THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

The Good....................I took a 17lb 5" beard 7/16 spured jake late morning! PAhunterman did the calling ;)

The Bad...................My brother got me thumping a long beard this morning on video and he also got me chasing it :'( I rolled him and he flopped around and was just laying on the ground. I unloaded my gun picked my calls turned around to see him flopping over down the field. We looked long and hard but never found him :'(

The Ugly.......................

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

nice pick!! sorry to hear about the other bird.....nevvvvvvvver unload that gun till you got him in your hands.....i dont care how dead my game looks....i try to stay alert and ready for something like that to happen.....i know in the heat of the moment you dont think clearly.....but thats a good habit to get into.....i know alot of guys take off sprinting...some leave there guns and everything laying there......trying to get to that bird quick.....i get there quick as i can...but im careful....and keep an eye on their heads....if it would come up id stop and get ready.....seen and heard of that happening too often.....heck....i hit a pheasant once...folded it perfectly...wasnt kickin or nothin....stone cold dead....15-20 mins later were workin the dog and all the sudden my game bag explodes.....im being beaten...kicked, spurred and flapped by a ringneck....talk about comical....my buddys reaching in there getting beat up trying to grab it.....it was nuts.....just knocked it out i guess.........thats a great pic though..i love it!

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Sorry to hear about your lost bird. Sound like you had a good time though.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

congrats. on the one bird,and sorry bout the other. you learned a leasson.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

That's one of the reasons I double time it to my down birds!!!! I've had people on hear frown down on running to downed turkeys. Classic case;)

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Thanks for the compliments & condolence. I usally don't waste anytime getting to the birds I shoot. I don't know why I did on this one or even why I unloaded my gun. I've shot at birds before and missed which is fine but this hitting them hard and not getting them just makes me sick.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

They sure are tough customers. Oh well.

A very nice shot of New England countryside.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Congrats!

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

MK,

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Good going on the harvest, sorry to hear about the others escape. I would like to see a clip of the video if at all possible... even the worst day huntin' is always better than a good day workin'. I'll let you know how things pan out here. It's not been very productive this first week, not for a lack of trying mind you, but I'm keeping my hopes up. Congrats again bud.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

That happens to every bird hunter at least once. I chased after a wounded canadian goose that was hit solidly, fell onto frozen ground with a thud, and took off running as if it were Jesse Ownes. I could not believe those little legs could go that fast. I eventually got him but I'll be darned if I ever go bird hunting without a dog again.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Where in VT do you hunt? I hunt Rutland County pretty hard, we tied into some birds on opening day but couldn't get them close enough. I haven't been back since because I hunted PA last week but should be back in VT this upcoming weekend.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Harry Houdini the wounded gobbler. I've been down that road before. Now, after the first shot, I close the distance fast and make ready for a follow-up. After they get their legs under 'em and get their bearings straight, it can get pretty hairy pretty fast.

Live and learn, that's all you can do.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Woodstock, Bridgewater, Sharon and White River Juntion area. That covers a lot of area but I've got spots in each of those towns I try to hit each year. A fellow turkey hunter told me a few spots in Rutland he hunted but I've lost the directions. He's moved away and thought I might want to give his old hujnting ground a try. One of these days I'll make it up that way! I might have lost the directions but I still have a good memory at least to get with in the ball park of where he was talking. Think I'll be heading up to VT mid-week to see what's going on.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

If you get the itch to check out Rutland County, drop me a PM. I will be up there a few more weekends this season and would love to show you around and hunt together. I have around 1500 acres I have access on and there are a few others on it but they are lazy and sit on a flock of decoys in the fields. Last year I killed 2x birds in 3 days of hunting and called in a few others for other people in there.

RE: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF VT
 

Yea that has happened to me, but when the turkey ran he tried to fly out of some really tall grass. He couldnt get up which slowed him down enough for me to catch him. Then I chased him in a small circle about three times untill I finally had to takle him and finish im with the heel of my boot. I still havnt lived that one down. Probably never will.