Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    
      wess,
    
    
    
     well I havent started getting ready as far as gathering up gear and
    what not, but I have been yackking on the calls while driving to work
    I learned a long time ago to avoid the calling in the house while
    cohabitating with someone that isnt as into turkey hunting as much as 
    I am. 
     
     I talked to my stepdad the other day and he was telling me that the
    gobblers are getting cranked up, altho this snow and colder weather
    will probably cool them down a bit. but by the end of the month the
    birds should be in full strut mode. I will definatly be out there the
    first day if at all possible.
    
     
                       Lee
    

    
    Well i will not be hunting turkey this year as i did not get my permit
    in time, stupid,stupid,stupid.....
    but i still have some homemade wild turkey soup in the freezer from
    that monster i wacked last fall. damn good eat'n.. i guess i'll have to
    wait till next year.  but best of luck to all who have their permit...
    
         bill

    Guys,
    
    They were gobbling pretty good this weekend in Ky.  I didn't get to get
    out and scout, buy a friend of mine did and he heard 3 on the roost.
    
    
    I saw 2 gobblers in a pasture on the way home yesterday from about 150
    yards out, they were in full strut....and pretty!
    
    
    April 17-19th,
    Gonna hunt till 1pm and fish till I fall down
    Wess
                  

    Guys,
    
    I am now almost dehydrated due to intense slobbering in regards to next
    week.  I started getting all of my stuff together last night, calls,
    shells, put my extra full choke in, etc.  According to my friends down
    in Ky, the birds are gobbling really well.  I hope the weather holds
    out for next week, of course I don't really care, cause I'm going come
    my mother-in-law or high water.
    
    
    
    AAAAHHHHHHHH
    Wess

    Well any success stories out there. Up here in MA we have two more
    weeks to wait.
    
    I have all my hunting gear laid out and ready. Now the camping stuff to
    organize... Bring on May 6th.
    
    Actually, we go in to a camping area on the pre weekend. Do the set up
    thing and some scouting. I like getting in the woods, away from the
    road side hunters.
    
    Don

    Guys,
    
    Here is my report from Ky and Ohio, believe it or not!
    
    
    Opening day in Ky was absolutely perfect.  I saw 7 hens and 2 jakes for
    the day but couldn't get a shot, the jakes were about 100 yards out and
    headed toward the neighbors place.  My buddy shot a 22lb gobbler from
    5 yards in a cedar thicket.
    
    The second day I went back to where I saw the jakes and a gobbler
    sounded off on the neighbor's at first light, 6 times.  I saw 2 guys
    working him for a while so I just sat tight.  About an hour later I
    pulled out my glass call and gave him 5 yelps.  I heard the 2 guys
    leave about 10:00am and I smiled.  About 10:20 I gave him 4 more yelps,
    then 5 yelps.  I immediately heard him trotting my way.  I trotted all
    the way to me and I shot him at 10 yards.  
    
    Gobbler   22 1/2lbs    2beards, 9" and 6"    !!!!!!!!
    
    The third day I hunted that end of the farm again and never saw a bird.
    About 10:00 I heard one gobble 3 hundred yards away and headed after
    him.  I eased into the cedars and put my diaphram call in and purred
    with a few clucks.  I eased up the loggin road purring every 10 yards
    or so.  About 50 yards in I spotted a hen.  She saw me and scurried
    off.  I decided to park it and try calling in about 20 more yards.  I
    looked up and saw a red head looking back.  It went behind the tree and
    I shouldered my shotgun.  I jake stepped out and I squeezed the
    trigger.
    
    Jake    17lb  3" beard.
    
    I was really happy to have limited out so soon.  How could I possibly
    beat that?  Keep reading.
    
    Opening day of Ohio 3 days later.  I setup on a hill side and listed to
    a bird on the other hill side gobble at first light, somebody shoots.
    About an hour later I give him 5 yelps.  About 10 minutes later a bird
    gobbles below me about 100 yards on a logging road, I smile really big.
    I gave him 4 yelps and put my diaphram in.  About 2 minutes later here
    he comes, his head is as red as any I've ever seen.  I trots up the
    hill and I clucked so he would stop, he didn't stop.  I get nervous
    because it is pretty thick and he is 40yards out.  I pull in front when
    he passes a tree and cluck, he keeps walking.  I pull out in front
    again and when he comes into sight, I fire.  He goes down.
    
