Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    Wess,
    
    I don't turkey hunt, yet.  However, this weekend is opening weekend of
    turkey season in Georgia.  It is also opening weekend of trout season. 
    I will be in the mountains catching triple limits of trout.  If I see
    any gobbler success, I'll let you know.  Lamar is going down to
    deer (turkey) land this weekend.
    
    There are plenty of turkey in the area I work, and I wish they would
    be legal harvests, however they are not.
    
    Good huntin or fishin,
    
    Bob
    

    
    Just got my "we regret to inform you that you have not been selected"
    responce for a turkey permit in the zone that I applied for.Guess I'll
    have to find another area that had leftover permits and then try and
    find a place to hunt. 
    
    The hard part is trying to find a place to hunt.
    
    Well maybe next year for the permit on the area I'm used to huntin on.
    
    /Irv

    
    
    So did you apply to hunt in ex-gov Florio's yard?
    
    
    Gary

    
    I am taking my 4 year old son to a Turkey Hunting Seminar tonight, it	
    ought to be interesting.
    
    20 days to go!
    
    Wess

    
    Naw, Didn't apply for Jims back yard just a too popular area. I'm
    headed to a seminar also on the 8th and have the state Turkey
    specialist comming to the Federation of Sportsmans Club meeting on the
    14.(president of that club) The state has indicated that the birds here
    have lost an average of 2 lbs cause of the hard winter but there are
    still a lot out there. In fact they were still flocked together 2 weeks
    ago. Have a report of 75-80 birds being together in one field.
    
    Still looking for a place to go yet, it may turn into a just call them
    in to have fun year.
    
    /Irv
    

    I went out Saturday morning and put a few gills' on the stringer. 
    Afterwards I slipped over the hill and scouted around for turkeys.  I
    saw 10 deer, but no turkey sign.  My brother saw one 4 or 5 days ago,
    so they are there somewhere.  They should be gobbling, but I didn't
    hear any on Saturday...of course I wasn't out early enough or owl
    hooting.
    
    I can't wait!!!  
    
    Wess

    How many days til gobbler season, Wess?
    
    Been shooting the bow at all?  I haven't.  I have been hooking up with
    trout, and swinging the ole golf club.  I will be moving in about 4
    weeks, and then probably in June, I will pick up the longbow and start
    shooting again.  Get ready for September.  Georgia is contemplating
    eliminating the majority of doe days during firearm season.  I have no
    idea why. That's ok.  Just get me in the woods.
    
    Just get me in the woods........

    Bob,
    
    Yes I shot the bow this weekend.  Two cats and the neighbor's dog are
    deader than last Wednesday...just kidding.  It shoots really nice.  I
    made a turkey target and was doing pretty good out to 30-35 yards. 
    But, since I haven't killed a Gobbler yet, the 12 gauge will go into
    the woods first.  
    
    We are allowed to take 2 gobblers in the spring...so if I find one dumb
    enough to let me kill him, I might drag the old bow out for the second.
    With my luck, it will probably still be hanging in the garage though.
    
    Wess

    
    I read in the paper that Gov. Weld wants to make the MA state
    bird the Turkey. It is now the chickadee. Anyway I wonder how
    long it will be before the anti's come crawling out saying how
    awful it is that the state bird is being hunted? Anyone have any
    more info or thoughts on this?
    
    Walt

    Guys,
    
    I went down to southern Ky this weekend for my Mom's birthday and did
    a little turkey scouting.  When we pulled up Dad said a turkey was
    gobbling right over the hill about 10 minutes before we pulled up.  He
    has a bad habit of exagerating, so I just blew it off.  I got down to
    the bottom of the hill and heard a hen yelping and cutting.  I peeked
    around the treeline and spotted a hen with a gobbler in full strut.  I
    smiled so hard I cracked two teeth!  About that time I heard my wife
    yelling for me as she came down the hill, she wanted to go for a walk.
    I put my camo jacket on her and told her to be quiet.  We could hear
    the hen chattering about 200 yards around the bend.  I decided we would
    try to ease around the edge so she could see them.  We went about 10
    yards when I spotted a turkey in the woods about 50 yards away pecking
    in the leaves.  I pointed it out to her and about that time it stood
    up.  It was a nice gobbler with a 8-10" beard hanging down!  He spotted
    us immediately and trotted up into the woods.  We backed off and
    scouted the other side of the farm.  We found a cedar thicket that was
    scratched all to pieces, with a few feathers here and there.  All in
    all it was a successful outing.  Season opens the 20th and I sure hope
    I don't have heart failure before then!
    
