Phantom's Spring Gobbler

[Phantom Gobbler]

Seems like the good news just keeps coming in................. a productive spring turkey season so far.  

I was able to harvest this boss tom on Saturday Morning in South Stevens County.  Story to follow tomorrow.  Need to get some shut eye!  

[Phantom Gobbler]

Another Picture of the Tom!

[Wacenturion]

Great photos, great bird...........congratulations!

[PA BEN]

Sweet

[Ranger91298]

Great looking bird, thanks for sharing...

[johng]

Wow... that is a nice bird!  I like the pics of you with him on the old truck... I was hunting South Stevens County too last Thursday, Friday and part of Sat.  No bird- heard some gobble back but couldn't call them in.

Nice work.

[fishunt247]

THe one with the truck is a cool picture. Nice work.

[Coulee13]

Very Nice! Can't wait to get my first Tom!

[yelp]

nice tom scott...congrats!

[nw_bowhunter]

Congrats...thanks for sharing

[carpsniperg2]

great bird congrats

[Machias]

Real pretty bird!

[Phantom Gobbler]

Thanks Team Hunting-Washington.com...you all are a great crew!  

So my hunting buddy and I were out early last Saturday and the birds were gobbling, but not responding.  It had turned cold, windy and rainy so we tried running and gunning to keep warm, but it wasn't working.  My buddy asked why I wasn't calling more and I said the birds were hanging somewhere out of the wind with shut mouth.  About 10:00 a.m. the weather broke and we heard some toms fire up below us.  We moved in to setup, but then heard the gobbler going away from us.  So we moved further downhill and started down a logging road........................busted!  

The birds were just across a small ravine about 80 yards away on a strut zone.  The gobbler we had heard further away was a different bird!  So we froze and melted to the ground and watched two tom's strut and display and then "the Boss" proceeded to "corner" a hen. Heard our first hen squealing!!  After they left the strut/breeding zone and moved back down to the edge of the field, we moved into the strut zone and setup.

My buddy had his bow so he picked a location where he could draw.  I started yelping with the trusty vintage Backwoods Glass over Slate call and both tom's fired up and started coming in.  I switched to a HS Strut Raspy Hen diaphram mouth call with some soft stuff and was able to keep them coming......... My
partner couldn't see the two birds sneak in through the brush and the Boss started looking around, turned to leave and broke into a half strut.  I had the shotgun up and safety off and made the shot!  The second gobbler started milling around the flopping bird and my buddy flung an arrow at him and missed (arrow lost).  

When I went to reload the shotgun (I had a second tag), I found the shotgun shell's brass casing jammed in my auto's action and the plastic casing stuck in the magazine !    The brass back end of the shell had been blown off (Fiocchi 3.5 in., 2 3/8 oz of 6 shot)!  Now that's a cannon and I owe Fiochi of America a letter!  Whats up with the shotgun shell malfunctions and misfires ths spring??  

Good luck during the rest of the season.   NW Turkey hunting is starting to get alot of national attention (Merriams, Rios and Mythical Easterns....Oh My)!  

My next planned turkey hunting adventure will take us deep into the tick infested hills of Western Kentucky in early May.  Gotta love Spring!

[turkey slayer]

Phantom,

Is that one of my calls that I gave you. I must just bring you good luck.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Slayer,

Thanks for the calls and the luck.............I can use both!   

[Whitenuckles]

Very nice Tom!!

[turkeydancer]

Congrads ... love the pose ... extra special ....

[Phantom Gobbler]

My hunting buddy went out last weekend and took a break from bow hunting.  This limbhanger hit the dirt at 30 yards.