    Gobbler   20 1/2lb    9inch beard.
    
    Not a bad 4 days worth of hunting!!!!!!  I also caught a bunch of fish
    too.
    
    
    Good luck
    Wess

    Way to go Wess! How about sending one of them turkey legs with some
    mashed potatoes my way when you cook em;')

    Gus >>--->

    Gus,
    
    I have already been after my wife to get some cooked up!!!!!
    
    It is a shame you guys are so far over there.  I would like to attend
    one of those "Wild Game" dinners if you were closer.
    
    
    I got the pictures back today of the 2 I got in Ky, they turned out OK.
    
    
    Is anybody else going after TURKEYS out there?
    
    Good luck
    Wess
    

    
    
        Wess,
     first off congrats on the birds, them there be some nice 'keys.
    
        I am headed to Pa. 5-10 till 5-15 if all goes well, I was going to
    go to camp this weekend but its supposed to rain which isnt a problem
    but its also opening day tomorrow down there and there are just too
    many hunters out. (kinda uneasy after getting shot once) 
    
      I talked to Billy a couple weeks ago and he will be on 4-12 shift
    those days so we are planning on doing some hunting together again,
    he's the one i was hunting with last fall when we both got gobblers 
    about 45 seconds apart in the same spot.
    
      hopefuly we do ok, my NY hunting will probably be limited to just
    calling for 2 newbies to turkey hunting, which is fine to me, i get
    more enjoyment outa calling the birds in than shooting them anyways.
    
    
    
                             Lee
    
    

    Lee,
    
    Good luck and I hope you put it on em'.
    
    
    I hope the weather is good for you too.
    
    
    Wess

    If anyone gets to go turkey hunting please post the note in here
    whether you see any or not, I am foaming at the mouth for more stories.
    
    
    
    Wess

    
    Wess,
    
            Contgrats on all your success.
    
    
                                        Guy

A report from the Great White North...

It's still white!!! We started opening day (Apr 25) about an hour east
of Toronto. We got a few gobbles at the crack of dawn, but they
wouldn't come. The woods are still snow covered in the shady spots and
the turkeys and still grouped up in the fields. There is no mating
going on, and no food in the bush so there is no reason for them to
venture far from the fields at this point. After 5 days we decided to
return home and we'll go back when we get some warmer weather
(hopefully before the season closes on the 17th).

I hope others are doing better.

 mark

    A buddy of mine called me yesterday from the county in Ky that I am
    from.  His uncle and dad are two of the best hunters/outdoorsmen I know
    and they heard 1 bird gobble (combined) all of turkey season!  They
    seem to think the birds weren't in full swing as of yet, at least in
    the areas they hunted.  Ky season ended tuesday.
    
    Ohio is still in full swing.  So far 4 birds have been taken off of the
    farm where I took mine.  They all vary in size from a Jake to 22lb.
    
    Good luck if you get to go.
    Wess

    All,
    
    The guy I hunt with in Ohio who owns the farm called me this morning. 
    He took off work yesterday and went after the turkeys.  He said he
    didn't hear any birds at his first setup location and after hearing
    some guys talking down into the woods decided to move.  He moved over
    to the hillside where I took my bird on opening day and called a few
    times.  He said nothing was going on and at about 11:00 he moved to the
    other side of the farm.  He pulled out a slate call that I let him
    borrow (first time he hunted with it) and let out a few yelps.  A
    gobbler immediately answered down into the woods 100-150 yards.  He
    said the bird would gobble just about every time he yelped but wouldn't
    ever come in.  Since quitting time is at 12:00 he only had 20 minutes
    left.  He decided to move in closer.  He hooked around the bird and
    let out a few yelps, the bird answered.  He moved a little closer with
    10 minutes till quitting time.  About 5 minutes before time was up he
    heard a cluck and slowly turned to see approx 10 turkeys less than 15
    yards from him.  He said there were 3 gobblers, he shot the 19lb 9 1/2
    bearded one.
    