    
    Wess

    Does anyone know how far the average gobbler travels in a day?  Do they
    stay in the general area if there are enough hens, cover, etc?
    
    Went scouting yesterday eve and saw 10 deer, but no turkey sign and
    none gobbling.
    
    
    Wess

    
    
      Wess,
    
      Personal experience has lead me to the understanding that the wild
    turkey is a really unpredictable bird and about the toughest to
    harvest.  I have seen birds stay within a quarter mile of the same spot 
    for as long as a couple weeks but I have also seen them move 2-3 miles 
    a day.
    
       Alot of the movement depends on food/cover/water availability, the
    main thing to keep in mind is that by you calling the tom to you, you
    are actually reversing nature to them, the hen is to go to the tom.
    I have seen birds run right in to the caller, and I have seen them not 
    move from their spot for hours no matter what you do to coax them.
    
      one thing you can almost guarentee is if ya put one to roost and be
    there the next morning you will have better chance's at seeing/calling
    in a gobbler. its much easier/safer to sneak in on a globbler in the
    dark than if you wait till daylight to hear on sound off then try to
    sneak in on him.
    
                                           Good luck
                                                Lee
    

    What he said.  Turkeys are very unpredictable.  They'll stay in an area
    for a couple of weeks and then be a couple of miles over the next day.
    Try to roost them the night before you plan on hunting.  And don't get
    frustrated, they can drive you nuts!  You'll try for days to get a bird
    to come in and they all seem to hang-up.  Then just when your ready to
    give it up you;ll get a Kamikazi bird that will commit suicide.
    
    Have fun
      Jeff

    How many more days, Wess?  Have you been practicing your call?
    Good luck on opening day.
    
    Bob
    

    Guys,
    
    Thanks for the replies.  I am basically a "Greenbean" on turkey
    hunting.  I would like to think I know everything about hunting and
    fishing, but I am far from it, I think it is a pride thing.
    
    A buddy of mine saw a big gobbler last night and was asking me if he
    would be using the same area next Wednesday(opening day).  I figured
    if there were enough hens, food, etc...he might be there, but I wanted
    to ask someone who knew there @ss from a hole in the ground(see above
    paragraph).
    
    
    
    Bob,
    I practice everyday for at least 20minutes, I have for quite a while. 
    Of course all of the tapes/books/ etc, say calling is only 10%, with
    patience filling in the rest.  The only thing I know, is that I am
    chomping at the bit!
    
    A week to go,
    Wess

    
    
            This past December, the Fish & Game Dept. released 20
    Wild Turkeys in the area I live, Hampstead, Sandown, Derry, N.H.
    in attempt to strengthen the existing flock.  Turkey hunting in
    these towns has been closed for the next three seasons to help the
    flock establish itself.
     Driving past the release site last evening with the wife and kids,
    there in back of the field were about a dozen turkeys.  The orange
    wing streamer on one of the released hens was quite visible as the 
    flock made it's way into the woods.
     After bringing the family home I grabbed a few calls, some rain
    gear and headed back to where we saw the birds.  I attempted to head
    off the flock without any luck.  The only sign of the birds was a 
    distant gobble. Making my way back to the truck, I came upon the 
    remains of one of the released hens.  The orange wing tag was in the
    pile of wing, tail and body feathers.  It was getting late so I 
    didn't spend much time at the kill site and I was unable to locate 
    the carcass (if there is one).  I contacted one of the local guys
    (Ron) who is active in the New Hampshire Wild Turkey Federation and
    told him of my finding.  He in turn is contacting Ted Wallski, N.H.
    Fish & Game Turkey Biologist to find out if he wants view theremains.
    It should be interesting to see how much, if any information can
    be obtained.
    
    Next Day:
    
            Well I let this hole thing get the best of me so I left work
    early yesterday (4/11/94) to look for the carcass of this ill fated
    bird. I back tracked my way into the woods and in no time was standing 
    over the pile of feathers I had found the previous day.  Taking a 
    closer look at the surrounding area, I tried to figure what went on 
    there.  Most of the feathers were in a puddle of water.  There were
    several branches broken on the bushes near the puddle which leads me 
    to believe that some sort of a struggle took place. The best I can 
    come up with is that the hen may have been drinking from the puddle 
    when it was attacked and killed. I began to circle the area and before
    I completed my first pass I found what was left of the carcass.  
    Bones, feathers & feet.  The leg band was intact.  I noted the tag 
    number and headed home.  Another call to Ron to update him on my 
    findings.  Hopefully the Fish & Game Dept. will contact me even if
    it's just to log what happened to hen #900. 
     I'll let you know what happens.
    
    Vt. opens May 1
    N.H.  May 3
    
    Bruce
    
    P.S.  The wife put her foot down this morning.  She said she can put up
    with me strutting up and down the bed post,  but she can't stand the
    gobbling.  I guess she'll be sleeping on the couch.
    
    [
    
    
    

     Talked with my buddy in PA. this past weekend.  The birds are
    gobbling!!!  Can't wait.  I'm leaving on the 29 so that we can hit the
    opener.  Mayby (read definitely) do a little chuck'in while were out
    there.
    
    Jeff

    I read in the paper here that in NH or Mass there was a flock of
    birds that tried to kill a State trooper.  Are you Guys shure you know
    what you are getting into????????  Here in California most of the birds
    are in private land so no chance of getting out is slim, I known of two
    sites where there are birds on public land, However i hate hunting in
    Kevlar vests (its hot here).  I sure miss Texas,  I used to see bird
    all the time on my land in Texas... The neighbor Razed Turkey's so
    there are always Goblers on my land...  Ah yess that glorious
    california lifestyle...
    JOe
    

    What part of California are you from, and where/what do you hunt/fish
    for?
    
    Bob
    

    bob I am in the mojave desert, 150 miles north of L.A.  I am in a very
    small office at the China lake Naval Weapons Center.  We hunt for
    deer,Pigs,Quail,Chuckar,partrige,turkey,dove,ducks,geese, and varmits.
    If I want to test a new round I use the government ranges for tests, If
    I want to shoot cans I use the desert.  Fishing is good for Crappie,
    Bass (small mouth,Largemouth, and black) we also fish for trout
    (rainbow,brown,golden,steelhead,and others) we can drive a few hours
    and fish for Salmon and Stripe Bass.  All in all not a bad place to
    live.  I hunt wildlife refuges, national forest (millions of acres),
    department of water and power land, BLM (millions of acres) and some
    private land.  I will also hunt in any western state.  We are used to
    10 hour drives so a longer drive seems like no big deal.  Im off to
    Montana in sept for bow season and then again for Rifle season.
    
    Joe
    DTN 520 3511
    Highd::Melendez
    

    Joe,
    
    I used to fish the June loop, Convict Lake, Mammoth lakes, owens river,
    and Lake Sabrina.  My favorite trout fishing was convict lake, back in
    the early 80's.  Gods country.  I used to pass your town on my way up
    to the Sierra's, via hwy 14.  I know your terrain.  I miss it!
    
    Bob
    

    I bet you fished by the old dead tree at the northeast end of the lake.
    Me too.  Season opener for trout is 30 april. I will not be able to go
    as I will be in Mexico city first time i havnt fished the opener in 17
    years. (probably be to cold anyway)
    JOe

    Guys,
    
    Well I went turkey hunting the 20th and 21st.  I setup opening morning
    and had two birds gobbling their heads off on the neighbors property
    about 150 yards away.  I setup down a draw where I thought they might
    come after flydown.  I called a few times until about 11:00 and only
    say a hen.  I moved down the property about 250 yards and put my decoy
    out.  I called twice(15min apart) and heard what sounded like a couple
    of cows coming down through the woods above me.  I moved my gun around
    and spotted a big red head bobbing through the bushes.  It was really
    thick so I couldn't see him very well.  I gave a couple of clucks to
    make him stick his head up and gave him his last haircut.  I crashed
    through the fence, ripping my pants and he was deader than last
    wednesday.  About that time 4 or 5 more turkeys took off from 10 yards.
    A couple of them nice gobblers, but you can only take one a day with 2
    for the season, so I had to pass.
    
