A couple from opening weekend

[fishunt247]

To all who predicted an early spring and hens leaving the gobblers sooner...I hope you are eating crow.  Man these are some henned up birds; as in like multiple hens with all the gobblers and staying with them all damn day.

Opening day we set up on a bird that we knew was all alone, so we thought he'd be a good one to start with. All went according to plan: set up, he answered, flew down and strutted right in. But at 60 yards he cut into the brush, came within range of Justin and I but was in the thick, and then came into the next opening at 60 yards. I had a shot as he stood on a stump at 40+ yards, but it was a marginal shot through the trees. I waited because I thought he'd come right out in the next opening. Wrong. After getting on a few others to no avail, I called another bird into range, but we couldn't see him through the buck brush. Dad passed on 3 jakes, and that was opening day.

The second day was more henned up birds and some guy taking a long shot and missing some birds we were calling to. About 11am we went down to a knob where a buddy and I'd found a couple gobblers scouting. They had it tore up with scratching, so I knew it'd be a good midday spot. One sounded off to logging trucks driving down the road. After 20 mins of calling, he finally broke and came our way. I shot him at about 30 yards.

Saturday, Dad and I walked around and yelped at dead space, finally getting on a bird about 8am. He was HOT, but wouldn't break his strut zone. After about 45 mins and two setups, he finally broke and came sneaking in. He gobbled at least every minute the whole time, double, triple, and quadruple gobbling. It was quite a thing to listen to. Dad killed him at like 32 yards.

Can't wait for more hens to start leaving.

[fishunt247]

Working on pics. My computer is having issues

[fishunt247]

Here's a couple pics. Sorry for the boring writeup. I have 4 days of homework to catch up on.

[SpokaneSlayer]

Well done.  We were on birds all weekend.  My buddy got one Friday morning.  

[fishunt247]

And an elk shed.

[Machias]

Beautiful birds!!!!  Congrats!!!

[Wacenturion]

Congratulations....nice birds.  You did well again this year.  You said...

"To all who predicted an early spring and hens leaving the gobblers sooner...I hope you are eating crow."

You got that right.  It all related to photo period...the amount of daylight in a given day.  Early warm springs might stimulate activity somewhat different than the norm depending on area, but it's still going to occur when birds sense the length of day and it's total amount of light.

Fun to speculate though...gets a bunch of turkey hunters anxious..lol.

[dobby]

good job guys

[wastickslinger]

Nice looking birds!!!!

[MtnMuley]

Great looking birds and a nice bone to boot!

[h2ofowlr]

A good weekend.

[buckmaster_wa]

Nice birds and Shed Josh. You gonna take the lady out to get a gobbler this year?

[fishunt247]

Thanks for the comments. And no, Dan. She doesn't hunt...yet. I took her out scouting and she heard some gobble though. She thought that was pretty neat.

[turkeydancer]

FH - good work ... my group got 7 ... 4 toms & 3 jakes although should have been more ... I had 1 day without rookies, but got a nice 19-1/2 lb bird with 6 hens, but passed on 7 jakes at 10 yards later that day ... after a garbage truck ruined the 1st hunt opening morning, I took one of my rookies to DNR land, called in 3 toms to 10 yards and after a miss he connected with another 19-1/2 bird, but didn't shoot another one as he was watching the 1st roll down the hill because he was afraid he'ld lose it I think ... had a great time anyway. 

[Phantom Gobbler]

Good going guys..................... you are really racking em up this year!