2021 Wild Turkey thread

Lots of action so far this morning. There were at least 5 birds gobbling in every direction around me. At about 6:00, I had a tom come in and then get hung up at about 45 yards. He stood there in a perfect position for a shot but I opted not to shoot as I was hoping the bird would come in where I have a coupe GoPro cameras setup. He decided that was as close as he would get so I missed my chance. Then at 7:00, I had two jakes come in but decided to give them both a pass knowing that first Tom is still close by. I’ve seen 4 individual hens already and it looks like they could be the reason birds aren’t closing the distance. Fingers crossed that first bird comes back because he looked like a dandy Tom
 
Well, that happened quickly! Just as I finished typing my last post, I had a Tom sneak up on me from a direction I wasn’t expecting. It took a bit of effort to turn around and not get busted, but I managed. This bird got hung up as well, but at 40 yards, it was a comfortable shot. When I established that he wasn’t going to come any closer, I wasn’t about to pass on a 4th bird just for the sake of a GoPro video. I ended up mounting a camera on my cap and tried recording it that way instead. Took a few minutes for the Tom’s head to clear a tree, but when it did, it was lights out.

Not the dandy Tom I was hoping for, but meat will be going into the freezer.

Tale of the Tape
8.75” beard
1” spurs
19lbs

X7tCAq5.jpg
 
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Well, that happened quickly! Just as I finished typing my last post, I had a Tom sneak up on me from a direction I wasn’t expecting. It took a bit of effort to turn around and not get busted, but I managed. This bird got hung up as well, but at 40 yards, it was a comfortable shot. When I established that he wasn’t going to come any closer, I wasn’t about to pass on a 4th bird just for the sake of a GoPro video. I ended up mounting a camera on my cap and tried recording it that way instead. Took a few minutes for the Tom’s head to clear a tree, but when it did, it was lights out.

Not the dandy Tom I was hoping for, but meat will be going into the freezer.

Tale of the Tape
8.5” beard
1” spurs
Weight TBD

X7tCAq5.jpg

Video footage doesn’t taste very good anyway. Congrats.
 
Well, that happened quickly! Just as I finished typing my last post, I had a Tom sneak up on me from a direction I wasn’t expecting. It took a bit of effort to turn around and not get busted, but I managed. This bird got hung up as well, but at 40 yards, it was a comfortable shot. When I established that he wasn’t going to come any closer, I wasn’t about to pass on a 4th bird just for the sake of a GoPro video. I ended up mounting a camera on my cap and tried recording it that way instead. Took a few minutes for the Tom’s head to clear a tree, but when it did, it was lights out.

Not the dandy Tom I was hoping for, but meat will be going into the freezer.

Tale of the Tape
8.75” beard
1” spurs
19lbs

X7tCAq5.jpg

Sweet, you got to play a little before closing out the season. That is the way to do it.
 
Sweet, you got to play a little before closing out the season. That is the way to do it.

Its definitely nice to be able to get in a handful of hunts and still tag out before the mosquito invasion begins. My gear is still set up in the event I can get Patrick out again. If Patrick cant make it out, at least the random old man who unknowingly joined me on opening day can continue making himself at home LOL. While checking my game cam footage waiting for legal light, my camera captured him coming out numerous times during the week and he is using my blind. Im ok with that as he puts everything back the way he found.
 
Its definitely nice to be able to get in a handful of hunts and still tag out before the mosquito invasion begins. My gear is still set up in the event I can get Patrick out again. If Patrick cant make it out, at least the random old man who unknowingly joined me on opening day can continue making himself at home LOL. While checking my game cam footage waiting for legal light, my camera captured him coming out numerous times during the week and he is using my blind. Im ok with that as he puts everything back the way he found.

You are more generous than I... it would piss me off to no end if some yahoo was using my blind... there is a lot of bush out there, no need to be stepping on someone else's toes.
 
You are more generous than I... it would piss me off to no end if some yahoo was using my blind... there is a lot of bush out there, no need to be stepping on someone else's toes.

