Post by: KimberRich on April 19, 2010, 09:07:28 PM
Morning comes and we're set up just up the hill from where the birds were roosted. 5:30am: They are gobbling and working their way through the timber.. But not towards us. Almost every time we call they gobble back but slowly are fading away onto property we don't have permission to hunt. After hiking around and jumping some birds and setting up in a great spot and seeing a couple hens we decided to call it a morning. 3pm: As we are driving back up the road to the property and I thought I heard a Gobble right in the draw next to the road.. We stop and bail out and listen.. Sure enough there are birds close by. We grab our guns and take off after them but they wont come to a call and are working away from us so we decide to return to the truck and get all our gear and head out. We hike in the direction that we last heard the birds and to our surprise they had circled below us and were on the same ridge as us. We closed the distance to about 75 yards and had no time to put out decoys so I got settled against a tree and Birdguy did the same to my right. I made a couple light clucks and they gobbled right over the rise in front of us!! They appeared slowly feeding up the hill at 35 yards.. Birdguy wispered there were 3 legal birds that he could see. We were going to try and get 2 birds at once but there were to many trees and rocks and such so I told him to take the shot if he had a good one. BANG! He shot and the birds scrambled. One trotted through an opening and I shot and knocked it down and then he shot again and we had a Triple!!! :IBCOOL: 1 Tom, 2 Jakes.
We high five and take a few pictures and hike back to the truck. As soon as we got to the truck we hear a Gobble up in the timber above us a couple hundred yards. I grab my stuff and take off circling below them as I think they are working down hill. I called and they gobbled about 8 times and each time I closed the distance a little more.. I got to within about 75 yards of them and still couldn't see them but they had shut up and I couldn't pinpoint their location. Being the great hunting partner he is, Birdguy had great timing and let out a call a couple hundred yards below me and they sounded off. I crawled on my hands an knees the last 40 yards behind the only hump of dirt between me and them. Slowly peering over it from my knees I saw 2 Toms and 1 Jake standing looking in my direction at about 25 yards so I took the safety off and slowly raised the gun and BANG! Bird down and we were tagged out!!
So it was a short season but a great one! Not a bad view from Turkey camp Either!!
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 19, 2010, 09:19:12 PM
Post by: KimberRich on April 19, 2010, 09:26:34 PM
great job guys, good shooting. by the fans i would say you have 3 toms 1 jake from what i see in the fans.
Thanks! It's hard to tell from the pictures but the bird on the far right in the picture of all 4 birds is a Jake. Short beard about 3 inches and small spurs about 1/2".. But his fan looks to almost be a Tom. Not sure what qualifies as a "Super Jake"??
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 19, 2010, 09:48:25 PM
Post by: h2ofowlr on April 19, 2010, 09:56:49 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on April 19, 2010, 09:58:52 PM
I was just proud I had em yellin back at me this weekend!
Post by: Birdguy on April 19, 2010, 10:01:33 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on April 19, 2010, 10:12:34 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 19, 2010, 10:15:34 PM
Post by: rougheye on April 19, 2010, 10:19:01 PM
Post by: Birdguy on April 19, 2010, 10:27:03 PM
Post by: rougheye on April 19, 2010, 10:33:12 PM
Post by: Birdguy on April 20, 2010, 05:43:32 PM
Post by: fishunt247 on April 21, 2010, 09:11:38 AM
Post by: LongTatLaw on April 22, 2010, 08:22:46 PM
I believe I now share an office with ur cousin Rob! Good kid!
Post by: turkeydancer on April 22, 2010, 08:25:47 PM
I called 3 toms in for my friend Jeff Mayor to 10 yards and he got a 19-1/2 lb tom (Tacoma News Tribune Adventure writer - see Sundays addition for the story), then I took a tom the same size 6am Saturday morning (my only day to hunt without a rookie with me). I passed on 7 Jakes at 10 yards that afternoo. Another buddy took a Jake opening morning. Had numerous other great encounters with up to 6 toms, but a garbage truck .. coyote ... bobcat ... and some mistakes by my 2nd rookie meant no more birds in coolers. Pictures later ...
Post by: Birdguy on April 22, 2010, 08:36:10 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on April 22, 2010, 08:57:00 PM
I blame you!! :P
Im gonna try to get him after an elk this fall...right after I secure mine ;)
wer will be battle buddies for a while..
any way
congrats on the birds...Im very jealous!
dave
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on April 22, 2010, 10:00:37 PM
Post by: KimberRich on April 23, 2010, 08:39:23 AM
Congrads my good friends .... I know what scared the heck out of you the most was knowing you were getting a "Dancer" hug when you showed up at our camp :yike: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: ...
I called 3 toms in for my friend Jeff Mayor to 10 yards and he got a 19-1/2 lb tom (Tacoma News Tribune Adventure writer - see Sundays addition for the story), then I took a tom the same size 6am Saturday morning (my only day to hunt without a rookie with me). I passed on 7 Jakes at 10 yards that afternoo. Another buddy took a Jake opening morning. Had numerous other great encounters with up to 6 toms, but a garbage truck .. coyote ... bobcat ... and some mistakes by my 2nd rookie meant no more birds in coolers. Pictures later ...
Thanks for the update TD and we've come up with a return favor for your "Dancer" hugs.. If we run into you this fall we may have to implement it. You could start your own thread with all your info maybe?? :dunno: I'm sure everyone on here would like to hear about your season and see pics. I'm seriously hoping your pal Jeff writes you up as the "Mary Poppins" of Turkey hunting!! Would be the cherry on top for my season!! :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: turkeydancer on April 24, 2010, 04:30:24 PM
By the way, no reach arounds or kisses on the lips ....
:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: