Post by: MerriamMagician on February 06, 2015, 11:32:19 AM
Heres how my things are set up for me: On March 19th, I am flying down to Florida. I have a 4 day guided hunt booked for Osceolas with a very reputable and successful outfitter. I have talked personally several times with the guide and watched many of his clients turkey hunting success videos. He seems like a great guy and I am extremely confident that he will put me on the birds. After that hunt is over, I am driving way up north into the Florida Panhandle area for 6 days of Eastern hunting. I have two of the limited quota WMA permits for that area, as well as a couple of small chunks of private land to hunt. I am pretty much going in blind for hunting these birds, but I have been able to contact a few locals in the area for tips on hunting down there. So we'll see how that turns out.
Upon return home I'll have about a 3 week layover until our season starts here in Washington. I plan on getting the Rio and Merriam here at home to finish the slam. Even I get an Eastern in Florida, I still plan on starting our season here by hunting Easterns. I have the first 10 days of the season off to try to get the tricky Eastern out of the way. If i get one early or have no luck there, the third species to go after is the Rio. I found a lot of good spots last year near Dayton, so I will be hunting in that area. Finally I want to cap off the slam with a good ole Merriam. I have tons and tons of private and public spots to chase them down in. I might not end up killing one till May because after taking up most of my work leave for the early season, I will probably be hunting weekends only the remainder of the season.
I will be posting updates, pics, and stories along the way. I am really hoping this is the year I make my dream a reality! Here is to a great turkey season this spring! Good luck everyone and happy hunting! :tup: :brew:
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on February 06, 2015, 11:42:25 AM
Post by: Wacenturion on February 07, 2015, 09:16:19 AM
Post by: jasnt on February 07, 2015, 09:28:03 AM
Post by: turkeydancer on February 09, 2015, 06:25:18 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on February 09, 2015, 12:35:51 PM
Post by: kevinlisa06 on February 09, 2015, 09:02:52 PM
Post by: AntlerHound on February 09, 2015, 09:11:59 PM
Post by: mwhunter on February 17, 2015, 08:23:10 PM
Post by: Call em in on February 21, 2015, 09:07:31 AM
Post by: trkykilr on February 21, 2015, 10:04:47 AM
Every serious turkey hunter should try to get a grand slam under their belt, and a single season grand slam provides a lifetime of memories. You will find that very few of your memories will revolve around the turkeys and the colors of their wings or feather tips. It will be the bars, diners, scenery, and travel that go along with the quest.
I made a snapfish book and will post a quote from it. I think it is relevant because I wrote it when it was still fresh in my mind
"My quest for a single season unguided grand slam came to an end this morning under a cedar tree in Northern Nebraska. It ended with a double shared shoulder to shoulder with a great friend who happened to achieve his goal 2 seconds before I achieved mine. This season has been more than I could've ever imagined. I will most likely never have another season like this, nor will I ever attempt to. I was blessed to witness the death of 37 wild turkeys, see 51 sunrises, and share great times with new and lifelong friends in some of the most majestic and diverse country the US has to offer. It has become much more about the sunrises and the people than the turkeys."
There are plenty of folks on this site that have killed more than I have, so take my advice for what it is. People always say that merriams are easy or rios are easy or easterns are hard or blah blah blah. They are certainly all different, and they are different because of the terrain they are in. We had to learn to kill western "big country" turkeys, and that was a challenge. A turkey in an eastern swamp lives his life in a much smaller box, but he knows every inch of that box. They are warier, but they don't travel near as much. Enjoy the intricacies of each one, enjoy the people and soak up the experience. And the best thing to remember, is to hunt em like a turkey. Turkeys are gonna do what turkeys are gonna do.
I will post some pics from our grand slam adventure.