    He was a young bird with a 4 1/2" beard.  I didn't weigh him but
    guessed him arount 17-18lbs.  With it being my first turkey, I didn't
    care in the least.
    
    Good luck,
    Wess

    Congrats big time wess!  I'll come to your place thanksgiving.  Wait,
    no I can't. I'll be down in Eufala, deer hunting.
    
    Bob
    

    Thanks Bob.
    
    
    A couple guys I know have scored on some pretty nice birds so far.  I
    was out on 1/2 day vacation yesterday and went to a friends farm here
    in Ohio for a little turkey hunting.  I arrived late (9:30) and he was
    grinning from ear to ear.  He took a mature gobbler with a 11" beard
    that weighed in at 22lbs after he gutted it!  The spurs were so long it
    made my stomach hurt.  What a bird.
    
    He said he missed it on monday when the bird ducked right when he
    squeezed the trigger.  He heard the gobbler fly up monday eve and was
    back tues morning.  The gobbler was out in the field by 7:15 with a hen
    and two deer, he said.  The gobbler would answer him but wouldn't come
    in, since he had the hen.  He crawled out into the field on his belly
    to within 35 yards in grass.  The birds were over a slight rise so they
    couldn't see him.  He said when he shot nothing moved.  He stood up and
    walked up to the dead gobbler.  He said the hen and the two deer just
    stood there and looked at him!  He said it was the oddest thing he had
    ever seen.  The only thing I know is that it was definately the boss.
    
    I setup and called a few times only to have some guy come over the hill
    looking around.  I whistled at him and he said "Have you seen any", in
    a loud voice!  What a dweeb.  Maybe I'll get out again,  who knows.
    
    
    
    Anyone else been out?
    
    Wess

    Guys,
    
    I called a buddy of mine today and found out that he popped a Jake
    yesterday morning but it got away.  He was shooting 2 3/4" 6 shot.  He
    said he rolled him twice while aiming at his head.  I read last month
    where 2.4 foot pounds of energy was needed to "shock" a gobblers
    nervous system. I used the Activ 3" 2 1/4oz Penetrator load with 4
    shot, at it knocked his d__k stiff.  Do you guys think the larger shot
    is more beneficial or are you a "density" thinker?
    
    
    Wess
    

     Depends on the range and how tight of a pattern he can throw.  I've 
    been using 3" #5's.
    
    
    Jeff

    Thanks for the reply Jeff,
    
    I guess I was just trying to stimulate conversation.
    
    
    Today is the last day for the Ky turkey season.  I had to work, but saw
    two turkeys on a powerline cut on the way in.  Talk about rubbing it
    in!  Oh well, maybe I'll go some in Ohio.
    
    Anybody been out yet?
    
    Wess

    Wess,
    
      Had a _great_ time in PA over the weekend.  We only had Saturday to 
    hunt but it was probably one the best times I've ever had in the woods.
    We roosted a bird the night before way up on a ridge. To say we had him
    pinned would be a gross exageration.  We had a very rough idea of where
    he was calling from.  Next morning we were on top and waiting.  Five
    minutes after we arrived he sounded off to our left about 250 yds out.
    We decided to move closer, and almost got too close.  We ended up
    around 75 yds away from where he was roosting.  Almost blew him out.
    We "talked" with him for around 40 minutes.  He gobbled at least 75
    times. It was wicked.  I actually called very little.  Finally we heard
    other birds walking in the leaves and heard him fly down.  He gobbled a
    couple more times and walked off.  Figure the other birds we heard
    were hens coming to see him.  Any way it was a great time even if we
    didn't manage to get him.  Were going back in a couple of weeks when we
    can hunt for four days.  Hopefully alot of the hens will have been bred
    by then and the toms will be more apt to come in.
    
