|
Post by ridgecommander on May 4, 2023 6:30:34 GMT -5
Are you still using a crossbow or have you gone back to the shotgun? Bang stick. Based on this mornings hunt I should stick to the crossbow!
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 4, 2023 6:34:46 GMT -5
Gobbler 1. Hunter 1. I call it a draw! Got a good tom down off the roost but may have broke my nose in the process. Came in behind me and shot him at a very odd angle with the gun stock barely on my shoulder. The red dot busted my face up!! Got to try to get cleaned up and presentable for work. Blood dripping off of my lip and out of my nose isn't very sightly.
Got in too close and had three gobblers roosted within 80 yards. The closest was 60. They gobbled good for 40 minutes then flew down right under their trees and came to me but behind me. I had to swing the shotgun around the tree and there wasn't much to hold onto. Ouch!!
Nice two year old with a 9 inch beard.
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 4, 2023 16:01:16 GMT -5
Here is gobbler #1 and my blood, not his.............
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on May 4, 2023 16:40:01 GMT -5
We only want pics of your face. LOL
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on May 4, 2023 16:41:00 GMT -5
Oh crap, forgot, CONGRATULATIONS!
|
|
|
Post by stroupy on May 4, 2023 17:21:35 GMT -5
Gobbler 1. Hunter 1. I call it a draw! Got a good tom down off the roost but may have broke my nose in the process. Came in behind me and shot him at a very odd angle with the gun stock barely on my shoulder. The red dot busted my face up!! Got to try to get cleaned up and presentable for work. Blood dripping off of my lip and out of my nose isn't very sightly. Got in too close and had three gobblers roosted within 80 yards. The closest was 60. They gobbled good for 40 minutes then flew down right under their trees and came to me but behind me. I had to swing the shotgun around the tree and there wasn't much to hold onto. Ouch!! Nice two year old with a 9 inch beard. How do you know its a 2 year old? Just asking as I found something out that I have been wrong on for years now.
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 4, 2023 18:41:40 GMT -5
How do you know its a 2 year old? Just asking as I found something out that I have been wrong on for years now. Can never tell for sure. He was probably about 18 lbs, 7/8 inch spurs and thin 9 inch beard. All hallmarks of a two year old but with turkeys there are no absolutes.
|
|
|
Post by cspot on May 4, 2023 18:49:24 GMT -5
Congratulations Ridge! Nice bird. I like to kill deer with the crossbow, but for turkeys I really prefer the bangstick. Not sure why, but just do.
I agree with Dutch. Need pics of the face. LOL.
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on May 4, 2023 19:29:12 GMT -5
Way to go Ridge.... CONGRATS!! I had a Mossy 835 3.5" 12 and also really banged my face up on one. Helped sell me on a gas operated semi Browning Gold!
|
|
|
Post by stroupy on May 5, 2023 4:38:04 GMT -5
How do you know its a 2 year old? Just asking as I found something out that I have been wrong on for years now. Can never tell for sure. He was probably about 18 lbs, 7/8 inch spurs and thin 9 inch beard. All hallmarks of a two year old but with turkeys there are no absolutes. Okay, I just watched a video and a turkey biologist said spur length isn't an indicator which I always thought it was he said he saw 2 year Olds with longer spurs then a 6 year old gobbler. Pretty neat
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on May 5, 2023 6:38:26 GMT -5
Many variable factors can go into aging a gobbler per the NWTF. For the purposes of hunter interest, biologists generally suggest using the following measurements to judge gobbler age. Gobblers with spurs one-half inch or less are juveniles, 5/8 inch up to 1 inch are 2-year-olds, 1 to 1 3/8 inches are 3-year-olds and birds with spurs greater than 1 3/8 inches are older than three years. Gobblers with longer spurs (1½ to 2 inches) probably range in age from 5 to 8 or more years.
|
|
|
Post by Dutch on May 5, 2023 10:09:19 GMT -5
Gobbler 1. Hunter 1. I call it a draw! Got a good tom down off the roost but may have broke my nose in the process. Came in behind me and shot him at a very odd angle with the gun stock barely on my shoulder. The red dot busted my face up!! Got to try to get cleaned up and presentable for work. Blood dripping off of my lip and out of my nose isn't very sightly. Got in too close and had three gobblers roosted within 80 yards. The closest was 60. They gobbled good for 40 minutes then flew down right under their trees and came to me but behind me. I had to swing the shotgun around the tree and there wasn't much to hold onto. Ouch!! Nice two year old with a 9 inch beard. How do you know its a 2 year old? Just asking as I found something out that I have been wrong on for years now. Wouldn't be the first time you've been wrong about things. 😂😂😂 Oh man, I JUST had to.
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 5, 2023 14:45:22 GMT -5
Gave it a go this morning again. Went to a farm I don't hunt much. Never heard a bird at first light. Finally got some action at 9am and called in three jakes and two coyotes. Passed the jakes and the coyotes never got closer than 60. Heard a bird gobble up in a big hayfield at 10 so I headed up there and caught a gobbler in the far corner. Set on on the edge and I thought it was gonna happen. When the white head rounded the corner I was ready but it ended up being another jake with two others. They must have been early born as all three had probably 5-6 inch beards. They got a pass. Decent day. Hunted till 12 and wrapped it up.
|
|
|
Post by stroupy on May 5, 2023 20:22:14 GMT -5
How do you know its a 2 year old? Just asking as I found something out that I have been wrong on for years now. Wouldn't be the first time you've been wrong about things. 😂😂😂 Oh man, I JUST had to. Nope, I was on this I thought it was interesting you see 1/4" spurs you think young bird but he told people to stop saying it. I was blown away by it lol
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 6, 2023 11:57:05 GMT -5
Gobbler #2 down this morning. He was finally ready to play at 10:45. Never heard a bird till then. Story later.
|
|
|
Post by ridgecommander on May 6, 2023 20:31:03 GMT -5
Long hunt today. It started quiet without a bird gobbling from the roost. After hours of nothing, I decided to make a pretty long trek to a ridge where I heard some far off gobbling late morning on the opener. Got to where I wanted to be at 10:15 but it was very thick. Visibility was less than 15 yards if I sat down. First call was greeted by silence. The second call I got a gobble back within 100 yards. With nowhere to sit, I decided to stand just off the edge of a old logging road against a large cherry tree hoping the bird would work up if he was interested. I called softly and he answered so I put the call away and waiting. I caught his full fan first working up the overgrown road and soon made out a long beard. He was already within 20 yards but I needed another 5 to get a clear shot above the multiflora rose. When he cleared my second tag was filled at 10:30. This bird was much heavier than the first. Spurs were 1 inch and he had a 10 1/4 beard.
|
|
|
Post by Loggy on May 7, 2023 5:48:52 GMT -5
Congrats on that fine gobbler!!
|
|