2017 Ontario Spring Wild Turkey season


Opening day tom. 9.5" beard and 3/4" spurs. Dropped him in his tracks at 20 yards using an Excalibur Suppressor and a 150 grn Dead Ringer Killswitch broadhead.

Congrats!

Looks great. Is that a decapitation broad head or just a regular edged broad head. Was your a head/neck shot or body?
 
well I got up at 330 this morning and was sitting in the bush by 5. Despite the rain it wasn't a bad day. Right around 630 we had a hen and a small Tom/large jake walk in. Since it would have been my first turkey my friend told me to take the shot. Seemed far to me but he said go ahead it's not that far. Well I talked myself right out of the shot because I missed him.

Took out the rangefinder after and saw that it was about a 40-45yrd shot.
3" #6 shot. I think I jerked the trigger and shot over him.
 
well I got up at 330 this morning and was sitting in the bush by 5. Despite the rain it wasn't a bad day. Right around 630 we had a hen and a small Tom/large jake walk in. Since it would have been my first turkey my friend told me to take the shot. Seemed far to me but he said go ahead it's not that far. Well I talked myself right out of the shot because I missed him.

Took out the rangefinder after and saw that it was about a 40-45yrd shot.
3" #6 shot. I think I jerked the trigger and shot over him.

It happens, I did a similar thing last year. New gun, not used to a 3.5" shell.. you'll get one next time.
 
Nephew missed one this morning. Looking for the bird with his head up off the gun. As the saying goes though "If you haven't missed a turkey you have not shot at many" The hunting will only get better as the weather warms and we have a month yet.
 
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Opener, both birds were individually shot in different spots before 6am (sunrise was at 0614 hrs). Some years you get lucky, although these took a lot of work and scouting during the pre-season
 
I started hunting last spring, and Turkey was my first hunt, but after 7 trips to the bush I came up empty handed. Determined to get a bird this year I spent a lot of time reading and watching videos (as I hunt alone so didn't have someone to teach me). Well all the research I did seems to have paid off. I put a lot more thought into location, and positioning of my blind. Also of my entry to the bush. I walked in instead of using the 4 wheeler.

I was in my blind by 4:50am, gobbles started around 5:20am. Had a group of hens (5) go by around 6:30am. Then called in three Jakes from the next field over (boy do they ever come running) around 7:10am. Finially around 7:50am a hen rolled in from the sugar bush 100 meters strait in front of me, coming right towards my decoy spread. Seemed she just wanted to put on a song and dance for my Tom decoy. Was very cool. Then I noticed she started looking way off to the side, so I took a look, and along came two decent sized Tom's. They were about the same size and within range. I waited for a clean shot and BAM. First Tom in the bag!

First%20Tom.jpg
 
I started hunting last spring, and Turkey was my first hunt, but after 7 trips to the bush I came up empty handed. Determined to get a bird this year I spent a lot of time reading and watching videos (as I hunt alone so didn't have someone to teach me). Well all the research I did seems to have paid off. I put a lot more thought into location, and positioning of my blind. Also of my entry to the bush. I walked in instead of using the 4 wheeler.

I was in my blind by 4:50am, gobbles started around 5:20am. Had a group of hens (5) go by around 6:30am. Then called in three Jakes from the next field over (boy do they ever come running) around 7:10am. Finially around 7:50am a hen rolled in from the sugar bush 100 meters strait in front of me, coming right towards my decoy spread. Seemed she just wanted to put on a song and dance for my Tom decoy. Was very cool. Then I noticed she started looking way off to the side, so I took a look, and along came two decent sized Tom's. They were about the same size and within range. I waited for a clean shot and BAM. First Tom in the bag!

First%20Tom.jpg

And that's the way it's done... good perseverance and congratulations... your hooked now!
 


Got this Tom on Sat just before 630am. He chased 2 hens that were hanging around my decoys. 19lbs 1 1/8 spurs. 38 yards with #6 shot. Well done everyone who got their bird and those who are still at it and having a great time. Very nice getting the younger ones out with you too.
 
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Got this Tom on Sat just before 630am. He chased 2 hens that were hanging around my decoys. 19lbs 1 1/8 spurs. 38 yards with #6 shot. Well done everyone who got there bird and those who are still at it and having a great time. Very nice getting the younger ones out with you too.

You left the tailgate down and he slid out the back of the truck on the way home?......
 
