Turkey Opener

Well redeemed myself from yesterdays Gong show!:D

22 Pounds, 7/8" Spurs and 8 1/2" Beard, shot at 7:45 this morning, I was just about to pack it in, as the Gobbling had died off for about half an hour, when this guy gave a Gobble about a hundred yards away. Had a good look at him, as he was on the other side of a swamp. He couldn't decide how to get around the swamp for about 10 mins. just strutted and fanned. Finally committed and walked right into my hen and jake decoys. Put shiny Reddot on its neck, squeezed one off, and down he went. 23 yard shot.

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going out tomorrow morning. never had a chance to scout my area, and have just barely finished sighting in my bow. I dont intend to shoot till i get some more practice in:cool: cheers

Payam
 
I got to my turkey blind and was set up by 05:30. At 06:00 a tom started gobbling vry close about 200 yds. It's a roost tree that I usually holds birds every year. I let him gobble for about 15 minutes before I gave him a soft tree call. He exploded in a real load gobble. He was very talkitive , gobbling about every 4-5 minutes. I played hard to get and only occasionally answered him with a few yelps and clucks. 06:30 fly down and he was quiet for about 10 minutes. I gave a few yelps and he replied with a gobble on the run. In no time he was at the edge of my clearing with a hen. They strolled right out and toward my decoys , he was strutting. I let them dance for a few minutes then I lowered the hammer on him at about 25 yds. The hen jumped straight up then came down, she didn't know what had happened or where the danger was , until I stood up. She put it into overdrive and was gone.

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Got one!

Yipee! I bagged my first turkey today! This was only my second day of turkey hunting. This time I was at the field at 5am and was all set up just before 5:30am. I called and called and called.. but no gobbles! I head what I think was about a dozen turkey leaving their roost at about 6am (sort of sounded like a ravens wings?). At about 7am I watched a big flock with several strutting Tom's about 150 yards away. I called and they stopped to look at my decoys but kept going.. all except for one bird at the end of the flock. He started towards me!!! He took his time and I figure it took him about 10 minutes to close within about 60 yards of me. I am pretty sure he saw me but had no idea what I was doing. He walked by and headed into a tree line. So close! I waited a bit and then tried calling again and had a few "Gobble Gobbles" in response! They kept getting louder as what I think was the same turkey made a BIG loop and came back towards me..this time within about 25 yards. Boom! One clean shot and he was done at 8am. I am so thrilled!

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I think I will save this one in the freezer for fall deer camp.. so the bragging can continue as long as possible.....

Update:

Spurs (more like "stubbies") : ~ 6mm
Beard: 90mm
 
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Andrea and I both got our first turkeys this morning Whooopeee!!!

Hers was about 10lbs dressed, tiny spurs and a 3" beard, - we saved him for the deep frier, mine was about 17lbs dressed, a nice 7 inch beard and and tiny little 1/4 inch spurs....a couple of nice jakes...

filleted him out to share with the landowners - really nice folks who let us treat that 100 acres as if it was our own :)

Geoff
 
I went out last night and treed some goblers but this morning was just a little to cold and wet for me to stay out for to long. Not as much as one gobble this morning, must have ben as cold and wet as I was.
 
7.62mm said:
Well redeemed myself from yesterdays Gong show!:D

22 Pounds, 7/8" Spurs and 8 1/2" Beard, shot at 7:45 this morning, I was just about to pack it in, as the Gobbling had died off for about half an hour, when this guy gave a Gobble about a hundred yards away. Had a good look at him, as he was on the other side of a swamp. He couldn't decide how to get around the swamp for about 10 mins. just strutted and fanned. Finally committed and walked right into my hen and jake decoys. Put shiny Reddot on its neck, squeezed one off, and down he went. 23 yard shot.
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I know you are covered in camo and all, but I don't know if I would wear a red shirt even under my camo... always black for me.
 
NICE BIRDS GUYS!!!! Congrats!!

Four of us went out for the opener this year. (After a nice evening of drinking beer and telling lies in the garage!)
Got up about a half hour late and boogied it to our spots. By the time we got there, they were already on the ground. Gobbles coming from every which way. It was like being at the turkey cup!!
I ended up in a spot I hadn't planned on, and managed to call in three jakes, a little too well! They came out right in front of me like a pack of toughguy teenagers! I was laying on the ground in a TERRIBLE position (prone) with my gun laying in front of me. Well these birds walk right at me....to the point where they are beside me about 15 yards to my side. WTF am I going to do....as soon as I twitch, they're moving.
And they did!! Started to move a hair, and they picked up on it quick, and started movin! I had no choice but to either watch them run off, or try and make a really fast move. Well.....this is turkey dinner we're talking about! Went for the gun!!
Shot him laying on my side in a back-ass pretzel like position. Without a doubt, the most uncomfortable shooting position I've EVER been in.
Nonetheless. Got'em!
Another one of the guys got one in his spot about 10 min later. All jakes. Mine about 15-16lbs, by buddies about 12-13. 2-3" beards.
GREAT opener, GREAT fun!! Good luck to you all!!
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Went scouting a public area friday around 5 PM. Wore orange in case others were around. Got to an open area and just for the hell of it tried a few yelps & purrs from the side of the road. Got a gobble & eventually worked a big tom into the open - but at 80 yards away, and not properly camoed, best I could do :(. ayt least now I know where to set up. It'll have to be during the week because being a public area it will be crawling with hunters on the weekend.
 
JohnC,

Get out there & get him before someone else does. I hear your concerns about hunting public land, it only takes one idiot to spoil it. I am luck to have private land to hunt on. Good luck getting your bird.

George
 
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