2024 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

Got a young bird this morning with my shotgun.
18.77 pounds
10 ½ inch beard
short spurs: 15/16 and 7/8 inches

Went out opening morning, but no birds in the wheat field that I set up in south of the main bush. However, when leaving, I drove around the farm and saw a flock in the wheat field north of the main bush, and watched them walk into the smaller woods in the NW corner of the wheat field.
So yesterday morning I set up before first light along the NW edge of that field. And they had changed roosts to the south end of those woods, and I spent an hour watching 4 hens and a tom slowly feed across the south side of the wheat field over 150 yards away from me.
This morning I went back and set up before first light along the SW side of that field just 50 yards north of the south edge of the wheat field. Shortly after it started getting light I had gobbles erupt just over my right shoulder not more than 40 yards away! He gobbled for over 20 minutes, then flew down into the wheat field just 30 yards from me...game over! However, I don’t think it was the same tom that I saw yesterday - no hens with him, and he didn’t have the real white head that I observed on the tom yesterday.
I had to be the easiest turkey I have bagged in many years!
All measurements taken at Erie Tracker Outfitter store in Pt. Colborne

Sorry about the quality of the pics - they looked clear on the screen of my little camera...and for some reason it won't upload my beard photo!! Even tried adding a second post with the beard photo, but won't insert!
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Way to go Gene. Nice bird.

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Wes’ tag…


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Originally Posted by genec

Got a young bird this morning with my shotgun.
18.77 pounds
10 ½ inch beard
short spurs: 15/16 and 7/8 inches

Went out opening morning, but no birds in the wheat field that I set up in south of the main bush. However, when leaving, I drove around the farm and saw a flock in the wheat field north of the main bush, and watched them walk into the smaller woods in the NW corner of the wheat field.
So yesterday morning I set up before first light along the NW edge of that field. And they had changed roosts to the south end of those woods, and I spent an hour watching 4 hens and a tom slowly feed across the south side of the wheat field over 150 yards away from me.
This morning I went back and set up before first light along the SW side of that field just 50 yards north of the south edge of the wheat field. Shortly after it started getting light I had gobbles erupt just over my right shoulder not more than 40 yards away! He gobbled for over 20 minutes, then flew down into the wheat field just 30 yards from me...game over! However, I don’t think it was the same tom that I saw yesterday - no hens with him, and he didn’t have the real white head that I observed on the tom yesterday.
I had to be the easiest turkey I have bagged in many years!
All measurements taken at Erie Tracker Outfitter store in Pt. Colborne

Sorry about the quality of the pics - they looked clear on the screen of my little camera...and for some reason it won't upload my beard photo!! Even tried adding a second post with the beard photo, but won't insert!
Attachment 44803
Attachment 44804Attachment 44805Attachment 44806

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Congratulations Gene, great story…


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Congrats on all the nice birds guys.

Congrats on the nice tom

Eventful season so far. I finally ended my two year slump on the opener with a nice heavy Jake, almost 19 pounds. No gobbling which didn’t feel right at all but with some patience around 8:30 am 13 hens come out of the bush followed by one Tom. That Tom did not make a sound and now I know why lol In the distance I see a bird running at me and stop at 30 yards staring at my decoys for 30 minutes and didn’t move. The Tom wasn’t moving so I couldn’t resist on the Jake. Either way I was happy and that’s all that matters. Next day I take the land owners son out and the gobblers were gobbling but none wanted to play just all talk, but again by 8:30 a Jake was alone and came in on a string bird down for the landowners son. Saturday went fishing with some trout caught followed by a hunt on Sunday with some friends on his uncles property. Accidentally we set up pretty close to a roost and with a lot of luck we didn’t get seen. Tom flies down at 6:30 and bird down for my buddy. Since it was early we decided to keep hunting and try to get or other friend on his first bird. To make along story short we had a nice Tom leave his hens at 9 am and my friend swung and missed his first bird. Regardless it was a great hunt but I do feel bad for my friend it has happened to the best of us. Attachment 44807


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Wow, thats alot of action. Way to go Tom.
Good on you taking the landowners son out for a hunt!

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Originally Posted by Turkeyjohn

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TurkeyWes on the board with this awesome Tom...9 inch beard, 3/4 spurs, 19.2 lbs....

Story...

So with the Wes in Scarborough now, we don't expect to get out much this season so had to make the most of our time....He was feeling a little under the weather, but needed to get out for some gunpowder aromatherapy...
We set up in a honey hole that I've hunted for years and in fact Wes and I doubled in a few years ago....and it didn't disappoint...
The weather was forecasting rain when we went to bed, but other than some clouds and wind, there was none... It's a little drive from home, so Wes playing some Walt Gabbard Longbeards, we head out at 4 dark 15.....getting there just before 5....A walk in and we set up where we had heard from another guy that hunts the property that he's seen birds at....We no sooner get sat down, but a bird starts sounding off in front and to the left in the woodline next to the field we were set on....This goes on for a while , him blasting off every 3-4 minutes, and not long before we hear 2-3 other birds chiming in....so we wait, we have a hen and 1/4 jake decoys out in front at 18 steps a few soft yelps every 10 minutes and we wait.....
So it's getting lighter and the woods are still noisy....Wes looks past me and says "Dad, don't move, one just flew down" Sure enough I can see through the brush a Tom headed our way, going into strut and gobbling as he's coming....He gets to our pre-determined range and Wes' gun barks, the bird pops up, so he barks again and down he goes in a tumble....
High fives back and forth, Wes goes to retrieve his bird and I sit back taking it all in, not knowing when I'll get out again with the boy and hoping it's not the last for the spring....

Turkey John


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I live for days in the bush with my sons. Congrats!

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Congrats Tom Gobble and to your friend and owners son