4_23_15 I am 65 today and as a treat I shot my first 2015 bird. The distance was 15 yards camera is deceiving. The decoys are at 10 paces roughly 10 yards. I set everything close - sometimes even closer!
I adapted the mount and the camera flew off on the recoil. Need to fix that!

The Shot and Flop video

https://flic.kr/p/si5Szm

Happy birthday, and congratulations!

Kind of a crappy video did it work for you?

I can only get better......camera popped off at the shot.

Thanks
JW

Happy Birthday JW And Congrats!!!

I had a good morning. I call in a 2 year old Tom and 4 Jakes and 2 hens in 10 yards. No Kill. I am looking for something bigger.

We are now finding good toms henless and all alone in northern Mich and northern WI.

Just a FYI

JW

My grandson and I only heard 1 gobble and heard some hens in the strip of woods beside us but we didn't see any birds.

Happy Birthday JW!

Hey thanks all.........I have shot quite a few birds on quite a few birthdates......most memorable? On My 40th some 25 yrs ago shot my 3rd turkey with my great granddaddies 50 lb 16 Ga side by side a Black Powder shotgun with silver inlays.
That has since been retired as it will go off 'half cocked!' The sear is wore so I do use it for Hunter Safety classes.

That was cool!
JW

second turkey
 

Got my second turkey. Please replace my best turkey with this one.

Hunter: jmedenf
species: eastern
Weight: 22 lbs
Beard: 9.5 inches
left spur: 1 1/4 inch
right sprur: 1 1/8 inch

22 + 19 + 10.25 + 10.125 = 64.75

Pics attached.

Turkeys gobbled alot this morning. A hen flew out and fed in the field. Finally got the gobblers to come into the field. Came in strutting and spitting and drumming. Walked towards my hen decoy out about 30 yards, then turned and came in to the jake decoy at 20 yards. Dropped him right before he got to the decay. He had at least two jakes and two hens with him. Went back out until noon to get a buddy his second, had a tom come into about 40 yards but he couldn't see him. Tom walked off and kept gobbling. Better luck for him tomorrow.

Hanging my head in shame. Opening day today, took a ride to the 200 acre farm in CT that usually holds birds but I never seem to connect at (had a bunch of close calls though, usually my fault when things go south.) Got there at that perfect time, just before dawn. Didn't hear any gobbling at all, ignored the landowner's mention of sightings in the upper field and started going towards the lower fields where I know birds usually roost. Gave a few owl hoots on my way but heard nothing. Figured I'd set up on a field edge and do some blind calling. Put a single hen decoy out about 20 yards. clucked and yelped periodically for about 30-35 minutes. Thought I heard something behind me but was focused on some movement off on the right side of the field. I did another series of clucks when I hear a gobble off to my left. I shifted my eyes over and there is a bird standing in the field off to my left about 30 yards away. He came silently out of nowhere. It's a whole different story about my eyesight and not being able to see my fiber sights the night before at home, but I had been able to see them this morning, took aim at my decoy to be sure. I eased my gun to the left as he was closing the distance and settled on his neck and shot. Pretty sure I hit him, but he took off running. I took a second shot at him on the run and he went down. It wasn't until I got to him that I realized I had just shot a Jake. Anyway, I figured it was early and decided to keep hunting, tried another spot by one of the upper fields but heard nothing. I was thinking I might go to work since it was so early and I packed up. On my way off the farm I did see 3 more birds in the field but didn't get a good look at them before they disappeared over a rise. I stopped, was thinking about setting up again, but figured I'd save them for another day. I never did go to work though, in hind sight I probably should have tried to set-up on those birds.

Way to go jmedenf! A very nice bird.

RI...keep at it. You'll get a nice one.

Congrats guys!!!!!

Warning......Warning......JoeA Robinson..........i have an upgrade.........a limb hanger....
608 AM. 20 lb 10 oz........i need to measure spurs but he clearly is a 4 yr old or older....you can use the spurs to limb hang him.......measurements to follow but i have moved my set up 20 miles and am back out.
Fort McCoy Sargent Turkey is done.......time to get my Season 3 tag in order.....
Might be back with anudder....LOL
JW

Left spur 1.23 inches right 1 5/16s
Beard two strands 11.5 inches
Pics to follow
Heck of an upgrade 69.25 think that is right.