Post by: trkykilr on February 21, 2015, 10:19:55 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F2dcf0b62aff4cd4c29b7b35589176ccb.jpg&hash=b986044a776375ef3c7a22ce30dc43c99ba9fdba)
Florida Osceola
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F7b0d27b9a7398a0a959e98701a11c65d.jpg&hash=8b2142d589c71e44ed00fd39de1e9087e2e25412)
Buddy's osceola
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F44cdb6ffe593c5a35cfb6679bc820563.jpg&hash=cd137fcb62ff5f27805c0269026b1731457fc795)
Buddy's eastern
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Fcf6412fbee4467c97fa24a88336147bb.jpg&hash=8ceb6f4361f338e73c5f2bb76b232a7338305122)
My rio
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Fc13de1a522e8d696d3a8abb9fffc8d12.jpg&hash=b03c95cfd632bb9f5ecf99deaa5299102b9e262c)
His rio
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Fb81ac326d865e4f438e70684bb29474b.jpg&hash=228efadcc30f671c0522016a05f6896bd294d189)
Our Merriams
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F2b89f5172497667be51f4740d66a1c09.jpg&hash=8a810ddff7aa4f529f33fc3ff16fec8fecc53f00)
Some random shots from the year
Cinco de mayo in KS packing the bird up to ship to taxi with the bartender
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F76f96f195c2ca4e4aced02357f6d477c.jpg&hash=c9d80677149fcd38cc52f6d0eef86db854a075fd)
The bottle of Wild Turkey rare breed that we sipped from each time we completed a leg of the slam
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Fd592a1f171f6591e65e698eba02dcf21.jpg&hash=7fe2293aea5f1a85073b53addd51c330f1d2524d)
My pants that never got washed during the season
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F83f6adf00bb814985da4c24571f32097.jpg&hash=9b7d53eae88b7c0ebccbc5ac3cab805b0a2a357f)
The last sunrise
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Fb8069616cf69a41a107b94b1a3a95e95.jpg&hash=cea20b02d0d8724d0a6c1c02945f52019f1a481f)
Platte river sunrise
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F01ecc9b8c9d8480342727afa2e428dbb.jpg&hash=2d6ad5b8f062321b557a30757814056e8f54669f)
A NE bird on a day I forgot my boots
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F34de3e8633b4a5a7937d93846471aed6.jpg&hash=7de8334e69946f8619db5e2fc953caea87c251d2)
SC river bottom
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F418a7c6d4b11c6a6d504e45db1099082.jpg&hash=d3729a16475b99e59964a23d267709c9c670f53c)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2Ff3ea3e865d99a5a18c83e9fca8962b48.jpg&hash=04dc7f3debb45f6c45f8e27eea87c60afcf03ef1)
And a place that sells all the necessities
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F02%2F21%2F445978504d39cff9884029362741d28f.jpg&hash=d64abcd857d2de1dc9c655d704dcf29a595b53f5)
Enjoy your season, carry a camera, and keep a journal
Post by: bearpaw on February 21, 2015, 01:54:42 PM
Post by: turkeydancer on February 23, 2015, 09:48:21 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on February 23, 2015, 12:32:05 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 17, 2015, 09:04:23 PM
Post by: jasnt on March 18, 2015, 07:07:24 AM
Post by: Wacenturion on March 18, 2015, 08:47:08 AM
Post by: kevinlisa06 on March 18, 2015, 08:47:57 PM
Post by: turkeydancer on March 19, 2015, 06:09:26 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 21, 2015, 04:24:09 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 21, 2015, 04:26:58 PM
Post by: kevinlisa06 on March 21, 2015, 05:46:50 PM
Post by: jasnt on March 21, 2015, 08:19:20 PM
Post by: trkykilr on March 22, 2015, 09:46:54 AM
Two big Osceola's down!
Atta boy. Enjoy the ride
Post by: Wacenturion on March 22, 2015, 09:47:04 AM
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on March 22, 2015, 10:03:48 AM
Post by: Jester052 on March 23, 2015, 06:29:22 PM
Post by: Jester052 on March 23, 2015, 09:42:32 PM
Post by: turkeydancer on March 24, 2015, 07:57:43 AM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on March 24, 2015, 08:30:08 AM
Post by: trkykilr on March 24, 2015, 05:31:22 PM
Good job :brew: Have to ask one question ..What's up with the flip flops and standing on the turkeys head :dunno: :chuckle:
Forgot my boots and it was 30 degrees
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 24, 2015, 06:56:57 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on March 24, 2015, 07:05:04 PM
Post by: jackelope on March 24, 2015, 07:45:11 PM
Post by: Limhangerslayer on March 24, 2015, 09:56:41 PM
Smile guys!! Congratulations. Great looking birds.I'm guessing jet lag and late night Florida hangovers :dunno: :chuckle: Nice birds congrats.
