Congrats WB on SUCCESS!!!

Congratulations to all

Good job sticking with them. 8 hunts isn't a bad thing. Just makes it better when it all comes together

8 hunts where there should’ve been a dead bird on 6 of them really tries one patience, lol!!!

This is the same spot Zac killed his turkey. We were wondering if his was the strutter that likes to hit that spot…guess it wasn’t because these pics came in this morning.

That rascal likes that spot!!!

I think it’s because he can be seen from quite a distance from multiple directions. The next pic after was a hen coming in and no more pics, lol. We first spotted him from that burn in the background from the tree line (creek).

Was out putting in some sets earlier on tracks I found way off the beaten path and on the way out spotted these guys. I was driving and just turned the truck off and started videoing. Along with these two there was one to my right up a hill in a burn.
And this doesn’t count the six others I saw up at the front of the property.

Does putting out decoys the evening before common there? I always thought that the birds would ignore them in the morning if they inspected them in the evening. I always fumble around in the dark of predawn.

I’d imagine putting a decoy out here and leaving it overnight would have them messed up from predators. I’m almost tempted to try it and put a camera on it just to see what happens.

Nice birds seeing a lot of Tom’s this year.

Well the manager just called and asked when I was gonna kill a turkey. I told him I thought the rules were three gobblers off the property and I’d given mine up for Zac (my son) and he said “Nah, Zac got “his” bird, now you need to get yours. You do too much work out here to not take a bird and we appreciate it.”
Looks like I’ll hopefully have one more bird to post this coming weekend.

Ok, so I decided to go try and kill me one this morning.
I was hearing birds already walking in and was able to set up fairly close to a gobbler on the roost .



I gave a few soft calls to let him know where I was and waited. Ole boy flew down and never made another peep. He eventually showed up, but was looking instead of giving me a show. He crossed the creek and was followed by a jake. The gobbler went West as did the jake. But there was still a possibility I’d get what I came for because two birds were still gobbling across the creek in the clearcut.

I moved from my initial set up and let out a few calls to make sure the birds, still a couple hundred yards away, heard me. It didn’t take long and I see a strutter slowly heading my direction, or so I thought.

What I didn’t see was 2 hens he was making a beeline for. I gave a couple soft calls and saw a hens head raise and look my direction as he gobbled. With that gobble he had fulfilled his obligation of “the game” now I just need him to come into range.

My setup wasn’t bad, but there’s only so much hiding in a burn. I felt confident had it just been a gobbler, but now I have 2 hens that are heading straight for me with him strutting behind about 50 yards. As the hen flew across the creek all I could do is tilt my head down hoping the brim of the hat was enough to cover what part of my face the mask didn’t. Apparently it worked cause she went straight to her feeding.

One down and one to go. This next hen gets to the edge and decides to work her way along the bank instead of flying across. Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing except ole boy wasn’t gonna come any closer if she did that. I cut my eyes to the right and could see that hen and worked on off so I gave another SOFT call and turned the hen around and knew I’d either really screwed up or sealed the deal. She turned around and the gobbler broke strut and started in!

Now my only dilemma is trying to shoot him and not hit her, lol. The entire time I’m waiting for separation I’m thinking. “Are you kidding me!!!” It finally happened as he stopped to strut again. She kept moving and as soon as I got a few yards between them I gave a little cluck and he raised his head and died right there.

This turkey season was great for us all. I’m gonna attempt a WMA a few times next week but don’t have high hopes. Public land numbers are horrible, but we will see. I really just want to scout some because they’re going to open it up for coyotes as soon as turkey season ends.

Great story WB. Congrats on the gobbler.

You should write for a hunting magazine...

I agree great story

Hey guys that have way more knowledge than I…when you see turkeys in grass/weeds and it appears they’re plucking the ends off the grass/weeds or either pecking something off them, what is it? My mind first thinks of ticks, but that’s a heap of ticks if that was it. Then I thought dew maybe, but there’s plenty of water everywhere. Then again it could be just the tips they’re eating.
Any ideas?

Fairly confident they’re picking seed heads. Been involved with 4 kills this year and each bird was full of weed or grass seed. Seen a few beetles and lady bugs. I haven’t really noticed birds ‘bugging’ yet because our temps have still been relatively cool for this time of year. In the 80s next week. If we get a grasshopper hatch, every unsprayed green field should be hot.

If you’re seeing seeds on the end of what they’re picking Wanna Be, that would be my best guess.