| Author |
Message |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 9:23 am: | |
I've kind of fell behind this week on my update. It's been a great first week having been in on kills or misses the first 5 days of the season. After my friend from SC killed the bird on Tuesday I took another good friend on Wednesday morning. I had to be at work at 8:00 for a meeting so I was pushing it. We setup in the direction a group of birds had taken the day before. It about 4 longbeards and a whole pile of hens. Well, we got setup and the gobbling started right where I had hoped. Soon the birds began flying down and they of course proceeded to go where we were setup the day before! I slipped over the edge of the ridge and spotted them crossing another smaller ridge. The main flock consisting of one big gobbler and the group hens was being followed by 3 more strutting longbeards and I thought I best chance was to pull one of the subordinate birds away. As soon as they went out of site over the lip of the ridge we made our move. We got right below the lip that they went over and I gave a really loud aggressive yelp and a bird cut me off. Another yelp and silence. 1 minute, another yelp and he nearly blew our hats off. Just seconds later we could hear the bird spitting and drumming and then walking in the leaves. All of a sudden there he was at 35 yards. I said just let him come and he strolled right in in full strut to 25 yards and that where he bit the dust. 20 lbs, 10-1/4" beard, and 1-3/16" spurs. It was a great hunt...
The next morning I went with another good friend and setup with him on a few birds that he had roosted the night before. Sure enough the birds started gobbling and we were setup perfect. Finally they flew down and of course, they had hens with them. We spotted the birds about 80 yards away in full strut and coming our way. They crossed a little depression in front of us and went out of site. Then we look back to where they had been and there stood 2 more gobblers in full strut. By doing some soft purrs, yelps, and clucks, along with scratching in the leaves we pulled the closest birds right up to us and they came over the rise at 20 yards- the first bird being in full strut and the second bird looking for the hen. My buddy made a great shot at 23 steps and the party was over. 16 lbs, 10-1/4" beard, and 3/4" spurs... a nice 2 year old. It was an awesome hunt...
Pictures of these birds will be up when I get the roll developed.
Amy was the shooter on Friday and Saturday and they were pretty much carbon copies of each other. The hens finally won a couple battles. Both mornings we had a pair of gobblers on the roost and we thought we were in perfect position until the hens started up and came right to the gobblers and they promptly shut-up. We have both pairs of gobblers book-marked for later in the season!
This morning (Monday) it was pouring rain and we caught up on some well needed sleep. We'll be back after them tomorrow to try and get Amy a bird.
It has been an incredible first week... Great hunting, great friends... |
GN
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 11:20 am: | |
All that souting pays off in the long run...way to go. |
HODY
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 12:54 pm: | |
Sounds like you are having too much fun...wait a minute that is not possible, so keep up the good work. Amy I hope you kill a hog even bigger than Knight's so you can win the contest. I have jinxed myself by entering anyways!!! |
VA Hen
| | Posted on Monday, April 22, 2002 - 1:48 pm: | |
Hody,
Thanks Hody! I normally don't kill my bird until the end of April/beginning of May (just because I can't hunt alot before work)...so I'm not out of the "hunt" yet, just getting started. :o)
All you have to do is not think about the contest and just go out and have fun! That's the name of the game anyway!
Do we have pictures of Knight's bird...are you sure he wasn't solid white and in a fence. hehehe just kidding Max!!!
Amy |
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