Bearpaw Season - Spring 2014

[bearpaw]

Finally it's hunting season again, we got a good start this weekend with two awesome youth hunters.

Colton age 15 and his dad hunt with us often, this would be his last year to participate in the youth Turkey Hunt and he hunted with my son Brian. On opening morning Colton filled his first tag with a nice gobbler without much of a beard, none of the long bearded toms presented a shooting opportunity so he smacked the one shown below, nice fan but not much beard. On Sunday Colton filled his second tag with a hen sporting a 6" beard that he will be mounting lifesize. Nice shooting Colton, 2 shots 2 birds, a very successful last youth hunt.

Abby age 10 had a last minute change in plans, her team won a spot in the playoffs so she had a playoff game on Saturday and couldn't come hunting. I scouted Saturday night and put numerous birds to roost. Abby and dad arrived in the evening and we planned the hunt for Sunday morning. At 4:30 am we had breakfast and by 5:35 we were in position waiting for the birds to come off the roost. The birds were sounding off pretty good, 10 to 20 gobblers one after the other. Abby had never turkey hunted and even her dad had never heard this many gobblers in one flock.

We had seen them in two fields, one above the roost and one below the roost. I had opted to hunt above the roost, but as luck would have it all the birds came off the roost and glided into the lower field. We quickly repositioned ourselves to a location where we could try to call them in the lower field.

I give them just enough turkey talk to spark their interest and we waited. Pretty soon here come a group with a big long beard in the lead and the rest 50 yards behind. The longbeard was just out of 20 gauge range so we waited, soon 8 more longbeards and a few hens were at 30 yards. I give Abby the word and I heard her take off the safety as she raised her gun, she took aim and WHAMMO, one gobbler down, I told her to reload as two gobblers attacked the downed bird. Abby tried for gobbler #2, oooppps no shot, I looked at her gun and noticed it wasn't fully pumped, I told her to close it again and then she hammered another longbeard. Awesome, great shooting Abby, two shots, two downed longbeards.

Congrats to Colton and Abby! 

I can't hardly wait for the general spring season to open.

[h20hunter]

Well done. Great start to your yearly thread.

[combs338]

Awesome stuff Bearpaw. Thanks for sharing!!!

[bearpaw]

Thanks guys... 

Seeing two great kids having fun is so very satisfying, the youth hunts really are a blast for everyone involved.

[mulehunter]

   Great job. Keep up.   

[JKEEN33]

Nice birds and great pictures. That's a great way to start a turkey hunting addiction. Two Toms on the first morning on the same stand. 

[hunting4sanity]

Dale, I always enjoy this thread and hopefully we can make it up there this year.  No luck for any of us in drawing a bear tag, but I've got a few sons who would love to come chase turkeys with you.

[whackmaster]

Looks like fun can't wait see ya soon 

[bearpaw]

I have three cancellations on opening day Apr 15-17 turkey that I need to fill. We've got the birds all scouted out and expect everyone to get at least one bird on the first day of the hunt. 2nd birds may take the 2nd or 3rd day, but I expect similar results to last year, we had 162% success for the entire season last year.

These hunts are normally $1450 each but I'll sell these 3 hunts for $1250 each since it's short notice. Meals, lodging, and guiding are included.

[Gringo31]

👍

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Real good start to the season!

[bowhunterforever]

Real good start to the season!

[Gringo31]

 

[Machias]

Nice start Dale, I hope you guys have a GREAT year!!

[bearpaw]

Thanks everyone, getting after them tomorrow again, it's looking pretty good, birds are talking pretty well in the morning and some at dusk, we've seen a pile of toms and jakes this week scouting.