2025 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

[Markster]

Today was my opening day. The early morning was real quiet but around 8 I heard a strong gobble. Perfect I said to my self, game on. Nothing like hearing the first gobble since last year. To make a long story short no gobblers showed but I had 3 big jakes doing a circle around me. I waited to see if that gobbler would come but he never did so I decided to take the biggest Jake. I sent a crossbow bolt and it did a complete pass through. The Jake was doing the flop so i sent one more bolt for good measure. As I got up to go get my bird the other two jakes flew off and the bird that I thought was dead got up and walked to the neighbours property. I had to wait until 11 not to bother the neighbours to early and went to ask permission to go search for it. Unfortunately I could not find the bird after hours of searching. I did find one bolt that was full of feathers and blood. This is the bad part about hunting and I know it happens but it’s still a hard pill to swallow. Sorry for the rant but I had to get this off my chest.

Thats a tough one for sure.
Unfortunately its the downside of using a crossbow.
Been there, done that. Almost the same situation.

Nothing you can do about it. Just gotta move on.

[Thegeet]

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2025 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

Post your story, pics and measurements here
This thread will be updated periodically throughout the 5 week season
Good luck to all

Well, it was a heck of a morning. How it ended with a bird I don't know.
Late start, birds in the field when we got there, couldn't make it to the blind. Put plan B into action (birds didn't read the script). Made a set up along a fence row, a few calls and had them within 15yrds but they came in along a rock fence row and had a marginal shot to say the least (no go). They saw the truck and gradually made their way back to another field. Made the long trek around to get to the blind and set up (plan C). At that point we thought we were busted but as luck would have it they came back around. Watched them make their way back to the exact spot we set up originally looking for the girl. Made a few calls and they started coming our way but the made their way into the bush. Some light calling and they came out of the bush and headed our way. Then the saw the Jake and hen decoys. Game over. Watched them beat the heck out of the jake decoy before taking him at 14yrds. Won't forget this hunt. 21lbs, 7/8". and 1" spurs and beard is 10". Hope the pics work.

Some nice birds so far. Good luck and be safe out there.

[Markster]

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Well, it was a heck of a morning. How it ended with a bird I don't know.
Late start, birds in the field when we got there, couldn't make it to the blind. Put plan B into action (birds didn't read the script). Made a set up along a fence row, a few calls and had them within 15yrds but they came in along a rock fence row and had a marginal shot to say the least (no go). They saw the truck and gradually made their way back to another field. Made the long trek around to get to the blind and set up (plan C). At that point we thought we were busted but as luck would have it they came back around. Watched them make their way back to the exact spot we set up originally looking for the girl. Made a few calls and they started coming our way but the made their way into the bush. Some light calling and they came out of the bush and headed our way. Then the saw the Jake and hen decoys. Game over. Watched them beat the heck out of the jake decoy before taking him at 14yrds. Won't forget this hunt. 21lbs, 7/8". and 1" spurs and beard is 10". Hope the pics work.

Some nice birds so far. Good luck and be safe out there.

Nice bird geet. Congratulations!

[tom gobble]

Congrats on a nice bird. Regardless of how it happened at least it happened lol

[Articcat]

Great bird congrats

[Turkeyjohn]

Great bird TheGeet, doesn’t matter how, but you got him in the end

TJ


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[Lenny]

Gotta get my pics moved over and posted. Fastest hunt ever - neighbour calls Saturday afternoon and says "they're out there again in my freshly planted peas and oats field", so I load up my jakefan strutter and a breeding hen, drive over, and sure enough, there are 4 birds. Wide open walk across the field, the birds scram, and I'm thinking that this is going to be a bust, but trying to be a good neighbour.....set up the decoys, settled into the fencerow about 5:10pm, wait for 5 mins, called a few times, nothing. Decided to just sit still and wait for a bit, and then I heard something. Or thought I did. Then heard it again - wait, I recognize that sound, its like a strutting tom "spitting", and sure enough, coming in from the right is a silent tom, in full strut. Came right in, shot him at about 17yards, big bird. Hunt lasted at most 30 minutes, and he never gobbled once, just dragged his wing tips along. 12.5" beard, 1.25" spurs, 25.5 lbs.

[Turkeyjohn]

Holy Lenny, that’s a monster bird for sure, some kind of mutant? Sure it’s not an ostrich? Pretty cool and congratulations!!! Can’t wait to see pics..

TurkeyJohn


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[CD94]

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Season got off to a good start this weekend. My oldest son and I went for a drive / scout Friday night and saw this Tom just across the road from the farm I hunt. I set up on my side the following morning first thing about 300 yards from where this bird roosted. He gobbled early and often on the roost. I let out a few calls early as did a couple other hens near where I was set up so I had a good feeling he would cross the road and come my direction. He took his time closing the distance and circled me at about 60 yards but once we saw my half strut jake decoy he came right in to 20 yards.
Beard = 8"
Spurs = 1.25"
Shotgun
19 Pounds

[Turkeyjohn]

20250503_101838880_iOS (Small).jpg
20250503_115538920_iOS (Small).jpg
20250503_115151615_iOS (Small).jpg
20250505_163450878_iOS (Small).jpg

Season got off to a good start this weekend. My oldest son and I went for a drive / scout Friday night and saw this Tom just across the road from the farm I hunt. I set up on my side the following morning first thing about 300 yards from where this bird roosted. He gobbled early and often on the roost. I let out a few calls early as did a couple other hens near where I was set up so I had a good feeling he would cross the road and come my direction. He took his time closing the distance and circled me at about 60 yards but once we saw my half strut jake decoy he came right in to 20 yards.
Beard = 8"
Spurs = 1.25"
Shotgun
19 Pounds

Another great bird CD94…

Love it when they follow the rules, which isn’t often..

TJ


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