    
    Way to go Bill!
    
    Wess

    
    
         Well saturday was my first venture to the turkey woods this spring 
    and man what a way to bring in my 96 season!!! 
    
         I was awake at 3:30 saturday morning, peered out the window, and
    FOG! and i dont mean just foggy I'm talkin thick like i couldnt see the
    dust to dawn light thats only 50 feet from the house!
    
        Oh well I was going no matter what unless it was a terential down
    pour, a 15 minute ride was about 45 minutes, at times I could see about
    50 feet or so along the ride to my spot, other times i could barely
    make out the bug shield on the front of the truck!
     
         I get to my area, slip into my camo jacket and head out thru the 
    xmas trees, get to the woods line, slide a couple shells in the gun,
    and ease into the woods, i get about 75 yrds in and i hear putt putt
    and then hear dew drops falling from a tree limb, it was a hen getting
    ready to fly out, she flew out towards the big field, well thats ok at
    least she's outa here. 
    
        I find a nice cozy spot beside a huge beech tree, at 5:30 the fog
    has gotten brighter, ok time to see whats awake in here, so i made 2
    soft cluck followed imediatly by a series of real soft tree yelps.
      
        GGOOOOOOOOOBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, man i 
    had a shiver go up my spine! he was CLOSE! then i heard him fly down,
    now the real fun starts, i yelp, he gobbles, i cluck, he gobbles, I
    purr he comes unglued! oh yeah this is what its all about. so this is
    going back and forth for about 15 minutes and he's getting closer but
    he's coming in slowly.
       By now the fog has brightened up quite abit, but there is a huge
    problem, i can only see about 20 yrds! this gobbler is close, so close
    that i can hear him drumming and spitting, but i couldnt see him. grrrr
    the worste part af all was that going by the tones of his gobbles this
    was definatly not a jake. so then he starts cricling me but he moved
    out to about 100yrds. 
        I stayed put and kept him gobbling, he circled almost the whole way
    around before he walked past someone that must of heard the gobbler and
    just walked in above me, this person never made a call just sat there
    and since it was so foggy i couldnt see him come in, and there was no 
    vehicles parked when i got there, there was one there when i finally
    left at 10:30, the thing that really tourqed me was that this is the
    second time i was told by the land owner that i was the only one to ask
    so i should be alone out there, only to have someone sneak in. 
    
      anyways, to make an already long story short, i ended up calling in 4
    more gobblers after the first one but 40 yrds was the closest i could 
    get them, i gotta replace my decoys!  Sunday monring i had 2 gobblers 
    going but had them taken by hens before they got close enough. I am 
    gonna try a couple mornings this week, hopefuly the hens start nesting.
    
    
    
    
                                 Lee
    
    
    

    
    
       I headed out last night to put a gobbler to bed, what a beatiful
    evening, sunny, fairly warm, and vocal birds!
    
       I arrived at 4:45 to my area, walked in and i knew he was either
    roosted in the hemlock or darn close to it, anyways i am about 100 yrds 
    from there sneaking along nice and quiet when all of a sudden i hear
    the very faint sound of somthing hitting the leaves.
    
        Hmmmm i thot, well lets see too cold for a dew drop since
    everything is frosted, there aint no cherries or acorns on the trees
    damn that means only one thing, slowly i turn my head and look skyward 
    and there they are 2 hens looking right at me. 
    
       This isnt good, so lets make a bad situation either better or worse
    spook them out and hope the gobbler doesnt go with them or spook them
    to make it not such a bad thing or spook them out and they take him
    with them blowing the whole day.
     
