superstrutter

Today was my opener in Louisiana. Started out early hoping to hear gobbles so I could set up. I didn't roost a bird yesterday evening. When daylight came and zero gobbles, I started to worry a little. I moved around and called til about 10:00 with no luck. Not a peep. I went to get an early lunch at 10:30 so I could get back in the woods before noon. I got back at 11:30. I sat down and did a few series of calls, nada. I then set up about 12:15 on the edge of a fresh cutover where it meets a three year old cutover. I'm sitting on the woodline. I go here on a hunch thinking that some hens are nesting in the 3 yr. old cutover. I'm hoping the gobblers are nearby. I start a series of yelps, nothing. About 15 minutes later I here something running through the thick cutover. At first I thought it was a deer, but to my surprise it was two longbeards coming to investigate my calling.They never gobbled, so they kind of took me by surprise. Needless to say my gun wasn't up and ready. When they busted out of the thick cutover into the fresh cutover, they saw me. Fortunately I was only about 25 yards from where they came out. When they turned to go back in the thick cutover I threw my gun up and took the lead bird. He was actually the larger of the two. Not exactly the way I had planned it this morning, but I'll definately take any oppotunity I can get. He was a nice 3 year old bird. He weighed 19 lbs. 10 oz., had a 10 inch beard, and one spur was an inch and the other just under an inch. He officially scores 58.375.

doetrain

Sweet,even if it was from the hip so to speak. Bottom line is you got a bird in the bag and thats what we are about as hunters.

Arrowmaster

Heres my Osceola I shot on March 23rd. 18lbs, 1 1/14 in spur, 1 5/16 in spur, 9 3/4 in beard. Sorry about the quality of the picture.

dog1

Alright Arrow, it's on. Got my 1st bird for this year this morning. 19.5 lbs, Main beard-11 1/2 in., 2nd beard-4.0 inches, 3rd beard-2.5 inches, RS-3/4 inches, LS-7/8 inches.

JW! has the pics if he'll post them for me.

Now what you gonna do?????????????

dog1

dog1

Got another bird this morning. JW! has the stats and they are written down where I clean game animals and fish, so I think the following is correct.

Stats: 19 1/4 lb., 1st beard-11 & 3/8 in., 2nd beard-11.0 in., RS-1.0 inch, LS-3/4 inch (part was broken off would probably gone an inch, but what do I know)

We can't kill but 3 in GA., so arrow my friend, Team 3 is now on a roll and you better be glad I can't hunt out of state, heck me, JW!, and JoeA would clean y'alls clock.

Now you have a good day!

dog1

JoeA

One to brag about? I just looked at the scores posted for the teams. Apparently someone on Team 9 shot a bird that scored 117.50 points! Is that a typo, or did some Tom-zilla take his final dirt bath?

Maybe two folks connected on Team 9? Just wondering.

superstrutter

Just got back from a successful 2 days in Texas. This wasn't done with an outfitter. I located the birds myself, with a whole lot of walking I might add, and called them myself. I have a friend who has some places in south Texas. I took the birds at three different locations. Most years there aren't many birds at these places, but this season was much better. Because of the good hatch two years ago, there were mostly 2 year old birds around. Because of the drought last Spring, there were no jakes. At least I didn't see a single jake. I believe all three birds I took were 3 year olds.That means there should be plenty of mature birds next year. Bird 1 weighed 21 lbs 4 oz, beard was 9.3", and both spurs were a little over an inch. He scored 62.975. Bird 2 weighed 18 lbs 10 oz, beard was 9", and spurs were 3/4" and 1 inch. He scored 54.125. Bird 3 weighed 19 lbs 5 oz, beard was 9", and spurs were both 1 inch.

superstrutter

Went back to my property this morning after hunting in Texas, Sat. 3/31. It was very foggy, so I wasn't sure how the birds would act, that is if there were any left. A couple of guys have been hunting the same birds. I heard one gobbling down the line, right next to where one of the hunters has his ground blind. I knew It would be difficult to call this bird in if the hunter was in his blind. I went down near the boundary line to set up. I was about 75 yards inside my property from the boundary line. I was about 350 to 400 yards from where the blind was on the other property. I started to do a little soft calling while the bird was still on roost. He answered me a few times. When I could tell he was on the ground, I started a little more aggressive calling. This is when I heard the other hunter start calling. It was now a calling contest, one that I would win. I already had the gobblers attention, so I just let the hunter overcall the birds right out of his setup. A little more soft calling and I had the gobbler coming on a string. He pops out on the line about 50 yards out, but he is not alone. Another longbeard is with him. When I see he is getting no closer and the hunter continuously calling, I decide it's time to take him. I shoot and he goes down. The shot was 48 yards. This is one of the best birds I have taken. He's not the heaviest by any means, but he has matching 1 1/4" spurs. He weighed 19 lbs 2 oz and had an 11" beard. He officially scores 66.125.

Arrowmaster

EFH's second bird.

Arrowmaster

turkman1's nice bird