enjoyed the gourmet meal that we had. There where times that it was hard to tell which one was 11, A or The Bronker.!!!!

[Guest sharpshooter01]

Curiousgb congrats on the bird!!

After putting up a goose egg last season, I'm finally back!!

I had birds gobbling on two different finger ridges and took my chance on spooking one of them to get set up on both of them. There were 2 gobblers to my right and 2 to my left. The birds to my right had what sounded like alot of hens with them and more on the way, from the sounds of yelps coming out a ridge in front of me. I also had a fence in between myself and the birds to the right. After they flew down I could see 2 gobblers, about 85 to 100 yards away, on the ridge top to my right strutting and welcoming some hens to their party. After watching and calling to them for a couple of minutes I heard the birds to my left fly down. Listening to the gobbles get closer to my left, I decided to turn my attention to them. About 5 minutes went by and I can see 2 heads pop into view at the edge of the field about 65 yards away. Meanwhile the hens to my right are yelping and clucking more and more. I didn't even bother to call anymore because I knew it was just a matter of time before the birds to my left headed to them and they did. To get to them, they would have to walk right by me sitting behind a big oak. With the hammer back on the old New England 10 ga. waiting for them to step into range, they started to go to the party on the other ridge and stepped into view at about 35 yards and the thunder rolled! He's just a jake, but still a trophy to me and he ought to eat good!

4 1/2" beard 1/2" spurs @18-20lbs.

[Guest Jcochran88]

Curiousgb congrats on the bird!!

After putting up a goose egg last season, I'm finally back!!

I had birds gobbling on two different finger ridges and took my chance on spooking one of them to get set up on both of them. There were 2 gobblers to my right and 2 to my left. The birds to my right had what sounded like alot of hens with them and more on the way, from the sounds of yelps coming out a ridge in front of me. I also had a fence in between myself and the birds to the right. After they flew down I could see 2 gobblers, about 85 to 100 yards away, on the ridge top to my right strutting and welcoming some hens to their party. After watching and calling to them for a couple of minutes I heard the birds to my left fly down. Listening to the gobbles get closer to my left, I decided to turn my attention to them. About 5 minutes went by and I can see 2 heads pop into view at the edge of the field about 65 yards away. Meanwhile the hens to my right are yelping and clucking more and more. I didn't even bother to call anymore because I knew it was just a matter of time before the birds to my left headed to them and they did. To get to them, they would have to walk right by me sitting behind a big oak. With the hammer back on the old New England 10 ga. waiting for them to step into range, they started to go to the party on the other ridge and stepped into view at about 35 yards and the thunder rolled! He's just a jake, but still a trophy to me and he ought to eat good!

4 1/2" beard 1/2" spurs @18-20lbs.

Jakes taste better! or at least that's what I tell everyone! Congratulations I would be very happy to have a jake right now after a miss and encounter with a cow.

[Cajun]

Congrats guys. I hunted yesterday and today and still have nothing? They gobble like crazy on the roost but once they fly off they are quiet.

[Guest DoDFire]

Curiousgb congrats on the bird!!

After putting up a goose egg last season, I'm finally back!!

I had birds gobbling on two different finger ridges and took my chance on spooking one of them to get set up on both of them. There were 2 gobblers to my right and 2 to my left. The birds to my right had what sounded like alot of hens with them and more on the way, from the sounds of yelps coming out a ridge in front of me. I also had a fence in between myself and the birds to the right. After they flew down I could see 2 gobblers, about 85 to 100 yards away, on the ridge top to my right strutting and welcoming some hens to their party. After watching and calling to them for a couple of minutes I heard the birds to my left fly down. Listening to the gobbles get closer to my left, I decided to turn my attention to them. About 5 minutes went by and I can see 2 heads pop into view at the edge of the field about 65 yards away. Meanwhile the hens to my right are yelping and clucking more and more. I didn't even bother to call anymore because I knew it was just a matter of time before the birds to my left headed to them and they did. To get to them, they would have to walk right by me sitting behind a big oak. With the hammer back on the old New England 10 ga. waiting for them to step into range, they started to go to the party on the other ridge and stepped into view at about 35 yards and the thunder rolled! He's just a jake, but still a trophy to me and he ought to eat good!

4 1/2" beard 1/2" spurs @18-20lbs.

When ya gonna shoot one with that long bow?? By the way I should get half of that jake since I gave you that 10ga.