I flew in Wednesday night, and we were planning an all day scout on Thursday, but about 8am they got hit with a major storm driving us out of the land. It absolutely poured all day. Good thing was my 3 day hunt Friday-Sunday was beautiful weather.

Great birds. Good luck to the rest of your hunts.

Thanks for the nice comments. I had the fortunate opportunity to be invited to hunt with one of the top Turkey hunters in Florida, who put me up, and scouted his butt off before I got there to set me up on birds. He's also a top caller, and should be in contests. All it cost me was plane fare and a hunting license. :)Next hunt in Kansas I'm actually hunting with a NWTF competitive caller who won his state open calling contest, and finished 8th on the hooter in nationals. I don't think I'm calling this hunt either. However, I'm guiding on this one, so if we don't get into birds, it's my responsibility.

Ok, Who's next!!!????? Kellyguinn, Will you be gettin after em soon? I see your season opened today. You, Mottz, and Mudchicken are up to bat! Go get em guys! Best of luck to all of ya!!

Got my sticker, and thanks for the nice comments with it. I appreciate the job you are doing as Captain on this team. Keep up the good work.

I'm gonna give it a shot at some public land about 45min from the house tomorow. Never hunted turkey there but a buddy has seen em there. My best shot will be next weekend, I have a few areas marked out again on public but I have seen tons of out there. As long as they havn't been pushed to hard and luck is on my side it ought to be all good. It will be a lot of fun either way though..

Thanks Jay. Well did a lot of driving today, checked a lot of areas where i always see birds and sign. I found absolutely nothing!!! Was thinking just the late start to spring was keeping them hidden, but now really starting to think that they just aren't there. Every one i talk to in the area is seeing hardly anything. It's been getting harder every year and this is looking to be the worste yet. I have my one spot where i put my trail cam, which i'll be checking tomorrow and a spot about an hour and a half away that i haven't checked yet. Those 2 spots are lookin to be my only hope right now. But eaven with the grim outlook I can't wait for the season! Only 11 more days!!!!! Gotta feeling the wife will really be ticked at me by the end of this one! I will spend every second I possibley can chasin em down!!

Sounds good man!!! Give em hell and good luck!!

No luck this morning. I did have a hen fly in to the decoys first thing. After that the only thing I called in was other hunters. :s6:
I did kick another hen up on the way out but that was it. 90 degrees is a bit too hot for me but i guess it could be worse.

well its been a few rough days with only hens comming in they brought a jake but he never got in range. if i dont post for a week or so its cause a death in family and i had to travel to illionis for the funeral. if can find the funds to get there .good luck team and hope my next post is big bird down

Sorry to hear that mud! Thats definately something no one looks forward to. I'm sure everyone here will be awaiting your return.

Keep at em kelly. At least you're calling something in. Has to be kind of amusing though when your calling fools other hunters. Last year my calling brought in coyotes.:confused0024: I got one coyote but all the coyote activity really decreased my sightings of birds.

J76, got the sticker today and I have to agree that you're doing a great job as captain. Getting anxious for you to get out there and get us a bird. Theres alot that can happen in 11 days.

I'll be heading out sometime this weekend. Its the last weekend of bow only before shotgun season opens up. Hoping I get a shot with the bow but if not then I'm putting a gun in my hand so I can run those birds down.

Sorry about your loss Mud, Have a safe trip.

Keep at em Kelly you'll make somethin happen sooner or later

Thanks for the comments Mottz, I'm getting pretty anxious myself! Got out early this morn to look and listen, Didn't hear any but jumped a hen while checking my cam at one of my spots (no pics tho). Left there and checked another, just as i went to drive away spotted a group of 7 hens step out into the feild wich REALLY got me excited! THought it was odd they didn't have a tom with them, but a group that size has to pick up a tom befor too long i'd think. Then on the way home I actually seen my first Gobblers of 2011!!!!!! 3 struttin toms and 6 or 7 hens in a guys backyard. Of course no where near where i can hunt but was still nice to finally see some! Also got word that the spot i shot my bird last yr has turkeys runnin around, its close to 2 hrs away so haven't looked at it yet and still no for sure if i'll get permission to hunt it but don't think it will be a prob. So things are starting to look a little better and 70 with rain possible tomorrow so hopefully things keep lookin better!! Good luck to those gettin out this weekend!

ty all and i will do what i can not looking good on getting to illionis for the funeral.so i will dedicate next hunt to mom and unkle frank.the least i can do right now

I'm sure they would like that Mud. Go get em!

