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Tough season "So Far"

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Sgt. D View Drop Down
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    Posted: April/29/2013 at 10:47
This has been one of those turkey seasons that challenge your resolve to bag a bird. So far they seem to ignore or move away from the call. The decoy seems questionable and they seem to prefer deep woods over fields. Never the less I did manage to get one this weekend. Finally!! Before Saturday it was rare to hear any gobble on or off the roost. You migh hear one off in the distance gobble a couple times then all went quiet. After trying all my suspected "good" spots and only seeing a hen I went to a place that was pretty good a few yrs ago. Near where you and I went Graham. Went in the day before and kicked out a spot on a bottle neck between the swamp and a wheat field. Kinda thick but some spots I could see about 50yds. Got in about 5:30 running 5 or 6 deer out causing all kinds of racket. Set the decoy out about 15yds away and wedged in beside a downed tree and a stump. After it got light enough to see alittle I didn't like the set but stayed with it. About 6:15 I heard a couple start gobblin north of me across the swamp probably 200yds away. Figured seein them was not gonna happen but hearin them was better than past hunts. Then about 6:30 one gobbled from the roost about 80yds away but still across the swamp. But I didn't rule that one out cause that part of the swamp was crossable. Then I  heard one fly down but couldn't tell where. I was set up facing west toward the decoy and back over my left shoulder I heard one gobble maybe 60, 70yds out. What to do?? I didn't have near the cover I thought I had and didn't want to get caught. I scaned around real good and turned 180 wantin to be in position for a shot. As soon as I setteled in I heard one cuttin at me. @%#@@! caught!! But where is the rascal?? He was close but where?? Finally I caught him bobbin his head and cuttin. About fifteen feet up a tree I walked under commin in about 25yds away. I started purrin and chirpin back at him hopin to calmin him down enough to see if he was a shooter. After a minute or so he bolted out of there toward the field. Now What?? I set there and waited to see if all was lost. The one across the swamp went back to gobblin still on the roost and I heard a couple more start up back to the west about 60, 70 yds where I was facing before. The good news, They were gobblin more than I've heard all yr but will they respond to the call and decoy?? I made a few light calls to get a response. No response. But they were still gobblin and on the ground. Still with my back to the decoy I'm waiting to see if any will pass thru the bottle neck. Not being able to see the decoy is frustrating cause I figure there may be some movin that aren't makin a sound. Its about 7:00 and I decide to shift and look over my right shoulder to check the decoy And one starts cuttin again.         @%#@@! caught again!! I'm pretty sure its the one that flew out commin back to spoil the hunt. He's directly to my right about 45yds and all I can see is his head. Please don't be a jake cause I'm gonna blast ya. I had the push button call in my hand and start callin and chirpin back at his cutts. I'm wide open to him but the call must have been enough to calm him enough to want a better look. He stepped to my right passin behind a fair sized pine and I spun and took aim for him when he cleared the pine. I could see then that he won't a jake but he won't too old either. I put the bead on em and dropped him. Winchester #4s at 45yds and he didn't flutter or kick once. Not the prettiest hunt but it sure was good cuttin that tag. He was a two yr old with a seven inch beard at about 14lbs. Cut the breast out and left em in the frig at the huntin club. Yesterday one of the guys cooked em up with some rice and I gotta tell ya that turkey was better than any I've ever got from a store. Hope ya'll season is less stressful and the birds are actin right. I enjoy the hunt much more when they respond to callin but, gettin one is always rewarding. My goal is to take one with the bow but, it wouldn't have happened on that hunt.
Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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budperm View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 11:22
Congrats on your success on a hard hunt! Excellent  Excellent  Excellent
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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coyote95 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote coyote95 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 11:31
Congrats,thanks for sharing and love that turkey hunting!!      
"Life is like riding a bicycle . To keep balance you must keep moving" Albert Einstein
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SVT_Tactical View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 11:48
Excellent
When we going back?
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 16:13
I'm jealous, Mark! The turkey seasons in all the counties I have hunting access/leases have all been closed due to low turkey population. I always enjoyed spring turkey hunting!

Congratulations on a successful hunt, pretty or not!
Ted


Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.
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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 16:28
I've seen more turkey this year than in seasons past, but a friend up here in Raleigh said the same thing about the birds, in the fact that they were not responding to calls. 

Great story, Brother. 
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 16:39
Congrats on a successful hunt SgtD.  I enjoyed your story.   We managed to kill a few ourselves a few weeks ago up in the TX Panhandle.  I've never been that into turkey hunting but after learning to call a little bit, and learning more of the strategy involved I have to admit it's lots of fun.  My buddy was calling for me.  I was sitting in the brush a little lower than he was, about 20 yards from the decoy.  I could hear some birds coming closer, and he could see them as well.  One of the birds got focused on the decoy, and all I could see was a head staring that way.  When he cleared the brush line I fired, about the time a few more showed up.  I killed 3 gobblers stone cold dead with one shot!  Talk about lucky........Turkey fajitas are really good too!  
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Sgt. D View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Sgt. D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 16:43
Originally posted by SVT_Tactical SVT_Tactical wrote:

Excellent
When we going back?
 
I've always got you in mind. But I don't want a repeat of last time. It too far to drive for a dry hunt. That being said I'm scoutin some new ground this week. If it shows potential and your willin to take the chance we'll plan a hunt.
 
Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SVT_Tactical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/29/2013 at 20:13
I'm game for another go, would like to bag my first turkey!
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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budperm View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2013 at 06:58
It does sound fun!  From watching TV I'd say you really need to start hunting with somebody that has alot of experience already.
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2013 at 08:26
It is always good to hunt with someone to teach the fine points and how to locate the best trophies.


Hunting at 4th and Broadway will produce lots of Turkeys, but none are the ones in season.  Sad
Folks ain't got a sense of humor no more. They don't laugh they just get sore.

Need to follow the rules. Just hard to determine which set of rules to follow
Now the rules have changed again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2013 at 09:21
.
 
 
 
Yeah and you'll need Penicllin afterwards too!!!!
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2013 at 09:40
Hunting at 4th and Broadway will produce lots of Turkeys, but none are the ones in season

So Lile, when were you in Looneyville?

I've noticed a decline in the turkey population this spring too. Which is funny, because I have seen lots of turkeys (and not at 4th and Broadway)before the season, and they have been quieter this season than last spring.
I'm not a turkey hunter, but I do keep an eye out for them, and like to watch their habits.
Life's concerns should be about the 120lb pack your trying to get to the top of the mountain, and not the rock in your boot.
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marsh View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote marsh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/06/2013 at 06:40
yes i also like hunting season
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Skylar McMahon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/14/2013 at 13:18
Congrats Excellent on a great hunt.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hydra7 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August/16/2013 at 01:20
I have been wanting to start turkey hunting and fear that I will have many failures trying as I do not know anyone around my general area that has any experience.
Give me a shot, I won't disappoint!
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