Congrats JW!

Congrats to all who scored......
JW

Was out this am. Had a couple toms hung on me , wouldn't leave their hens. Moving set-up tonight when we go to roost beds tonight. Hopefully will come in bow range. Using bow for 1st couple weeks of season then if no luck then bringing out shotgun.

I probably won't be getting back out until next Saturday. Great job to everyone who has scored so far!!!!!

Sadly my season has come to an end. One bird, one miss, and one that I should have pulled the trigger on but didn't. Odd year. Lots and lots of birds taken on the WMA I hunted, probably the largest number ever. The birds didn't chase the calls like an 18 year old at Spring Break which tells me that most were older class birds.

Am 20 miles south hunting a new farm that has 5 good birds on it .
walked in at 3 with a full moon. Am all set up and will take a nap. Time is 4:13 light around 530.
the pheasants are crowing and the owls are having a hay day.
has to be 6 or more up all around the bluffs.
Not to worry the gobbles will wake me up.......
Had a very brief scout saw em and took a wild guess at a pretty good strut zone.
My back will be to the sun and this corner will get sun early....
Hey be safe out there.
JW.

PS just had a yote scream threw......

Well that was fun........5 different toms all real vocal and all i got to see was a hen and then a dang coyote......639 and all is quiet......time for a nap me thinks. .....they know where i am!

843 and a hen cruised by at 23 yds.

I'll be here till dark on this one.

Get it done, son.

Long day yesterday.......2 hens....so late i did a customary truck scout only to find my best area destroyed!
The farmer logged 300 acre field surrounded by bluffs. I understand why as the timber oaks maples beech elm will bring high bucks.
But wow......
Was quite a run for me on that piece for 17 yrs.
Some birds still may use it....i need to sacrifice a morning to check...right after this bird i roosted commits.......got least a hour and a half wait here in dark. Coyotes already told me to move on......but the ole 22 pistol is ready....nice thing about conceal and carry....makes toting this legal for me.

I carry an XD 45 on my hip. Especially now that I am tagged out and helping others.

Well dang.....temperature drop and the result is lock jaw big time.

I had turkeys gobbling in all directions yesterday evening.
Had no idea there were that many turkeys in the area.

Great job JW That a nice turk!!!!

JW....is the clear cut surrounded by timber? If so it might be a better spot than you can imagine. Birds here in Alabama tend to roost near the edges and use the clear cut like a field.

835 AM
22 lbs 6 oz
1.25 spurs both sides
10 1/8 th beard.
took a double with my best friend.
birds came in silent.
whispered " you on him?" Reply " yep"
shoot I say and there was a micro nano second between the 2 shots........dropped them where they laid.
pictures to come

19.8 lbs., 10 15/16" beard, 1 1/16" spur, 1 1/16" spur.

Congrats, Way to go Daveco That a nice turk

JW, You got a nice bird

Finally tagged out in MO. Guys it has been the toughest year of turkey hunting for me in 12-15 years. Birds have been gobbling good but they are grouped up and not responding to the call. I've hunted this particular group of birds several times this year. I actually saw them behind my house last night while planting my garden. I just got lucky this morning being in the right place at the right time. He weighed 21 lbs, 10" beard, and 1 3/8 spurs.

DTC! Nice job on your second bird.

Nice looking bird, congrats!!!!!

Am 3 for 4 for kill tags I have and I have 3 left to use.
I am 4 for 5 for people I have taken out. The most recent a 20 lb 2 yr old this past Thursday at high noon!

I leave again tonight......May 27 is going to be a sad day as all will be over!

JW

Only been out a couple of times since season opener. Had some gobbling yesterday but nobody interested in responding to calls. Going to give it a go again tomorrow unless family gets in the way. MIL is back in hospital in NY, may have to drive there instead.

Congrats, DCT Nice bird