Went out this A.M. and got setup and within 10 minutes there was gobbling in the trees not even 100 yards away. I thought I was in the money. Heard them all pitch down and I started calling. They'd answer every call I threw at them but I could not get them to come out of the draw. They even started spreading out from what I could hear but still stayed in the bottom. Had 1 deer come into my decoys and started stomping and snorting so I had to stick my head out of the blind to get it to leave. Then another deer came in and did the same thing. Gobbling stopped after that so I had to figure a plan B.

Decided to do a stalk with the bow down into the bottoms. Did a little calling and the gobbling started again. Seen a BIG bird fanned out. The beard was dragging on the ground. Got to within 50 yards of him. Just like that I see 20 deer take of running. Look back and the boy was gone. Decided to give it up and go hang some cameras. Next week I'm gonna have the gun in hand and ready for some redemption!

Good scout trip. Shotgun season try to set up somewhere in that draw before daylight, and they should be in your lap on flydown.

I think I need to flip a 3 sided coin to decide. Sit east, west or in the bottom because they do the opposite of what I think. Might just have to round up a posse and surround them:s2:.

Sounds like it was a close one Mottz!! Must have been exciting anyways! Thats the next best thing to actually nailin one! I'm soooooo ready!!!!!!!

Hang in there guys, they'll come around.

Getting closer here. Will be out this weeked calling for a buddy. My season opens next week. Good Luck everyone.

I know it does't help us out, but DTC Jr killed a super nice 2 yr old Saturday morning of MO youth season. He weighed 24 1/2 lbs, 10 3/8" beard, and 3/4" spurs. The pic is on his team page.

Congrats to Jr. DTC!!!!!! Thats a fine lookin bird!!! Well looks like a lot of us will be hittin the woods next Monday, cant wait!!!! Picked up a brand new spot last night at Wal-Marts :s2: :s2:. Guess that store is good for somethin after all!! Ran into a couple I know there, they live about 30 min south of me and have 80 acres. Say they have seen some toms, never been there so don't know anything about the prop and gonna have a hard time gettin there to check it out in the next week but will try. So I figure by mid next week TEAM 10 is gonna be puttin a serious hurtin on the competition!!! :action-smiley-099::fighting0007:Lets get it on guys!! Good Luck everyone!!!

Tell Jr. nice job from last years teammate! Now we need to see if the ole man can still show Jr. up:s2: Good luck to you also zubba and j. I'd hate to be waiting while seeing everyone else putting birds down. Make it count when you guys are out there. And I'll try to take my own advice there:s2:

A week from today starts Michigans season, and ill finally be able to contribute (hopefully). Wont make it out opening day, gotta work, but ill be out the next 2.

Good luck to those who are hunting right now.

Good Luck kds!!! Hope to hear a good story from ya! I was just noticing, that as of now, our team is 2nd in replies. So that means we are doing an awesome job of BS'n! Lets not only win this contest, but lets win with the most replies. Anyone up for it?

I'm actually a bit nervous about my Kansas hunt. I'm doing the setup/guide for a Public land video hunt, and a guy is coming from Minneapolis to do the video. He video taped last weekend in Wisconsin for a youth hunt, and the 2 boys doubled on Jakes for their first birds. Pretty cool. I'm going to leave Thursday night, and be in position Friday morning to try and locate roosts by the gobbling. Then I'll move into position to glass flydown, and pattern the birds on where they are going after flydown. If it looks like the place, I'll pick the spot where we'll setup Saturday morning. Then spend the rest of the day checken out 2 other Public spots I know for Turkeys, and throw in a little Morel hunting. Than I'll be back to where I'm hunting to spend the night in my SUV, so no other hunters can beat me to the place Saturday morning. Then the other guy will arrive that morning early enough to get setup before light, I hope. He's cutting it tight for time being he's leaving right from work.

Sounds like you're going to be busy Iowa. And I hope you guys have your watches synchronized cause it sounds like time may be a factor. Good luck to ya!