    Jeff
                      

    Shot my first turkey in New York. Opening day at 7:45 am. I had one
    come in earlier to a decoy but he saw me and flew off. I was going back
    to my truck to get some coffee (It was snowing and cold) when I heard a 
    turkey gobbling in the field. I set up the decoy and sat behind a
    stonewall. He was about 100 yards when I first saw him. I called and
    his head turned from pink to bright red. His tail feathers flared up
    and he strutted to about 40 yards from me gobbling all the way in. What
    an awesome sight. I'll never forget that sight. He stopped in front of
    a tree and I raised my gun. As soon as he cleared the tree I dropped
    him with one shot. 
    
    Time: 7:45 am
    Weight: 18lbs. 4oz.
    Beard: 7 inches
    Spurs: 1  inch
    Estimated age: 4 years old.
    Shot with Remington 1100 with Remington Turkey Loads 4X6 2 3/4 inch.
    
    Barry Perla 

    Congrats Barry!  Sounds like your turkey came in the way I wished mine
    would have.
    
    I have a bad feeling I will be taking 1/2 day off on friday to hunt
    Ohio!!!
    
    I saw a hen going home yesterday and 4 turkeys on the way in this
    morning.  Of course Ky season is out so I guess that is the way it
    goes.
    
    What is the limit for New York?
    
    Wess

    
    I just had to post a note for a friend. He was out wed morning near
    a flock on roost and wondered why he got so few return calls when he
    did his calling. After seeing them in the distance multiple times and
    knowing that there were a few nice ones in the group. 
     After what seemed forever this one tom came over to his decoy and went
    into full strut. It walked up to the decoy at 35 yards turned away from
    him than turned with head high to him. You know what happened next.
    
    Tell of the tape on his bird was 9and 7/8" beard, 1" spurs, and
    24 1/2 lbs!  
    
    With a big bully like that in the group any other responding turkey
    must have gotten the snot kicked out of them by this big old bird no
    wonder they didn't respond back well.
    
    Wonder if I can get him to take me to the spot next year if I get a
    permit next season? Sort of doubt it don't you.
    
    
   Guess there are a few good birds in NEW JERSEY.
    
    /Irv

    You can take 2 birds in New York. One per day. 
    
    Barry

    Well I went in Ohio the other day and here's what happened. 
    
    I arrived about 6:30 in a downpour.  I stationed myself by the edge of
    a pine thicket on a field edge for about 45 minutes before deciding to
    move.  I moved about 200 yards and made a few clucks when a hen on the
    other side of the valley started clucking/cackling.  It was raining
    pretty good so she never came out of the woods into the field.  I eased
    down the hill and around her.  I setup on the edge of the Ohio river
    bluff and called a few times (45 min time span) without a response,
    except for the occasional thunder.  I moved around the backside of the
    woods where I heard the hen and spotted her  in the field about 80
    yards out.  I waited about 1/2 hour and nothing showed.  I decided to
    ease around a point on the river bluff where they had done some
    bulldozing a while back and the grass/clover was up good.  I setup and
    called then sat back for about 10 minutes.  About that time I spotted a
    head over the hill looking my way from about 65-70 yards, then it
    disappeared.  I eased the gun around and heard someone tearing through
    the field in a truck.  The turkeys flew (2 gobblers and 3 hens!) when
    the truck came into sight, and I cussed.  One of the neighbors driving
    around really fast to see if he could see something I guess?  I pulled
    up on the first gobbler, but he was just to far for a clean kill.  Oh
    well, maybe next time.
    
    
    Wess

    
    
      Well the first day of Pa. turkey season started on 4/30/94, it was a 
    clear beautifull morning, got set up by 5:30 and awaited the first
    gobbles of the season. 5:55 it happened about 200 yrds out, I called 
    he answered, this went on for the better part of a half hour before he
    finally walked out over the ridge. and that was the end of the hunt for 
    the first day since I couldnt raise another gobble.
    
       we had only planned on staying till sunday but unfortunatly my MIL
    lost her fight with cancer on saturday. so we ould stay the whole week.
    I didnt do anything till thursday morning, and couldnt raise a gobble
    thursday or friday.
    
