Washington slam, complete with storys and pics

[The Gobble-stopper]

Got my third bird on Friday... Stories and pics to follow. Hopefully by the weekend. I will get time to post pics and stories. Most fun I have ever had getting the slam. Sorry it took me a few to get this going.. Not exactly computer literate.
     Had a rough time getting time to scout this year. So mostly had to count on my old haunts. The Eastern is usually the most difficult so I went for him first. Knowing I would have time later if it didn't work out. Last year it took me 23 days to get my eastern. So I knew it wasn't always to easy. Began my morning early, as most of us do. Got to my hunting spot. Where I had the knowledge of a big tom hanging around and signs of others. Which was also the same place I got my eastern last year.
     As I walked in an hour and a half before daylight, I noticed the lack of sign. Contrary to what I had seen 3 weeks before. Oh well, maybe someone just removed the sign. In hopes of hiding the tom for themselves. I got to my spot and set up, hoping that as daylight cracked. I would be near the spot, I hoped he would be. Daylight came and went, with not a peep.. This area is usually loaded with hens. But no sign of hens. I could see a clear half mile and in the next three hours nothing but deer and elk moved. I decided to go for a walk. 3 hours later, not a sign, not even human tracks. Where did they all go. I wondered.
     I decided to leave the area for another day. Made a quick phone call. And reached my hunting partner. He said he had time to go out. Got back to town picked him up and drove 45 minutes the other direction to my second favorite spot. Now this spot is usually a "give me" but last year there was nothing but a puff of feathers left on the ground from a youth hunt. And no other sign. I knew the birds couldn't all be dead. So we thought we would give it a try. And hour in of hard hiking and we started getting sign.. Not just a little, but tons. We made a loop, then ran out of sign. I made an assumption of where the birds were traveling. And gave my friend his choice of spots to try and call. According to my analysis. He made his choice and we split up. I figured the birds were making a loop, about 2 miles, and had two choices of roost trees that they may tend to use later in the day.
I began my quest. Using my Bino's and checking for sign. Its now about 5 oclock, and I was nearing the half way point in my travels. I came to a spot where I could see a good mile down a straight stretch of grassy area. I snuck up to the edge and began glassing. Stayed there for about 10 minutes and decided to move on. As I dropped my bino's down. I noticed something looking at me. Just in the shadows below me, at about 150 yards was a pumpkin head tom. Just about that time, he thought he saw me. I froze, then when he got bored and dropped his head. I backed up. I saw him inch his way to the upward side of the trail.
     I radioed my buddy, and told him where he was, and that I would try moving up above him. First letting the bird have a resting period before starting. My buddy informed me that he was at the other end and 1000 yards away. I gave him the ok to try and call.
     I moved to my  new location, above the tom. And after a rest began to call softly. I knew this might be a long hall. I gave it an hour and nothing. Still knowing the tom might be on his way. Just about that time my buddy called and said the tom was coming his way. Now with 2 hens. He asked what should he do. I told him to keep the calling at a minimum. That if he called at all that the tom would know where he was. He kept insisting that he could sneak up on it. I reminded him last year. That he muffed it, by doing the sneak, when I had worked hard to call a bird right to him. So after some discussion, he held tight.
     He asked if I could move back to where I saw the bird, and move closer, so that one of us would have a chance. I complied. All the while he kept sending messages. That the bird was at 190, 120, 160, 140.. etc. He said when the bird hit 70 he was going to try a shot. Now he has a good gun. But sorry, "buddy" he doesn't know how to shoot it. And I cant get him convinced to sight it in. A must as we all know, for a true Turkey killer. I convinced him to wait for 35 to 40 yards. And not even sure if he could make that shot.
     I inched closer to the bird. Fully knowing where the bird was. As I got to my mark, at about 100 yards. And now spotting the tom in full strut. I sat down and got comfortable. My buddy, now full of frustration, said he couldn't get the bird to do what he wanted and for me to take over. "are you sure" "Yes" I hit the call and gave a little purr. Instantly the two hens appeared at 40 yards. Now seemingly starring at me. I gave a few clucks and calmed the birds down into a feeding mode. The tom began to respond. And started his march towards me. At 40 or so yards he bypassed the hens and kept coming. At 30 yards, He stopped and stared. I knew he couldn't see me. Maybe nothing but the hole in the end of the shotgun. Where his demise might come from... He gobbled. I clucked he stuck his head up and that's all she wrote.
     Forgot the cam, so packed up and headed home. Took a picture in a friends carport. A little over 18 lbs. 9 3/8 beard and matched 13/16 spurs.