He's cutting it tight for time getting there, but it's easy to find, and we have each others cells. My main concern, as it is with Public, is other hunters, but hopefully having my vehicle there will discourage encroachment. That's why I get there the night before on Public, so no one can beat me in. I actually like getting up with no drive, and where I'm hunting. Miss my morning coffee, which is the only negative. I do see they are suppose to get snow/sleet, and 32 degrees Friday which will make it a bit cold in the SUV, but then 50's Friday and Saturday.

Good luck Kds!

Jaybird, don't doubt yourself, you'll get the job done i'm sure of it!

I agree Mottz we got a good group of Bs'er here! This is my third yr in this contest and this yr has by far the largest amount of teammates posting up on a regular basis. I wanna thank you all for that, makes this a whole lot more fun that way!

Less than a week to go! Fri morn i'll be dropping off my 3 yr old downstate at my parents for the week, spending the night and heading back Sat morn with my uncle, signman53 following me back up. The wife and my 4 yr old are gonna stay at her parents for a few days next week also. So when i get home Sat, it will be nothing but turkeys for the next 8 days straight! Gonna have to scout hard Sat and Sun, this is the first yr in i don't know how long seasons gotten this close without me knowing exactly where i'm gonna be set up at for the opener! Really want to try and get down to this new spot i got tonite or tomorrow nite and give it a look at least to get a lay of the land. Also if i can drag my 3 yr old away from the tv :eek2: gonna head out in a couple hrs to check one of my trail cams, somethin gotta show up on em soon!!

Just checking in. Good luck to everyone chasing birds the next couple days.

I don't mind the wait Mottz. I'll be bird hunting from April 23rd until May 15...so I will have a solid 3 weeks to be out there plus a 4th week calling for my buddy.

Good luck everyone.

Im up for it Mottz!

i will be out at the 3 bird incident spot in am hope have a repeate of happinings up till shot gl team and team ten is gona take top spot in all catigories lol

Make it happen Mud!! Good Luck!

Good Luck Mud!!

I know we are all in the turkey frenzy right now but I'm gonna change it up a little here. I wanna hear your most memorable hunt. ANy species, maybe not you but a child or family member. Just trying to see whats going on in everyones best memories. Heres mine so far.

Opening day of rifle season, bow was unproductive, last year. All my buddies had the good spots. So I sat by myself all morning in a draw that I have harvested a couple small bucks. Wasn't seeing anything. Broke off about 11 to get a better gameplan and everyone else seen alot of deer and I had seen 1 doe. I went back to the same draw only on a different side and found a tree that I could climb up in and just sit. It was overlooking the draw and the wind was blowing right in my face. I decided to break all the rules. Take a 10 min nap, have a smoke and look around and then repeat. After an hour or so, I seen some hunters to the land directly east of me starting to walk into a known bedding area. So I figured I'd grab my gun just in case they'd spook something my way. For some reason I looked in front of me and a buck was walking towards the bedding area only 15 yards away. I seen it was a good buck and I quickly picked up my gun and as he walked behind a lone evergreen tree, I raised and put my scope to about the height and once he stepped out I shot. It was a very unclear view in the scope since he was so close. ANd I must of shot just a tad early because I got him in the base of the neck and dropped him. As he laid there I seen 4 antlers so I figured a 4x4. But once I got out of the tree I seen a 5th. I was so pumped. This is my best deer by far (129") and it was great to finally be the guy who out does his buddies. I finally had the better spot. And heres a pic of me and my not so sure about a dead deer son.

Nice Lookin buck Mottz!