I do agree with you....in this case, the guy is on old fellow who is known to the landowner and it appears that he is being respectful with my gear. I’m willing to extend an olive branch as long as he doesn’t interrupt me when I’m there hunting. Otherwise, we would need to have a discussion about common courtesy and he’ll be the only one asked to leave by the landowner
 
I do agree with you....in this case, the guy is on old fellow who is known to the landowner and it appears that he is being respectful with my gear. I’m willing to extend an olive branch as long as he doesn’t interrupt me when I’m there hunting. Otherwise, we would need to have a discussion about common courtesy and he’ll be the only one asked to leave by the landowner

I hunt a few properties where others have permission, I stay away from their set-ups and clear out of the area when I know they are there... I would expect the same from them. In your case with a long term blind location, I would be more concerned with him polluting the area with inappropriate (poorly timed) movement and noise... maybe that might partly explain all the hang-ups you had this year? At any rate, your willingness to share to that degree is admirable.
 
Permissions are given after fall turkey season, for myself i keep a little wood close to the farm that his turkey paradise, i explain that very vividly to the hunters but all around that little wood ( still on my land ) almost every one fill their tag. JP.
 
I hunt a few properties where others have permission, I stay away from their set-ups and clear out of the area when I know they are there... I would expect the same from them. In your case with a long term blind location,I would be more concerned with him polluting the area with inappropriate (poorly timed) movement and noise... maybe that might partly explain all the hang-ups you had this year? At any rate, your willingness to share to that degree is admirable.

Thats actually a great point that I never thought of. Its possible he is educating the birds and they are weary of committing. That could definitely explain why the birds always seems to stay on the perimeter of the bush. And based on my cam footage, which I have set up in front of the ground blind, the birds have stayed clear. Now one could say that the flock broke up as they usually do in the spring, but even on the 26th when I had a dozen or so roosted birds all around me, not a single one stepped foot in front of the camera the whole day and before they flew up to their roost. Its as though the whole perimeter around the blind is a no go zone. The first bird I shot wasn't even from this blind as Patrick was set up in it. I was set up in an old makeshift blind that I used to hunt out of along the property line. What you are suggesting is a very real possibility.
 
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Pretty special day to be a part of: my 10 year old nephew helped call in this jake for me, my 7 year old niece came on her first hunting day afield, and my wife's clan had three generations (grandfather, father, and the kids) in the spring wild turkey woods.

Typically I let jakes walk by in favour of holding out for a mature longbeard. But all the cards lined up to make yesterday afternoon the perfect time to fill my second and final Ontario wild turkey tag of 2021.

These kids have had a tough three months with their mom dealing with a very serious life threatening medical condition that has had her hospitalized for many weeks. It was great to see a smile on their faces - you'll have to take my word for it!

d9DgApn.jpg
 
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Nice experience for the kids... one memory like that, at that age can turn into a lifetime passion for the outdoors.
 
Pretty special day to be a part of: my 10 year old nephew helped call in this jake for me, my 7 year old niece came on her first hunting day afield, and my wife's clan had three generations (grandfather, father, and the kids) in the spring wild turkey woods.

Typically I let jakes walk by in favour of holding out for a mature longbeard. But all the cards lined up to make yesterday afternoon the perfect time to fill my second and final Ontario wild turkey tag of 2021.

These kids have had a tough three months with their mom dealing with a very serious life threatening medical condition that has had her hospitalized for many weeks. It was great to see a smile on their faces - you'll have to take my word for it!

That is nothing short of awesome! Well done buckchaser!!
 
No luck on turkey for our opener, tried to roost a few on a property I have permission on last night but between NB power clearing hydro lines of under brush and a neighbor logging his side of the fence turkeys have vacated the area. Went in blind for a quick hunt because I have to get some sleep before night shift and other than one jake in my back yard(where there are no tags) none seen.
 
Had 10 hens and 4 rather large jakes come cruising by me this morning at about 20-30yds. Gave the jakes a pass, I’m not ready for my season to be over just yet and I was having too much fun just enjoying the show!

 
Nice experience for the kids... one memory like that, at that age can turn into a lifetime passion for the outdoors.

I don't have kids of my own so invest quite a bit of time/effort in my nephews and nieces. I've been taking the older nephew out scouting and more recently hunting as regularly as I can in recent years - his younger sister just joined this year. I hope they grow up to be hunters - but one way or the other they'll have positive childhood memories and a realistic perspective on what hunting is.
 
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