2023 spring turkey

53Izzy744 said:
How did i miss the post where you got a bird?? Congrats!
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Thanks! I actually haven’t posted about it as I’ve been so busy. I still have a tag that I hope to put on an elusive big Tom. He’s dodged me twice thus far. I saw him breeding a hen in the field adjacent to the property I hunt and he had three other hens laying down in a line up ready for him to get on top. There was another Tom in full strut who was trying to steal a hen or two, but he wouldn’t dare take a step closer. Those hens stayed put until the bigger Tom finished up with the hen he had mounted. Unfortunately they were too far to get footage of it. I kind of felt like a peeping tom with binos hiding in the bush but it was pretty interesting to watch the dynamics of the hierarchy in this group of birds.

This group of birds was no more than 10-15 meters from the road and every vehicle that drove by would slow down or stop to watch this Tom in action and he was unfazed by the attention and just kept on hammering the hens.
 
1963beretta said:
Thanks! I actually haven’t posted about it as I’ve been so busy. I still have a tag that I hope to put on an elusive big Tom. He’s dodged me twice thus far. I saw him breeding a hen in the field adjacent to the property I hunt and he had three other hens laying down in a line up ready for him to get on top. There was another Tom in full strut who was trying to steal a hen or two, but he wouldn’t dare take a step closer. Those hens stayed put until the bigger Tom finished up with the hen he had mounted. Unfortunately they were too far to get footage of it. I kind of felt like a peeping tom with binos hiding in the bush but it was pretty interesting to watch the dynamics of the hierarchy in this group of birds.

This group of birds was no more than 10-15 meters from the road and every vehicle that drove by would slow down or stop to watch this Tom in action and he was unfazed by the attention and just kept on hammering the hens.
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Wow right on! So they are still busy breeding down there? Seems like where i am they have nested up for the most part.
 
First time ever for myself and my friend to hunt turkey. Day one after watching a group of 5 toms for 6 hours. Calling back and forth then they just walked right to us.
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53Izzy744 said:
Two more weekends left, anyone still seeing some action?

Trail cams here have only been getting a lone hen every now and then.
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I watched a Tom court a hen behind my place yesterday. He was completely silent & no matter how I called to him, he would not leave the hen he had. I guess that's where the term "henned up" comes from?

The Tuesday I harvested the Gobbler, I had 3 around me gobbling. The following Saturday/Sun when I heard less gobbling...
 
Im still seeing lots of birds. I was covered in birds on Saturday. Three Toms were wise enough to stay out of range but I had a group of 7 jakes that kept coming in and out of range. Tons of gobbling between the Toms and jakes. Was quite fun sitting in my blind and hearing all the communication between birds. Was also fun letting off some aggressive cuts and pissing of the hens that were nearby. And soon as the hens started yelling at each other, the bush light up with gobbles from every direction.
 
Jay said:
I watched a Tom court a hen behind my place yesterday. He was completely silent & no matter how I called to him, he would not leave the hen he had. I guess that's where the term "henned up" comes from?

The Tuesday I harvested the Gobbler, I had 3 around me gobbling. The following Saturday/Sun when I heard less gobbling...
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1963beretta said:
Im still seeing lots of birds. I was covered in birds on Saturday. Three Toms were wise enough to stay out of range but I had a group of 7 jakes that kept coming in and out of range. Tons of gobbling between the Toms and jakes. Was quite fun sitting in my blind and hearing all the communication between birds. Was also fun letting off some aggressive cuts and pissing of the hens that were nearby. And soon as the hens started yelling at each other, the bush light up with gobbles from every direction.
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Damn, like deer in my area, i must not have all that great of a population.
 
I had 4 toms and 4 jakes cruise by my blind within the space of 15 minutes. Only one of them strutted, you can just make him out through the mesh on the left. I was about to draw my bow (I was right of the camera and had a clear shot) when the 4 jakes ran up and were staring right at my blind. Once they showed up the tom stayed left of me and eventually walked out to join the hens mid field. The 2 toms that showed up at the end came in silent, took one look at the guy strutting, and turned away. Would have bean a short hunt if I had brought the shotgun ;)
 
Runningfool said:
I had 4 toms and 4 jakes cruise by my blind within the space of 15 minutes. Only one of them strutted, you can just make him out through the mesh on the left. I was about to draw my bow (I was right of the camera and had a clear shot) when the 4 jakes ran up and were staring right at my blind. Once they showed up the tom stayed left of me and eventually walked out to join the hens mid field. The 2 toms that showed up at the end came in silent, took one look at the guy strutting, and turned away. Would have bean a short hunt if I had brought the shotgun ;)
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Man, my buddy also uses a bow and had a tom come within shotgun range but just outside of bow range. You guys and your challenges! Lol

Subbed!
 
Runningfool said:
I had 4 toms and 4 jakes cruise by my blind within the space of 15 minutes. Only one of them strutted, you can just make him out through the mesh on the left. I was about to draw my bow (I was right of the camera and had a clear shot) when the 4 jakes ran up and were staring right at my blind. Once they showed up the tom stayed left of me and eventually walked out to join the hens mid field. The 2 toms that showed up at the end came in silent, took one look at the guy strutting, and turned away. Would have bean a short hunt if I had brought the shotgun ;)
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Cool that you can hear that strutting Tom spitting so clearly. Those last two Toms definitely saw something that they didn’t like. Those alarm putts often mean its game over.
 
Shot a goose the other week. 12g would have been over kill lol. Used a 22. One of ours. Yeah I live in a nice spot.

To be accurate a young gander. Been putting it off. Sure is a lot quieter
 
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A buddy is out sitting in his pop up blind & says he's only heard one gobble this am but several hen calls... Very quiet this am...
 
Jay said:
A buddy is out sitting in his pop up blind & says he's only heard one gobble this am but several hen calls... Very quiet this am...
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Still lots of time left in the season. Looking back at my log, the latest bird ive gotten was May 20th, and he ran in with a jake together after roaming around some front fields all morning long.
 
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