Hard to narrow it down, so many awsome memories to choose from. But one of my top 3 has to be from about 5 or 6 years ago. A freind of mine's boy wanted to go turkey hunting, his dad had never done it befor so they asked me to go with them. When the time finally came there was a small feild next to my freinds dad's house, the boys granpa that all of the sudden over the last couple days had a single tom roosting on the back edge of it. Think at the time i had only killed maybe one or two turkeys myself and had never set up on a roosting bird. We put him to bed, new where he was and sat up the next morn about 250 yrds away from him. All i had at the time was a cheap box call, when daylight broke i started calling, I am by no means eaven a moderately skilled caller but MAN!! i had him on a string as soon as he hit the ground! I'm sure the fact he was without hens help...alot!! But was still awsome. I had placed a coupe dekes off to our right and his dad was set up about ten yards to our left. The tom came in slightly to the left of us, got about 60 yrds away, spotted the dekes and angled to his left cutting across right in front of us, PERFECT!! I had the boy setting pretty much right in my lap and as the tom approached i could hear the excitement in his breathing, hard to beleive i could here it over my own heart pounding!! He was shooting some old pile of a bolt action 20 ga. looked like it came from a garage sale, bird got about 25 yrds directly in front of us and i told him to take him. BOOM! bird went straight up in the air and came down runnin curving around to our right headed for the woods in behind us. I look down and the kids gun is jammed! His dad had a gun, so i figured 2 guns is plenty and had left mine in the truck, and heading where he was we were in between the bird and his dad so he had no shot. All i could think is we gotta get this bird!! So i jumped up and ran after him. Luckily right at the edge of the woods was an old fence with a pieace of boken wire hangin off one of the posts, the bird ran right into it and got a little hung up in it allowing me to get right up on him. He got loose of it and into the woods we went! Now this is a really thick section of woods, i'm about 220 and smoke 2 packs of Marlboros a day!, Needless to say eaven a wounded turkey is not an easy thing for me to be goin after! I just put my arms in front of my face and started plowin thru hopin i didn't hit anything more solid than me!
I suddenly had this feeling of what are you doing you idiot!! yer gonna kill yerself runnin in here like this!! about that time my legs basically said, nope thats it, we're done and just stop working. I fell forward and slammed into a tree, which was the only thing that kept me on my feet. I stood there crouched over with my hands on my knees suckin some serious wind, thinkin oh yeah i'm about to have a heartattack and devistated that the bird got away from me. After about 30 sec i finally had the energy to lift my head and about 2 feet in front of me stood the turkey!! Mouth hangin open suckin wind the same as me! I Thought oh $#*% , now what do i do? I literally didn't think i had the energy to fall forward and grab for him! My freind finally caught up to us and was able to finish him off. Now that was a wild hunt!! Now this ole bird had lead a rough life! no idea about his weight but was missin tail feathers, both spurs were busted off and the weirdest thing was where his beard should have been was nothing but about a 3 in. circle of bare skin! No feathers and no sign of where a beard eaven would have been!! But eaven still the boy was beamin with his first turkey in hand! Thats gonna be a hard memory to beat!

Later guys. Good luck to everyone going hunting. There's a couple of Gobblers waiting to die in Kansas, and hope to help out the team. Will be back late Monday. Jay

Good luck Jay!! Can't wait to hear how it goes!!!

I got the go ahead from work to take off this weekend so I will be headed to West Oklahoma to try my luck. I'm headed out after work tomorrow so I should be there right before dark. With any luck I'll get it done this year!!!


Good luck to ya Jay

Great story j! How many times did you have to run that hunt through you're mind before you figured out exactly how things went? I know when adrenaline kicks in its hard to remember how things took place. Thats a great story and a great 1st bird for him!

Good luck Iowa!

Good luck kelly! Hope to hear some good success stories from you guys!

[quote=Mottz;3798342]Great story j! How many times did you have to run that hunt through you're mind before you figured out exactly how things went?

Luckily I had my buddy and his kid to help me peice it together when it was all over! I can remember plowin thru the woods chasin that stupid thing like it was yesterday!!

Checked out my new huntin spot tonite. What a beautiful piece of property!! It's 80acres, has about a 15 acre feild, high rolling oaks and swamp all on it. Jumped 3 jakes when i started out into the feild and the one side has a nice oak ridge that leads down to the edge of the property with about a 20-30 acre plowed feild across the line, seen 4 birds across it at about 400 yards, and could tell one was a tom. Theres a pretty good size area on the side of the ridge comin out of that feild that is scratched up pretty good and looks like it would be the best place to set up. Gonna check it out a little better this weekend but right now looks like the place to be opening day. Also have a diff piece of prop, 120 acres where i found a spot where a tom has been workin that i'll check again tomorrow, hopin i got him figured out! There's 3 of us huntin this yr and really want to see all 3 tags filled.

Good luck Kelly! Punch a big one for us!!

Sounds like a pretty cool place with alot of potential. Hope it pays off for ya j!

So whos the next volunteer for tellin a memorable story?