| Author |
Message |
Tburt
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 9:02 am: | |
I went to West Virginia Friday evening after work and had a super time. The whole hunt was incredible. On my hike into the woods friday night that took me into the mountain a couple miles, the song dogs kept breaking the silence. I mean, the coyotes were going nuts. I heard at least 2-3 packs sounding off that night. They woke me up 3 or 4 times that night. I'd be telling a lie, if I said I wasn't sleeping with my shotgun like a hug pillow that night by myself on that mountain!!
In the morning I got a bird to sound off first thing with an owl hoot, but it didn't work out, he only gobbled 2 more times and I sat and waited for him for almost 1.5 hrs. Through the day I work miles of beautiful mountain and didn't hear a thing, but saw some decent sign, I knew they were in the area. I got to about the extent of hiking that I was willing to do, knowing I still had to make it back to my camp sight and then pack out to my truck from there, so I decided to use the only call I hadn't all day, my antique Lynch box, and sure enough-an ole boy fired up 10:30ish. He continued to gobble everytime I yelped with that box, so I was moving to get into position, and I was positive this gobbler was off on a finger ridge to the right, when as I was moving down the main mtn, I spooked a turkey off to the left of the ridge top, I never saw him initially, but I saw him glide to the next ridge. I was shocked. Where in the heck did that joker come from? But anyway, I waited a minute, then let out a series of yelps again with that box, and gobbleeeeee-BUT it came from the bird that just flew away-and not from the direction I thought that my gobbler was working from. Turns out that bird could throw his gobbles with the best of them, and the bird I spooked HAD to of been the bird I initially heard.
Well- I put it in high gear and bolted across that mountain in no time to get on that ridge to the left. The woods over here were real open and mature, I didn't feel confident moving through them, so I set up about 150-200 yards from the general area I felt the bird was, and with no time, he was gobbling again and covering ground towards me! I had him spitting and he worked up towards me and all I could see was his head pop up now and then as he was feeding up the slope, when finally he telescoped really high-and I let him have it!! Rolled him at 28 yards! Time: 10:57. Crazy! Talk about fortunate!
9 3/4 beard, 1" spur and 15/16" spur, no clue how heavy (felt like 80 lbs by the time I packed out-towards the end, I actually strapped him down to my frame pack). Love the Mountains though.
Well, I am done hunting. Other plans won't allow any more trips to WV or PA. Sure has been great, I'll post some pics once I get them developed. I am in the dark ages and do not have a digital camera.....yet.
Be safe and good luck. |
gn
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 9:16 am: | |
ANybody who works this hard to get a mtn bird deserves all the credit in the world and you should be very proud of yourself for the effort and the results...take advantage of the young legs my friend....it ain't going to be the same in thiRty years as your legs. lungs, etc may not allow you to put yourself in a position to take advantage of the opportunities a gobbling bird"on the next ridge" can offer you. well done on this one. |
WVBOY
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 10:04 am: | |
Awesome .. those mountain birds are tough and more rewarding.. Congrats..
RB |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
Username: Vaturkey
Registered: 8-2000
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 10:47 am: | |
Congrats man... you definately earned that one! |
HODY
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 11:09 am: | |
Great hunt. Todd you have had an awesome season. I hope you did not use up all of your mojo this year..ha ha |
knight_va
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 12:45 pm: | |
U ARE THE MAN... its your year!!..CONGRADS!!
Max |
Tburt
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 3:26 pm: | |
Max-I wouldn't say all that, I have been EXTREMELY fortunate.
GN-I will heed your advice.
Thanks fellas, and keep after'em. Best of luck and continued success. |
Big Bird
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 6:04 pm: | |
Way to go Tburt! |
Stranger
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 6:12 pm: | |
Tburt... Great season. Like they all said you earned that one for sure.
Doug |
FlatLand Gobbler
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 7:24 pm: | |
Cool Beans, way to go dude!
Ron |
Bird Dog
| | Posted on Monday, May 10, 2004 - 9:39 pm: | |
Way to go! |
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