       Oh yeah I almost got arrested thursday, I had come back from hunting
    the back hollow and it was pouring rain,40degrees, just plain
    misserable out along with my misserable attitude, well I got about 30
    yards from the camper and I took off my orange hat and put on my heavy
    canvas waterproof hat, well this truck comes to a screatching halt on
    the road below my camper and he yells up at me to come down there so I 
    walked down there, I saw the green truck so I knew it was the warden.
     it kinda went like this:
        Warden- Wheres your orange hat?
        me-  right here holding up my hat
        w- well you are to have it on your head
        m- I know when you are hunting
        w- well your hunting arent you?
        m- I didnt know it was legal to hunt in a safety zone!
        w- (now getting p.o'd) well if the other warden comes along he
            would of pinched you!
        m- well then we would settle it in court, because as I see it
            there is no need for a citation because
            #1 I was in a safety zone 90ft from my camp, 200 feet from moms 
               house.
            #2 the gun was unloaded, has been since I walked out to the
               road.
            #3 my camper is in a 30 acre field that is wide open!
          so if he wants to waste our time going to court in stead of being
          out in the field arresting real criminals the give me a citation!
          so if your done bothering me I am gonna go back to my camper and
          get into some dry clothes!
    
        Well anyways the best day we had was saturday, I hocked up with a
    good friend of mine and we had set up by 5:15 am, we knew there were 2
    gobblers in this spot, at 5:30 the first one gobbled and for the next 
    15 minutes 3 gobblers were competeing on lenght and volume, a real
    treat to a turkey hunters ears.
       so quietly I seperated from billy, were were setting 20 feet west of
    an intersecting logging road, i went 10 feet east of the intesection on
    the same side of the east/west road.
       at 6:05 the 3 birds in front flew off roost, billy called, they were 
    gobbling, the gobbler behind us walked away, I look over past billy and
    see 2 red heads and 1 blue/grey head pop up over the hill, damn we aint
    gonna call em both off her but maybe one will come our way, we call and
    call and call as they are walking away, crap,sob, WAIT theres one
    comeing back! WAIT both are comeing back! holly cow they are gonna walk
    right up to billy in perfect bow range, they look around and their eyes
    lock right on the decoys! yes they are hooked now just reelem in.
      yelps cuts purrs and puts and here they come 15 yards from billy I
    see him draw back, my hearts pounding, I see him stop at half draw and
    let down just as one setd from behind a tree, he puts and they turn
    around and start to walk away, so I started to yelp and cut really fast
    they wouldnt stop, then this bird gobbled right behind me.
      And when I say RIGHT BEHIND I mean right behind as in like 10 feet
    right behind! I almost had an accident in my pants! I will say one
    thing he has healthy lungs because he was loud, no that he has my full
    attention I hear him stop and knowing every tree there I knew he was
    behind the big quacken ash tree so I turned my head a little bit and
    looked as far to the left as my eyeballs could go and there he is 10
    feet behind me all I could see was the grey/whites of his wings.
      He starts walking and I was gonna shoot but the only time he stopped
    was right between me and billy, then he stopped again where I could
    shoot but he looked right down at the decoys so I said the heck with it 
    I wanna see billy get him with the bow, he walked right down and
    stopped, billy tried to start his draw and the bird looked right at him
    ahh sh!t yeeeeeep yeeeeep pppppuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrr, he turned and looked
    right in my direction, billy's at full draw, pting ting ting ting.
    
       He just putted and started to walk away, not to answere again! it
    was a clean miss over his back! Billy said I should have floored that
    bird, I said yeah probably but I will have to say the last time I
    passed up an animal when we were hunting together we had better sucess
    he said yeah that was a nice six point I shot a couple years ago, and
    it was in the same spot! 
    
