Alright, here is the story and stats for my bird yesterday morning. The plan was for my dad to pick me up and we would fit a quick morning hunt in before work as we work at the same place. It was one of those mornings where things didn't seem to go right, and we were running behind, it was cold and really windy. Honestly my hopes werent really high. Since we were running late and plus the direction of the wind we really couldnt hunt the exact spot we wanted so we headed to a spot we had been to a couple times. Last time we were there we walked too close to the roost and setup 40 yards from a big bearded bird on the roost. There have been 4 gobbling and strutting jakes in this roost sight as well. We got there and got started in, sure enough, jakes gobbling on the roost. This time we got in and got to where we felt we needed to be set up. After listening to jake gobbles while it got light out, the birds, along with some hens pitched down about 80 to 100 yards away but out of sight. Shortly after I heard one of them gobble and I told my dad, that sounded like a tom. I called a few times quietly, and I could tell the birds were getting closer. I couldn't see them because of a brush pile 25 yards away but could hear them spitting and drumming and the jakes gobbling. I was pretty sure they were all jakes, but based on that one gobble that sounded better I was trying to stay optimistic. When I started seeing the lead birds head through the brush I got my gun readied towards my decoy. As he was getting closer, I was pretty sure I saw a beard through the brush. Sure enough the longbeard stepped out and came right to the decoy in full strut the whole time. I shot him at 14 yards. This turkey was really cool too. I believe he is a melanistic color phase bird. He is almost completely black, with no brown, bronze or any of the normal colors. The white on his wings was barely there and his tail feathers were just black, except for one which was normal color. Very unique. I was happy with him.

Stats:
Iowa Eastern
May 9th 6:00AM
23.5 lbs
9 3/4" beard
13/16" spurs
23.5 + 8.125 + 8.125 + 19.5 = 59.25

I agree, I have really enjoyed this team this year. Great group of hunters! It's been fun

Nice bird jepcho!

We are doing great! Yes, we have a great team this year and hopefully we will be the winning team this year. From the way it is currently looking we will be! Still though we can not let our guard down as anything can happen..

With the last 2 birds added we have now got a total number of birds score of 899.375! Way to go team! However I need to run a couple more totals on the other teams right now.. I am thinking we are now in the lead in this area as well!!
I also messed up on my adding as our Best bird per hunter score is actually at 445.625 rather than 446.19. We surely are still in the lead in this area!

I am putting the totals we currently have under our team scoring post to try and make it easier for us to keep track of..

Ok guys we are in the lead in both the best total per hunter as well as the best total of all birds combined !!! Congrats team !!

I am hoping we can stay in the lead all the way threw this contest.. It is looking great for us right now! I will be out very chance I can get to try and boost our score up some more as well! Just remember there is others on every team still hunting so lets see if we can get it won!!

Ok guys this is where our team is currently at.

Best bird per hunter = 445.625 ( 7 Birds )

Total number of birds score = 899.375 ( 15 Birds )

Ok guys team# 6 is still the closest with no change as of yet.. 833.3375
Then followed by team # 1 with 766.125 ( These are total number of birds scored per team. )

Congrats team!!! With the way the birds have been acting we may very well have it already won?? It will not be that far away and we will be finding out!

I still have until May 31st to pick up another bird for us.. Hopefully I can connect and push us into a better position to win this contest! Next this coming week I will only have Friday and Saturday to hunt in and then the following week 3 mornings and 3 days to hunt in. I am hopeful to fill my tag this coming weekend..

Congrats jepcho great story and great bird!

Hey Phil I will try to get pics sent to you and story posted this afternoon. It will be a busy Mother's Day for us

Well team it will be a pleasure hunting with you all next year as we will still be together after this contest.
First bird down in Nebraska is a giant. Watched him go to roost last nite so got in on him this morning pretty tight and early as he had a hen with him and I wanted to get a hen decoy set out without being seen. Started raining with lightning and thunder right before daylight. He gobbled three times on the roost then flew down about 70 yards out. hit him with a short series of yelps and he came in on a string. Shot him at 15 yards at 6:05am.
Eastern
Southeast Nebraska
6:05am
Mossberg 835 12ga.
24 lbs
beard #1- 11 1/4"
beard #2 - 9 3/8"
beard #3 - 8 1/8"
beard #4 - 8 1/8"
beard #5 - 8 1/8"
R spur 1 5/16"
L spur 1/2"

I still have two more tags to fill out in western Nebraska. Will probably go out there in a couple of weeks.
Phil I will be sending you more pics if you would kindly post them for me (us).

Congrats camokenney that sounds like a heck of a beard can't wait to see the pics of that turkey. That very well might have been the nail in the coffin!

Hoot!! Hoot!!!! That is one heck of a bird you have there camokenny!!!!! Hoot!! Hoot!! Now I think we all can start the celibrations!! Hoot!! Hoot! We are most likely on the same team next year!! I believe we now have this contest where we wanted it.. If anyone does not want to be on this team next year... To Bad you most likely will be!! I will be posting the pics shortly!!!

camokenny's Turkey.... Shall we all say turkzilla!! Congrats On a very nice bird!!


Your score is 24 + 13.125 + 5 + 90 = 132.125







I am not sure if I have the beards in the right order or not.. Here they are though..
Beard # 1

Beard # 2

Beard # 3

Beard # 4

Beard # 5