     Two days later now, And off to Klickitat county. Tick capitol of the world. Arriving early afternoon. To find others camped in our spot. Some newly found friends that we met from last year. They said " tough going". And that they were going to be leaving late the next day. So we spent the rest of the day shooting coyotes. And wow, never saw so many coyotes the middle of the day in my life... Hungry I guess. We quick shots and 3 coyotes down. Then the long shots. Hit the next at 845 yards. And one at over 1000. Talk about cool... Just got my 223 last year. And after a little tweaking. Cant seem to miss. Last year I took the gun over to east of the mountains and during crow season was able to shoot some of those egg stealers out to 400 almost 400 yards. Even my buddy that cant shoot his shotgun. Hit one at 323 yards. Never missed a crow! Anyway back to the hunt. The next morning we got up to nothing but gobbling. I was wondering why the others in camp, weren't seeing anything? Maybe just playing games. Or not? All day long we had toms. Problem was, that all of them had 40 or 50 hens with them. I contemplated running through the middle of them and scattering them. But held off. Nothing this day. Early the next day. I had literally 30 toms in every direction gobbling. But couldn't pull them away from the hens. About mid day. I noticed one of the toms was with a noisy ole hen that wouldn't shut up. I decided to move closer. Thinking I could frustrate her enough to come into a fight with me. But I muffed it. I got closer than I thought I was and she left the scene. Along with 5 big toms, that were courting her. I moved in the direction of where they headed. Came around the corner, and lo and behold, there they were. They hadn't gone very far at all. Away they went again. But that wasn't good enough for me. I moved again, thinking they were gone. Within minutes I really scattered them this time. As they flew, I watched the biggest tom and marked the area he hit ground. I gave it a good two hours. And made my way back towards camp, and where he landed. I radioed my buddy, he said the other hunters had left the property and that they said we could use the blinds they left. I gave my buddy choice of which one he wanted. He made his choice. And I took the other. It was a good thing to be in the blinds. It was now about 85 degees. And more felt like 112 to me. I gave it another half hour. And decided to give a few clucks. Waited half an hour and nothing. Decided to try the gobble call. Knowing that he was in and around an old hen that apparently was responding to his gobbles. Thinking it might stur her to come my way and drag the tom. Within 10minutes of hitting the gobble call. And up the hill at about 150yards I spotted the old hen. She even had about an eight inch beard. Along with her was another hen and a jake. I was thinking it would be cool to take an old hen with that kind of a beard. Now don't get me wrong. I normally would not take a hen, but it has been my experience that a beard with a hen has reached its prime. And either no longer lays eggs. Or lays unfertile eggs. I still wasn't sure what I was going to do. I hit the hen call once. And she along with the other tow began there travel towards me. I was now trying to figure out how I was going to get the shotgun barrel out the window of the blind. They continued mozzying my way. Then from behind me, and my friends house down the hill. I could hear a four wheeler start up. I thought "oh no"! But when he started it. A lone tom and apparently the one I had saw land, Gobbled! Lucky my friend started his four wheeler. But then he started a beeline to me. He hadn't talked to me all day. And had spotted me go in the blind and wanted to talk. What could I do? He is like 82 and likes to talk... I held tight. Hoping he would turn. He did. But so did the tom. I thought, " no I am losing him"
     My friend turned towards our camp and the tom settled down. Now he is on his way. The hens made it to the blind. Next thing I know the bearded hen sticks her head inside the blind and is looking around. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. She stared at me for a good couple minutes. Then slid down the outside of the blind. I was tempted to wack her one with my arm as she slid along the side. I didn't. The tom was out to about 60 yards and the 4 wheeler started to move again. He came half way to me and stopped to look at something. The hens continued past me. And lucky me the tom followed. At 25 yards he put his head down behind a log and pecked a little. Came out of strut. And gave me time to put the barrel out the window. When he came up for air. He noticed the hens had moved quite a little bit. So he began to move faster it was all I could do to keep the sights on him. Just as I was running out of window and at 20 yards. I squeezed off. And down he went, deader than a door nail... Not that I have ever seen a live door nail. Almost 22lbs, 11 inch beard, and  11/16 spurs. Back to home town again without a cam. Third time will be a charm "cam" that is..
     Back for a week of catching up on work. Work now completed, and time to go after the Rio. Last year we headed to our favorite rattlesnake infested area. Only to find that the normal 20 or so birds were gone. Leaving us with only 18 total birds. Of which there were only three big toms. This year couldn't be so bad. Or so I thought. WE arrived in our area. Only to find. That the birds although a few around still weren't there??? In 15 years, have never seen them disappear. Did they go high in the mountains. Only not to return. It would be unheard of for that many birds to be gone do to predators. Several people in the area. Blamed the tribe for taking turkeys while they were talking elk. I don't know. ?? We set up camp and scouted a little, and looked for coyotes. Next morning we got up, to gobbling. but also several people that moved into  the area over night. Pesty little buggers, inconsiterate to what we were doing. And unknowledgable about turkey hunting. WE tried to be patient. After a couple days of that. And them spooking the turkeys away. " We decided to start shooting the coyotes instead. Previously not shooting them. Because of being in the area of these guys. We shot, we killed. They left.
     Now with the valley to ourselves. And a day of rest to let the birds calm down. We began our treck. Most of the toms were high on the hills. Waiting for hens. I am talking like a half a mile into the hills. We normally would have gone after them, but knew in time they would be down. BEsides, it was like 85 degrees again. So we stayed by the coolers. I believe it was the fourth day. We had been watching a big tom across the river with two hens for three days now. And I figured it was time to make my move. WE tried calling him across, but the river was much too noisy for him to hear, or care. So at 2:30 in the afternoon. and blazing hot. I ventured into the creek. With my buddy perched a mile away, with the binoculars. I made it across the creek and had a quarter mile to go to close the gap. I set up, with out decoy, in a small oak tree, just out of sight of the birds. I knew exactly where they were. Which was confirmed through radio contact. I clucked a few times and purred and waited. and hour or so later. And the slowest strutter I have ever seen. He began his march. When he got out to 150 yards or so. I gave him the ole scratch on the ground. chhhh.......chhhhh, chhhhhh, .........chh. When he heard my imitation of a turkey scratching in the leaves, he gave a big ole gobble. And took the lead ahead of the hens. Now, this wait has been going on for over an hour. And for the first time, turkey hunting in over 10 years. My heart is starting to raise. It was so freakin exciting. He gobbled and strutted for the next 20 minutes, till he made it to 25 yards. My buddy was going crazy,up on top off the hill. I finally had to tell him to have radio silence. So I could complete the job. I was pretty sure I had him in the bag. But wanted him to put on a show. He continued to come to 15 yards. Just as I was going to shoot. One of the hens walked in front of me at 10 yards and stared at me. I almost had the trigger squizzed and had to hold off. She began and alarm signal, then changed her mind. Took two steps and I squizzed off. He didn't even wiggle. Glad I didn't have a heart attack...! Fun stuff. 19 1/2 lbs. 9 3/8 beard and 15/16 spurs.
     Shot a few coyotes. Got two rattlesnakes, that decided they would come into camp for dinner one night. My buddy got his bird. Didn't want his pic on here. And most of you don't know him. So I will show you a pic, of his typical bird after he shoots. WARNING to the weak of stomach. It is not a pretty sight. But I did want to show what his shooting skills looked like. I will work on it with him. Oh and I do make him eat whatever he shoots!