        I spooked them off roost and the gobbler didnt move, ok this is ok,
    now regain the confidence, set out the decoys and melt into the forest 
    suroundings, as the darkness faded in the morning light i very softly
    tree clucked and yelped..............
    
      he answered, sounded close enough to knock my hat off, ok this is
    great, the hens are gone, the decoys are set all i gotta do is get you
    outa that there tree. he flys down and he's only 60-70 yrds outin front
    of me. I yelp he gobbles, i purr he gobbles takes a few steps my way
    the whole time he was looking up towards me but he couldnt see the
    decoys because of a dirt mound about 40 yrds in front of me.
    
       so this goes back and forth for about 15 minutes, he's coming in but
    real slow, finally i see his head above the dirt mound, now his head
    and neck, ok he gobbles again, goes into strut, man what an awesome
    sight. but he wont come any closer, so i give a cutt'n call as soft as
    i could.
    
        he drops outa strut and bolts ahead about 15 yrds, ok the yardage 
    is fine but i dont like the position of his head/neck after he'd gobble
    he would leave it stretched out, ok time to get him to ick up his head.
    i was as ready as i ever would be, set the bead of the shotgun where i
    thot he would snap his head to, and did an alarm putt.
    
       he snapped up his head, right to the bead, and the hunt was over,
    not a big bird but a nice plump little 14-15 lbr, it'll make good table
    fare for the farmer and his wife.
    
     
    
                                                   Lee
    

    Two for the freezer. Went to NY this past weekend with my brother.
    Saturday was raining and the birds weren't talking. Seen many flocks in
    the fields during the afternoon. Sunday morning was a clear day. We
    went into our positions about 50 yards from each other. The farmer told
    us where about they were roosting. Come daylight we started calling.
    Within 5 minutes I could here them fly down from the roost. 10 minutes
    later I shot one at 20 yards. 10 seconds later my brother shot his. 
    
    14 lb jake  3 inch beard
    12 lb jake  2 1/2 inch beard
    
    Not trophies, but we'll take them. Saw many deer also. 12 to 15 running
    by at a time. Looks good for the fall.
    
    Barry Perla

    Barry, Lee,
    
    Congrats on your birds!   You guys have me thinking about them again.
    
    
    Wess

    
    Congrats Lee and Barry on your successful outings.
    
    
                                      Guy

    Guys,
    
    A Digital guy in the Cinci office went over to Indiana for his first
    turkey hunt last week.  
    
    
    He ended up bagging a 27Lb Godzilla gobbler!  That is the largest
    turkey I have ever heard of!
    
    
    Turns out his buddy spooked the gobbler right to him, so he shot it.
    
    He was really excited though, so at least that was good.
    
    
    Way to go Dave!
    
    Wess

    
    
        well I was back at it again yesterday morning, it was a beautiful
    morning, nice and sunny(despite the forcast of rain) when i woke up and
    looked outside at 3:30am there were stars visible in the sky.
    
       I arrived at my hunting spot, and soon after daylight i heard 2
    turkeys gobble, once they flew down they fell silent, probably had hens
    with them. i also heard 2 other birds on the other hill across from me. 
    then on the way back to the truck i yelped a few times and received an
    answer from the other side of the road.
    
       this morning i was awaken from a sound sleep by pouring rain, i
    looked at the clock 2:30am, then ruedly awaken again at 3:30, no rain.
    I go in to my area and knowing where those 2 birds were yesterday i
    know where to be this morning.
       I set up the decoys and then i settled in along the edge of a beaver
    damn, at 5:20 I softly tree yelped, that drew an imediate gobble from
    about 100 yrds to my left, we talked back and forth and finally he came
    off roost, he was coming in quite slowly, but thats fine by me, it
    sounded like a jake, maybe a 2 yr old. 
       all of a sudden a flash caught my eye, i look to the left and there
    is a pair of wood ducks about 10 feet from me on the pond, man i wanna 
    tell ya there isnt a more beautiful bird in north america than the male 
    wood duck. then a couple more pairs flew in, and then 2 pair of
    mallards came in and landed in the pond. at that time that turkey wasnt 
    as interesting to me. man i wish i would of had a camera, at one point
    i had a male woodie about 5 feet away! 
    
        then the rain started, and it poured, so i grabbed the decoys and
    took off for the truck, i step outa the woods into the big field look
    off to the right and there is a deer about 100 yrds away, it looks up
    at me and then takes a step forward, and i see the back part of another
    deer that is snow white, the brown one takes another step forward and
    now i can see the one with a white back end, it was brown from its head
    to its belly then pure white from its belly back. then i really wished
    i woulda had a camera.
    
     now i gotta get hunting off my mind and get back to work:-(
    
                             Lee
    

    All,
    
    Add another turky to the list for Mike Metal out of the Pittsburgh
    office.  I believe it was a 17lb with a 7" beard.
    