Haha using photobucket with my phone is hell. Actually that was a defect warranty picture for my new truck. I will post the real pic soon lol
 
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New hunter in new location. No scouting time available and had to play it by ear, yay!

Arrived just before fly down. Ser up 150 yards away along a tree line and farmers plowed up tree pile at the front.

Saw 7 up in the trees at back bush, lots of gobbling going on.

On fly down they all went to the field on their left. We waited as they gobbled and slowly moved on. Did some calling and no responses. Field filled up with geese and drowned out any noise with all their honking. Pulled up shop and went in to the bush in the direction we saw them go.

Walked in to a field among the back bush and set up again. Heard some gobbling but also a bunch of yelps and cuts etc. Sounded store bought...

Went for a walk and saw a big tom or jake strutting on a ridge (couldnt see his tailfeathers behind the brush) it was 72 yrds away and i was behind a pine tree, my buddy had a better angle but we couldnt get any closer. That bird walked off after a big hen down the other side of the ridge.

We moved again to see if we could get him before the fence line (end of property) and heard lots more yelps and calls. Arrive at the fenceline and see movement in the trees and decoys in the adjoining field. Other hunters hunting the field behind us (turkey we saw was on the right corner). So we waved at the hunters as they saw us glassing them. They had their back to the fenceline and were clearly set up for hunting their own field so nothing to worry about there.

We moved back and went to work on the ridge where the turkeys had been. Nothing there and no more property to persue them on.

We head back to our set up and do some more calling. No more gobbles or action until we hear some shots from the back where those other guys were. Bang!......Bang! Bang!......Bang!..Bang!.....Bang!...... Bang!..Bang!.............Bang!.....Bang!

Yup. 10 shots in about 2 minutes.

We only saw 2 guys so that would bean both had to have reloaded twice at least! And god knows how many they shot or how many they missed.

Long story longer, didnt hear another sound the rest of the day. Those shots were at around 1030am and we stayed out until 7pm.

No turkeys but it was great to get to do some scouting of a new property. Lots of deer tracks and saw two good tree stands set up that need some repairs but very promising for deer season. Also tons of geese so may have to try that out as well this fall.

Hope to return at least one more time before the end of turkey season but if not, there's always the fall!
 
Shot my first turkey yesterday!
19.8lbs, 10" beard, 1" spurs

OUx3gYn.jpg


Feeling pretty excited, but I have a couple questions as I've never turkey hunted before this.
1. What is the benchmark that all turkeys are measured against? ie. what makes a big bird?
2. How do I get a 2nd licence?!
 
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Shot my first turkey yesterday!
19.8lbs, 10" beard, 1" spurs

Feeling pretty excited, but I have a couple questions as I've never turkey hunted before this.
1. What is the benchmark that all turkeys are measured against? ie. what makes a big bird?
2. How do I get a 2nd licence?!

Congratulations! Nice pic! First bird is always special.
Benchmark? Not really. Second licence? Just go in person and buy another tag, its that simple. You can even buy both tags at the same time if you like, you just can't cut them the same day.
 
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Out this afternoon and setup between downpours, got settled and started calling and nothing. After about an hour and half this guy gobbled and appeared at least 75 yards away. Took 20 minutes for him to come in and get a good sight on him at 20 yards with an 870 using 3" #5. 23lbs, 9" beard, 3/4" spurs
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Well, I had previously posted that I had taken a bird last week, but being oblivious to technology I had no pics. This weekend we headed out early Saturday morning to one of our fields and we had lots of gobblers sounding off as soon as the sun came up. I had one come out in front of me across the field but a pretty hen cut me off and he wandered off into the bush with his new date. My better half had some amorous jakes come straight in to her decoys a field over and her first bird was down. Unfortunately it is my ugly mug holding up her bird .... she seemed to be the only one that could make the technology work that morning!

We headed back out the next morning and I had a group of jakes come into my calls early in the am and I picked one out of the group and my second tag as well as my season were over. I texted my better half and she let's me know she has some birds at the end of her field and I can hear her yelping and calling .... it was followed by a shotgun blast when one came in to investigate and our season was now over.


Congrats to all who have taken birds so far and to those who are taking the next generation out. Good luck to those still out hunting.
 
Well... I made Ohio..... saw lots of flocks along the way, bud sadly didn't get my bird with the jeep, I did get a possum I think?....

I am headed up to camp from here this weekend, so unfortunately, my season may be a wash...... really jazzed to see you guys getting your birds..... especially the new guys.... well done!
 
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