[Rainier10]

Congrats, can't wait for the photos.  Your post does beg the question, how many times have you completed them slam if this one was the most fun?

[The Gobble-stopper]

This made it my twelfth year.

[bowhunterforever]

Nicely done, Congrats

[BOWHUNTER45]

Good job ..Now I need a good story and some photos since I have not had time to go ....

[Tree Killer]

Awesome...congratulations!   

[tgomez]

Congradulations- give us pics you tease! Lol

[one more]

Congratulations!!!         

[Rainier10]

This made it my twelfth year.

nice

[turkeydancer]

Nice job my friend ... been a while since I've seen and talked to you but great to hear the success continues ..... well deserved.   

[Elkpiss]

Hmm I am curious to what your name is...    

[Jester052]

Congrats

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hey man ...it has been days ...WTHeck  I think u had a very good dream 

[bearpaw]

awesome, congrats 

[250savage]

Congrats.

[one more]

Thanks for the story and the great pics!  That's a great mixed "bag".  The coyote's fur looks nicer than I'd expect for this time of the year.  Did you skin it?  Did you keep the snake skins to tan to leather? 
Congratulations again.
Diane 

[kevinlisa06]

Great season congrats!!!

[tgomez]

Nice Thunder Chickens, and nice coyote. Congradulations on your slam!!! I will not ever complete this feat because I can't see driving across the state for a 3rd bird. My wife would put a tag on my head!!! I enjoyed your great pics and fabulous story. Thanks for sharing and way to go!!!!!!!

[packmule]

One slam is a big accomplishment, 12 in a row is something else.  Congratulations and thanks for the write-up and photos!

[Jester052]

Great story and pics!