    
    Wess

    howdy - 
    I don't hunt turkey and know very little about them, but i saw a video
    from Georgia recently that was pretty interesting. Seems the guy shot a
    tom and before he could get out of his tree stand, two other toms came
    out of the woods and started beating the holy sh*t out of this dead
    bird! He shot one of the attackers and the shot went thru it, into the
    other bird, killing both of the attackers! I don't know if 3 toms is
    legal in Ga. or not, I didn't ask the guy, not knowing him. But an
    interesting story non-the-less.
    
    deadhead

Thrilled to be afield at a different time of year. This turkey hunting thing is
something that gets under your skin fast isn't it? 

Had my first experience in the great state of NEW JERSEY's spring turkey hunting
season this past week. The two turkey hunters in my club persuaded me to apply
for the permit. Caught the last permit weeks, was lucky to get that one as most
are over subscribed in the state. 

Heard to believe that just a few years ago we had very few turkey's in the
state, but due to a great management program as well as good habitat we now
have lots. Hunting for them has only been in for 3-4 years but there seems to
be more out there every year.

Now to my first turkey hunting experience. You know what it's like to have one
of those weeks when work gets in the way of play? Well I had just been in a 2
week cycle prior to the permit weeks I pulled. Naturally that means none of the 
good intention stuff that you are supposed to do prior to going on a hunt got
done till the week of the hunt. Behind already. No scouting time, no get
yourself organized time, just get what you absolutely need and wing it.

Day one, had to work late shoots the opening morning. Was so annoyed went by 
the property late that evening just to check where to go the following morning.
Driving by one of the fields, Turkey's lot of them a few with white, blue heads
and a group of others. Pull over park they scoot toward one of the hedge rows 
out of site. Figured time to give the new box call a try. Few yelps on the box
loud gobble from the hedgerow. Do it a few times same results. This talking
turkey stuff seems fun and they do answer back. Figured they were going to be 
in the woods close by the hedge row in the am so home for a few hours of sleep
before that early am get up. 

Up and our prior to day break, park car and get out to listen, quiet. Walk to
the hollow where there is the large stand of trees, cross stream on logging 
road, find big tree and open spot and make myself at home. Next thing I know
is the LETS ALL TALK TURKEY BIRD switch gets thrown. One to the left across the
road gobbles, than two to the right gobble, than two behind them gobble. But
when the birds right above me started to gobble,I knew that we might have over 
shot where we should have been. All in all there were 7 gobblers and assorted 
hens in the woods where I had my body resting against a tree. To say they
were noisy was an understatement. I figured after 25+ minutes of them making
a racket I would take a chance and call. Heck they called back, a gobble here
than a gobble there ,than a gobble above me. Well spent 45 minutes playing 
than that long silent span came. Must have given the "you boys and galls better
get out of the county call" cause next thing I know is one by one they fly out
to the far side if the woods away from me, gone. Not being able to get the day
or week off time was running short for me to be there.Out of the woods and off
to work mumbling a few choice words to myself. 

Turkey lesson one: Don't sit in the middle of the flock. They can see you and
laugh alot from the trees, than fly away.

