Florida bound!

[birddogdad]

Well my season starts this week in Florida. Had a master call maker invite me down to his home for my first Osceola hunt. Some of you "die hard" turkey hunters know him Mr. Billy McCallister, The Jetmaster. You should check out his calls and his facebook page, Nationally awarded. He is a special guy! We had been chatting for a couple years back n forth. Red eye Thursday with area opening day Saturday morning. Have been prepping gear, making sure i have everything ready. I will post up my story after i return with pictures! Hopefully there will be some yont yont boom happenin!  IYKYK

[actionshooter]

That will be cool! Keep us posted!

[CamoDup]

Good luck! I'll be looking forward to seeing pictures

[Magnum_Willys]

Just got back from fishing the keys.  My boat guide was pumped up about going turkey hunting soon.  Seemed funny thinking about it in the florida keys in 75 degree sunshine. 

[Birdguy]

Best of luck on the hunt! Safe travels and looking forward to some pics 

[birddogdad]

UPDATE!
Got it done. Slam complete! Started red eye Thursday night to Orlando, arriving early Friday morning for opener Saturday. Have a great friend and master call maker Billy McCallister (Natural Addiction Calls) there to run me through the ropes. He had some family emergencies and we were frankly concerned that events were going to overcome the trip. He has had no time to get out and see what the birds were doing. So,
DAY 1 - Saturday morning we went in cold. Stone silent, not a peep, no signs in an area he has worked for years. He said, “past 15 seasons, we took a bird every opening day here”. Just my luck! Mr mojo has left the building…. He has quite a network of guides and friends and thru texting, this was happening all over. Tight lipped locked down birds. Also thru calls, he was concerned that breeding was on the back end. Saw early February heavy action all over there. But we knew that there would be some lovin going on still! Never heard a bird first day, the afternoon setup I was introduced to Billy’s wonderful nephew who loves to get out. We hit it off immediately and he was at our side for the rest of the hunting adventures.
DAY 2 – Billy’s nephew (Austin) wants to come out again. Great young man with a passion for hunting. A burn nurse by trade. He works with lots of land owners and has grown up 3 generations in the areas we were hunting. He offered up a “super secret” family owned tract that his grandpa purchased. Never killed a bird in this area but lots living there. We got in before first light, again no gobbles off roost, tight lipped, little breezy, rain in forecast for lunchtime. The barometer was against me! We decided to change tactics and just setup and light cluck to let wandering birds know were in area. First 2 hours, 2 lone hens came thru, looked to me like nesting birds feeding, no interest just letting us know they were not excited we were in their zip code. Next hour like a flash, 6 jakes full speed running in to the soft clucks, one looks like he will be a fine thick brush in the future, they stayed 5 minutes generally there and were off to the race! Still no tom, but I was encouraged over the traffic we were seeing. 10am- there is a strutter at 70 yards, full stealth to us, first was spittin and a drum over the wind in the trees. Of course, he hangs at that range and I proceed to have a coughin fit! Been hacking for a month and timing was absolutely perfect! He became alert but stayed in his zone, just out of the range I wanted to work in a bird. I am pretty sure I could have taken him but not what I wanted, still had days/time. In walks a hen… OH she is between him and me, come on stop and pull him in!!! Nope, never stopped walking, and she drew him away… close but not my time.  Rain starts…. We pull chalks in time to not get soaked… rest of day was a wet one… hour before roosting, It stopped and I went out but still no action, no noise, gobbles ect.. Austin decided to call out of work and put us back in the area we were working that gobbler on day 3…
DAY 3 – walking in to spot in dark, snap snap grunt growl! Quick with light! 5 paces a big bore hog not happy we startled him, quick! TSS from pocket to shotgun just in case.    We got big and a bit noisy and off he went, yea, heart is workin just fine now… Based on my Day 2 setup and hung bird, I reset to a tree 20 steps closer to his strut zone from day 2. We were still new in this area but made an adjustment. Day after storm, no clouds, softer breeze…. Gobble~! Another from different direction.! Roosted toms talking, this is a great change! 20 minutes, to ground, immediately can tell hen’d up and drifting away or held away by them. 2 hours, occasional courtesy gobbles but no interest. Lone hen walks by again… soft clucks, feeding is all were doing. Maybe every 8-10 minutes really being stingy with calling, just being happy and alone hen…gobbles end about 9 am, maybe 5 times from ground to 9 am we heard so they were not hot for sure. Again, here come the jakes! One walked within 6 paces of me behind the tree I was against. Don’t get busted! No putts!! Whew, off they go… 930 am, texting wife, whats that??? Motion to left, 3 toms together at 40 yds… gun in lap, slowly!! Don’t get busted! Twist left they see my movement, 2 front birds I can see beards yet, they are almost touching together. Back tom was walking 6 or so paces behind, there is a good beard! They are alert! 2 in front are nervous.. back hasn’t picked me up yet… do It now or they may bolt! Wads… boom! Rolled him… My crew cheers, as I was only one hunting this day. Get up and go get him to stop flopping dummy! This is your Osceola!  When I arrived at him I couldn’t believe what I had taken for a bird. An old soldier, battered, missing fan regrown from fights. 1.5 spurs! A double beard that made 14.5 “ total length. Billy said “I haven’t taken but one Osceola in my life that nice”. Truly blessed. I spent the next half hour right there just talking in this memory. 

[TurkeyTalker]

Beautiful bird, great story! Those are some hooks! 

[bearpaw]

nice, congrats 

[rainshadow1]

Limb hanger! Nice! Great story!

[birddogdad]

Beautiful bird, great story! Those are some hooks! 

high 70's bird... a real trophy

[wadu1]

Well, done nice writeup. Did you use Alaska or Delta? I'm thinking about hooking up with a buddy down in Florida next year if I get my knee replaced in time.

[birddogdad]

Well, done nice writeup. Did you use Alaska or Delta? I'm thinking about hooking up with a buddy down in Florida next year if I get my knee replaced in time.

alaska direct orlando  wife ruined me.. flew 1st class too!

[actionshooter]

 Thats very cool! Congrats!

[Birdguy]

Congratulations neighbor!! Saw the post of FB too. Great hunt, awesome bird. Well done on the SLAM!!

[tgomez]

Captain Hook, congratulations!