Osceola WMA romp and stomp
03-22-2017, 11:27 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 71
Osceola WMA romp and stomp
Got into the 'usual' spot at a romp and stomp, it was very still, very cool and we figured we'd run and gun a bit but would hold out in an area that always holds turkeys through at least an hour past sunrise.
About 45 min before sunrise a guy 300 or so yards away starts hooting terribly and gobbling at his own calls with a box call. About shooting hours another guy comes in pretty close to us. Flash lights at him, hoot, whist, cough, nothing. He sets up <100 yards from us and starts yelping at the fake gobbler. After 5 minutes or so of deliberation we hightail it. That whole situation is a new one to me.
Anyways, off to plan B, but have to divert b/c someone else decided it would be a good idea to set up on the main in/out walking road, had heard us coming, and started yelping. Not wanting to get shot, and to a lesser extent not wanting to be the one to (inevitably) ruin the other guy's setup (although I'm sure somebody had to), we beat through the jungle to an area I had luck at in the past and figured was devoid of pressure.
Set up a few past 9 (long walk), started 3 yelp sequences with a couple cuts, and at 9:30 I heard one waaay off w/ the use of walker game ear muffs (bud didn't hear that first gobble). Gave it a few minutes, yelped again, and he fired back closer (we both heard that one).
He came in right on a string, I figured my bud would have a slam dunk of a shot, but the bird skirted a bit and gave me a broadside window at ~38 yards after firing off at 60 and 45 yards (bud watched him gobble...it was close enough to have me shaking like a French soldier). He about puffed up to strut or gobble again, gave me a shot window, put his head up when I finalized my aim, and he went down stone cold.
Never fun getting jammed up on a hunt, but it worked out great and I got a better handle on new-ish ground. Had 3 more gobble in the area waaay out...may have to revisit that spot later in the season
About 45 min before sunrise a guy 300 or so yards away starts hooting terribly and gobbling at his own calls with a box call. About shooting hours another guy comes in pretty close to us. Flash lights at him, hoot, whist, cough, nothing. He sets up <100 yards from us and starts yelping at the fake gobbler. After 5 minutes or so of deliberation we hightail it. That whole situation is a new one to me.
Anyways, off to plan B, but have to divert b/c someone else decided it would be a good idea to set up on the main in/out walking road, had heard us coming, and started yelping. Not wanting to get shot, and to a lesser extent not wanting to be the one to (inevitably) ruin the other guy's setup (although I'm sure somebody had to), we beat through the jungle to an area I had luck at in the past and figured was devoid of pressure.
Set up a few past 9 (long walk), started 3 yelp sequences with a couple cuts, and at 9:30 I heard one waaay off w/ the use of walker game ear muffs (bud didn't hear that first gobble). Gave it a few minutes, yelped again, and he fired back closer (we both heard that one).
He came in right on a string, I figured my bud would have a slam dunk of a shot, but the bird skirted a bit and gave me a broadside window at ~38 yards after firing off at 60 and 45 yards (bud watched him gobble...it was close enough to have me shaking like a French soldier). He about puffed up to strut or gobble again, gave me a shot window, put his head up when I finalized my aim, and he went down stone cold.
Never fun getting jammed up on a hunt, but it worked out great and I got a better handle on new-ish ground. Had 3 more gobble in the area waaay out...may have to revisit that spot later in the season
Last edited by shemp; 03-22-2017 at 11:30 AM.
03-22-2017, 06:13 PM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 71
LOL, no, not usually; change out of the rubber boots after a hot walk out of the swamp. Pic was after visiting the check station. Wish we'd brought a camera or phone w/ us, it was pretty back there. Set up in wingman chairs on opposite ends of a deadfall cypress about 3 and half feet in diameter. Wild oranges all around, and some shorty swamp cabbages. But, I'll take what I can get
03-23-2017, 12:54 AM
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: lutz, Fl
Posts: 363
My hunting buddy always gives me a hard time about it, but I can not wait to get back to the truck and get the boots off and slide into some crocs.
Congrats on the bird. I think if you kill a bird on public land, you have really accomplished something.
Congrats on the bird. I think if you kill a bird on public land, you have really accomplished something.