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 25, 2015, 09:34:10 AM
Post by: RadSav on March 25, 2015, 05:59:08 PM
Congratulations! :tup:
Post by: trkykilr on March 26, 2015, 02:21:03 AM
Post by: flcracker on March 26, 2015, 07:48:51 AM
Post by: bearpaw on March 26, 2015, 09:30:38 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 26, 2015, 01:13:12 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 26, 2015, 01:29:07 PM
The flock ended up flying down to our left. They flew directly in front of us, but landed out of sight. We cut aggresively, going back and forth between another hen to our right. This got the gobbler fired up, and we could tell he was coming our way. After about 20 minutes we spotted him moving in from the left. He ended up hanging up at 50 yards. At this point he put on a show. He strutted back and forth for a good 10 minutes. Finally, he committed and came strutting right up to the decoy. He walked right past the two hen decoys and straight to the Jake. He brushed up against it and glared down at it, ready to beat up the scoundrel. I never came him a chance to though. I took the 12 yard shot and he went down hard. It was an awesome hunt and I captured the whole thing on film. I couldn't have asked for a better hunt and am thrilled with my bird!!
My buddy took his bird the same day. His hunt was much more grueling. He sat in a blind in the fierce Florida heat and humidity from 6 am till 4:30 pm, when he finally got his bird. Talk about a trooper. His hunt is also filmed and I will post the videos when we return back home.
Meanwhile we are in North Florida now, trying to get one more Eastern. My buddy killed his Eastern last Evening. He set up on a field edge hoping to intercept the birds as they headed back to the roost. It worked perfectly. I did some light calling and brought in a group of three gobblers. Unfortunately, he shot the jake by mistake, but it was still a nice bird. I shot at and missed a big gobbler myself this morning. I had to turn ackwardly to shoot, and missed wide right. We've got three more days to hunt, so hopefully we can get it done!!
Post by: jasnt on March 26, 2015, 09:08:30 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 31, 2015, 12:17:05 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw)
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on March 31, 2015, 12:25:21 PM
Heres the videos of our hunt, both taken on Saturday the 21st. The first video is my hunt. You can see the birds fly down to the left at about the 1 minute mark. They flew down out of sight and I had thick brush to my left, so I had to leave the camera focused on the decoy. He shows up at the 17 minute mark. The other video is my buddys hunt, who shot his bird out of a ground blind at 4:30 pm.HELLOOOO...Awesome job !! How much did it cost for this hunt ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw)
Post by: jasnt on March 31, 2015, 01:58:35 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on March 31, 2015, 08:25:14 PM
2150 for the huntHeres the videos of our hunt, both taken on Saturday the 21st. The first video is my hunt. You can see the birds fly down to the left at about the 1 minute mark. They flew down out of sight and I had thick brush to my left, so I had to leave the camera focused on the decoy. He shows up at the 17 minute mark. The other video is my buddys hunt, who shot his bird out of a ground blind at 4:30 pm.HELLOOOO...Awesome job !! How much did it cost for this hunt ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=idng6W-JMSI)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UQ86vc-6nrw)
Post by: Jester052 on April 01, 2015, 06:16:49 PM
Post by: one more on April 05, 2015, 05:34:11 PM
Congratulations!!! Great Birds!!!
Post by: MerriamMagician on April 05, 2015, 09:32:46 PM
Meanwhile, my buddy went out with the other kid and had a big gobbler pitch down right in their lap. Unfortunately the kid struggled with a a shotgun much to big for him. It was resting on shooting sticks pointing the wrong direction, and with the bird right on top of them they were pinned down to try to readjust. Later that morning, he had another chance with a flock of jakes, but missed a couple of shots. He was pretty resilient though, and can't wait to go out for turkeys again!
Post by: MerriamMagician on April 22, 2015, 10:19:31 AM
Post by: HUNTaHOLIC5 on April 22, 2015, 10:24:55 AM
Post by: gunnarnewt on April 22, 2015, 10:34:12 AM
Post by: Gobble Doc on April 22, 2015, 10:39:30 AM
Post by: rosscrazyelk on April 22, 2015, 02:39:36 PM
Post by: Jester052 on April 22, 2015, 03:09:55 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on April 25, 2015, 12:46:29 PM
Post by: MerriamMagician on April 27, 2015, 08:33:27 AM
What guide did you hunt with in sc?
We never were in SC
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on April 27, 2015, 10:23:35 AM
Post by: MerriamMagician on May 04, 2015, 12:24:53 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on May 04, 2015, 01:22:19 PM
Post by: 270Shooter on May 04, 2015, 02:18:52 PM
Post by: Yelper Guy on May 04, 2015, 03:45:32 PM
Post by: Jester052 on May 04, 2015, 06:18:48 PM
Post by: jasnt on May 05, 2015, 09:22:26 PM