Day three, rain lots, day four lots more. Work late Thursday night call my 
friend who said he would call for me if I wanted to go out late Thursday night
and said Even if I don't get any sleep I'm going turkey hunting the next
morning. In bed by 2:00am up at 4 makes Me a very sleepy person normally but
I was at Steve's house to get him on time.
 Back to the same area as the other day but was going to set up different
this time. Steve had brought along his hen decoy (legal in NJ) and we set up
before the Hollow of hard woods at the point where 2 logging roads joined to
one. I could see 75+ yards down road into the hollow, stream crossed the road
about 45 yards down the road. From where I would be at the point where the two
roads merged we put the decoy in the road about 18 yards out. (walked it off
later) Still Dark out and very wet but no wind to speak of and real quiet.
 We snuggled in to our trees opposite each other. I'm angled toward the safe
shooting lane down the road. Next was almost a replay of the other day in the
woods, someone turned on the "LETS TALK TURKEY" switch. Gobbles in the trees
to the left right and center woods but thank goodness not above us. Steve is
ready to do his thing calling as he has been at it many years and quite
successful for quite a few years. For 45 minutes he is making these gobblers
HOT. They just took their time getting down off their roosts. Midway in this
turkey calling duel one of them lets out this distress, watchout call to the
group. I'm watching the road and what scoots across the road at stream side
but a red fox. Steve didn't see it so was confused as to what caused the
alarm call. He call's they call. They just didn't want to get down and get
in the wet stuff from 2 days of rain. Finally after what seemed like forever
I see one fly down across the road to the right. Than 2 or three more flew
down across . I'm sitting ready bead down the road waiting looking toward
the end of that 75 yard run when out pops one of the birds onto the road.
Then there are 2 more all at 75 yards looking at the decoy between me and
themselves.
 It was like a seen from one of the Three Stooges movies, Moe, Larry, and
Curley all trying to impress the girl and out do the other in strut. All
3 birds full strut coming straight up this 75 yard road side by side
saying " I'm better looking than you are and she is going to pick me".
"Better let her decide Moe My swagger is better than yours".
Here they come all hot to trot but so close If I shoot I get 1,2,3 or a combo
there of. Do you know how long and how hard you heart can pound when put in
this type of situation? 
By now Steve is waiting for me to do something but from his angle he can't see 
my I get 2 or 3 if I shoot now situation. I wait and wait they come across
the stream at the bottom of the hollow still 3 across swaggering right next to 
another. As they reached the decoy in unison 2 of them shift right, one shot
3 birds anyone? Something has got to give. Steve gives 1 yelp on call, one 
stretches his neck out to see what's up. By now they are at the decoy all
wondering why she don't want to have anything to do with them and has only one
stick for a leg. Feathers start to go down and Moe says to Larry and Curley 
"she don't want us guys so maybe we should sneak back down the road and go
someplace else". I'm still sweating and heart pumping at this point with still
no one bird shoot. Finally one of the birds breaks left, Steve whispers "Shoot
one", one shoot down he goes. Moe and Larry don't know what to make of Curly 
but decide it is not the place for them to be and vanish. By 5:50 am my 2nd
turkey hunt afield was done. 
After lots of hand shaking and backslapping for a job well done I shouldered
my 12 pound jake 4" beard first bird. 
Still able to get a thrill out of a different type of hunting in the field.
Now hooked on another type of hunting.  

P.S. Wondering why I was so concerned about the 2 or 3 for one shot? Well
you have to be by the book when you hunt with the game warden, and a good
friend at that.   

    Congrats on your first bird, you are hooked for life now!
    
    
    Wess

    
    
        Yeap, been there, and your right its downright unnerving,
    'specially when your a virgin at it. its great that everything worked
    out in your favor.
    
         Been there more times than i care to admitt about walking under
    birds, no matter how hard ya look for them sometimes ya just dont see
    them. I pulled that stunt on saturday, tried to call the hen back in
    after daylight but she had flown across the beaver dam and wouldnt come 
    back, the long beard has been tagging along with her and not gobbling.
    
       I called in a hen that had a jake in tow on the 15th but i didnt
    take him, knowing that there is a good long beard there, so what
    happens? she starts cutting, i cut right back, along with yelps, clucks
    and purrs, i hear the long beard gobble about 100 yrds behind me, the 
    jake alarm putts and takes off on a dead run up over the hill, musta
    had his fill of the old boss already.
    
         and not another sound excet for the hen every now and then. oh
    well if he survives another year he should be even bigger, and with a
    good nest we should have a great flock there on that farm. 
    
    
               Lee 
    
      Who is already making plans for the fall hunt, may even move out my
    weeks bowhunt to coincide with turkey season.