2024 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

[Articcat]

Congrats Guys

[Articcat]

Was contemplating going out this morning butb the rain held me off.
So decided I would give it a try this afternoon on a new property I just got permission on and leave the farm for a few days that my friend got his new bird on opening day.
Took the ATV from my house to the farm which is only 1/12KMs away and drove thru the plowed corn field and into the bush.
Parked the bike and walked in about 100Yds and set the decoys up, walked back to my try just in the bush got comfortable and started soft purrs and a couple of yelps and almost within 20 seconds I see a hen come to the left of me and then another and then a nice jake. Started with soft purrs again but the hens didn't want anything to do with my calls but the jake turn around and started coming toward me, kept up with soft purrs and he started running into the decoys, he started circling the hen and I gave him a yelp raised his head and boom down he went, not a big bird has to be the fastest hunt I ever had.
4-1/4" beard, 5/16" spur and weighed 20lbs 4oz, check out the tail fan on this jake no middle feathers sticking like a jake usually has and the beard was really thick, I almost thought it was a tom with a rotten beard but the short spurs tells me it's a jake, not sure, if any one else has any thoughts on this let me know.
Lenny I will send you the picture shortly

[Markster]

Good going articcat. Thats a heavy bird for a jake isn’t it, or are they usually that weight?

[Jerryklimczuk]

Congratulations Jerry, thats a nice bird.

Thanks bud.

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[Jerryklimczuk]

Great story and bird Jerry… spooky bears going by just before you did, bears are a hard nay, nay…

TurkeyJohn


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Thank you sir.

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[finsfurfeathers]

Was contemplating going out this morning butb the rain held me off.
So decided I would give it a try this afternoon on a new property I just got permission on and leave the farm for a few days that my friend got his new bird on opening day.
Took the ATV from my house to the farm which is only 1/12KMs away and drove thru the plowed corn field and into the bush.
Parked the bike and walked in about 100Yds and set the decoys up, walked back to my try just in the bush got comfortable and started soft purrs and a couple of yelps and almost within 20 seconds I see a hen come to the left of me and then another and then a nice jake. Started with soft purrs again but the hens didn't want anything to do with my calls but the jake turn around and started coming toward me, kept up with soft purrs and he started running into the decoys, he started circling the hen and I gave him a yelp raised his head and boom down he went, not a big bird has to be the fastest hunt I ever had.
4-1/4" beard, 5/16" spur and weighed 20lbs 4oz, check out the tail fan on this jake no middle feathers sticking like a jake usually has and the beard was really thick, I almost thought it was a tom with a rotten beard but the short spurs tells me it's a jake, not sure, if any one else has any thoughts on this let me know.
Lenny I will send you the picture shortly

I'm thinking by the description more likely a really young tom. In any case good hunt and a great tasting bird.

[Turkeyjohn]

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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[Markster]

Way to go Wes!! Showing the old man how its done!

[Articcat]

Congrats Wes, keep it up

[Articcat]

Thanks Markster, still not sure if it's a jake or possibly a young Tom,