       We walked out to the big field and there were 2 goblers there,
    called nothing but there was a hot bird behind us so I said lets go get
    him hell he's 3/4 mile away and hes comeing in on our call, so we ran
    back out the roadway and dove under a pine tree and I called and billy
    called and this gobbler is going nuts, double gobbling and almost on a
    dead run at us hes about 300 yrds out getting 20-30 yrds closer each
    gobble, doesnt this Ahole come up over the hill plop down 50 yards
    ahead of us and start calling.
       So we left and got back to the field theres the 2 gobblers again, we
    duck back got into the woods ran down to the paralell logging road and 
    on a dead run to get by the birds well mr. reeds dogs started barking
    and I looked out in the field there goes the 2 gobblers, damn step on
    it billy straight up over the spoil pile we can cutem off on the back
    side of the field, half way up the spoil pile I looked to the right and
    there is a gobbler in full strut! 
      S.O.B. I pumped a shell into the chamber and he just ducked into the 
    green briar and dissapeared! after that ordeal we never heard another
    bird! but it is a day that wont soon be forgotten to say the least.
    
                                                          Lee
    
    

    Lee,
    
    Holy Mackarel! It sounds like you guys were in the birds.  I bet every
    hair on your neck was standing up when that gobbler cut loose behind
    you.
    
    Good luck if you get back out.
    
    
    Wess

    Hello Gents,
    
    		I was out this past Sunday and things came together just
    like in the books. I arrived at my hunt site at 5:10am and was putting
    on my camo. when I heard a distant gobble down a side canyon. I thought 
    this can't be for real. So I moved down the ridge a couple of hundred 
    yards and owl hooted. Two gobblers responded, from approx. a 1/2 mile
    further down the canyon. I alternated between running down the ridge
    and stopping to hoot. Every time I hooted they gobbled, it had to be
    a dream. The two birds were calling from there roosts approx. 1/4 mile
    apart accross a canyon. I snuck to within 100 yds of the bird on my
    side of the canyon and set up under a pine tree and began to call. The 
    bird on the other side of the canyon shut up but the one on my side
    answered every time I called but he didn't move my direction. So I 
    picked up and moved to a saddle up the mountain about 150yds above
    where I believed the bird to be. On my first call he went nuts and
    began to move my directon. After about fifteen minutes of calling back
    and forth he shut up. So i sat there and tried to decide what to do??
    When accross the clearing he appeared about 70yds away. And he was
    moving in my direction. Just when he came into view again at about
    40yds two more gobblers came into the clearing..... Well I decided I 
    should wait to see which one was the biggest??? Well it didn't take
    long to determine that the one closest to me with the beard dragging 
    on the ground was the one to shoot. So when he stepped behind the tree
    I raised my gun and waited. When he came into view I squeezed on the
    old trigger, CLICK. I'd failed to fully close the action, so the firing
    pin didn't strike the primer. The two smaller gobblers froze but the
    old man just kept coming. I racked one as quickly as I could and in
    the excitement body shot the old bird. After a brief chase down the
    mountain side I had my first gobbler I'd ever called in!!!!! Well it
    wasn't pretty but he's in the freezer, and I'm hooked for life.
    
    Approx. Wt 22lbs
    Beard  10 1/2 inches
    Spurs 3/4 inch
    Where- Rampart Range, Colorado
    
    					Eric Roren

    Eric,
    
    Just as I think I can put Turkeys behind me in my everyday thoughts I 	
    read something like this!  Great job!  
    
    Hopefully next year I can be fortunate enough to come across one that
    is "hot".  What kind of call were you using?
    
    
    Wess

      MA. Bird
      Wednesday, May 18.
      Jake, around 13lbs, small bird
      Beard around 3"
    
      Bird took about 30 minutes to come in.  He gobbled quite a bit from
    the roost, then went silent.  Shot him at around 20 yds.
    
      Left Wednesday afternoon for PA.  Weather was cold for two days and
    the birds were silent.  On Friday I finally got a bird going.  Was
    hunting a new spot and didn't set up right.  No luck.  On Saturday I 
    hoped I had him figured.  WRONG!  I ended up blowing him off the roost
    trying to get too close.  Learned alot, can't wait till next year.  Had
    a great time and found a "hidden" spot!
    
    Jeff 

    Jeff,
    
    Glad to hear you got a bird.  I know a couple of guys hunting in Pa and
    they haven't had any luck yet.
    
    Wess

    Hey Wess, I'll give you the bird if you need one....
    
    heh heh heh
    
    Bob
    

    Hey Bob,
    
    I'll give you the "snake" if you need one......
    
    
    heh heh heh
    
    Wess