2010 Turkey thread

[Sean B]

Alright, the turkey season is starting to open up around the south.  Most of us here in the NE, especially NY state have to wait till May.  So to get me through the next month and a half, lets see some pictures, hear some stories of the stick and string.  EVEN the ones that got away!  Thanks.

[Izzy]

The ones that got away??? Well Sean, pull up a comfy chair and put aside some time cause all I got is almosts.Ive missed 4 in the last 4 years and spooked 3  trying to draw my longbow. I keep telling myself Im gonna stick with the longbow this year no matter what.Looks like a good population up here, I cant wait.

[Sean B]

Izzy, If I can't hunt'em, I wanna talk about'em. It's the next best thing!!  
It seems to look good all over.  I hunt Dutchess, Putnam, Delaware and Otsego counties, and I've seen good flock's this past winter.
I shot one last year at 12 yards. got him broadside while he was strutting. I set up along a logging road about 930.  It was kind of windy, so I was using a box call.  about 45 mins after I set up, I had a bird gobble on the hill above me, where the road i was on wraps around. He cam down that road all by his lonesome, and made a bee line right for my Jake decoy. I was going to wait till he turned with his @$$ facing me, but I couldn't hold back.  He spiralled out and got tangled in some barberries growing along a stone wall.

 I may try it with out a blind this year.  got to see what mood I'm in.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Not many turkeys right over here!  I have only found one feather in the last 2 years on the horse farm property.  I have yet to see tracks, poop or any evidence they are here.  

I see them around while driving from time to time and want one as bad as the next guy with the bow.  In fact I havnt killed a bird in about 8 years (the amount of time I've been in NY).  Ive had one shot a couple years ago though. (before I was into archery).

Cant wait for the opener myself!

[Spurs]

Tons of Turks here, but they are still a little behind.  Hens roosting on one end of field, and gobblers, and jakes at the other end.  A few days of warm spring weather, and they will be rocking.  It should buy me some time to devise a plan for the recurve hunt.

[mjdglobal]

I can't wait for my season to start (April 19).  Here's a picture of preferred target #1 who came in the yard earlier this week (more pics of him in Michigan Traditional Bowhunters Spring 2010 Turkey Diary).  The second picture is a couple gobblers from last week.


 

 

[Earthdog]

Last year I'd chased the local birds for about 2 weeks without a shot.

I'd been within range of the biggest bird for about 2 hours one evening,he was on my naibours property on the other side of the dirt road the Thorn hedge I was hiding in ran along,,about 25 yards away,but he might as well of been on the other side of the moon for me,,that hedge is the boundry an that's that.

The next evening I cast over the area with my Bino's an there he was again,but this time on my side,,,and the big plus "still beside the thorn hedge an not right out in the middle of the big paddock where I could never reach him.

It took me about an hour to cover the distance between us and put myself level with where I thought he was.

I,ve come up through the gully an just have to poke my head over the top to see where he really is,so I nock my arrow and edge forward ever so slowly.

As I come over the top the first thing I see is one of his girls,but she's not on to me yet so I keep moving forward an there he is,he's facing my way an still hasn't seen me.

I come up onto my knees an hit full draw all in one smooth movement,I can see the girls an feel their eyes as they begin to run,the big guy spots me but it's too late "my arrow is on the way".

There's a big explosion of grass an dirt an I hear him give a startled yelp as the arrow plows into the ground causing the nock end to flip over a smack him squarely in the chest.

On the way back to the house I see a rabbit at about 10 yards,,,,I tell him to go away an leave me alone.

[joe skipp]

Had 3 toms gobbling behind my house last week around 6am. Seen a nice flock the other day....NY needs to open mid April.

Misses...plenty! Also don't hunt from any concealed blinds, natural cover only and believe me its tough and challenging. Someone must be looking over my shoulder the past 2 yrs as my arrows have found 3 nice toms. Hope to continue the trend this spring.

Again this year I'll be toting my little old Browning Cobra, 58" Kempf Longbow and on the business end of my arras...160 gr Snuffers...Good luck to everyone...can't wait!!

[Spectre]

The weird winter has them kinda funky right now, but they are starting to show signs of strut. I have never harvested one, so I am excited like crazy.

[kbetts]

Went and pulled the camera chips.  No pics, but on the way into the woods I ran upon 27 of them.  The back four were huge and looked like they had tomatoes on their necks.
I have hernia surgery on Thursday and need to be able to pull my bow by the first week of April.  Last year we opened on the 10th.  Good thing I talked my wife into lettin me buy that little 50# recurve.  I may need it.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I agree Joe, May is a bit to late for the turkey season to start. Then again, we get a whole month where others only may get a week.  Although calling might not be as effective, if you can find food areas you might make out.  Take my advice for what its worth, cant seem to get one in range anyhow    

Kyle, I hope your surgury goes well and you are slinging healthy arrows soon.  Good Luck!   :cool:

[Roy Steele]

CYCLIC you see you don't haveing tirkeys.There's a reason water,food scorces or nesting area's.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Coyotes      

Lots of water and nesting, I think it would be the lack of food.  We do have an abundance of coyotes though, I have called more coyotes in with turkey calls than any predator call.  I know there are turkeys though not more than a couple miles away I just haven't met that many landowners yet.

Just so you all know I plan on having different luck this year thanks to a fellow TG'er        

he told me where the turkey farm is!        

[Izzy]

If your hunting with Domestic Death dont look up.If he sees a squirrel up a tree and catches squirrel fever you just might catch one of them hickory shafts in your sky gazing eyeball.Dont ask me how I know.  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

You have me scared Izzy!  
I think I know who you are referring to.  I might have to find some of those nice safety goggles I saw at the JLMBH!  I was wondering why everyone was wearing them.   :eek:  

BTW squirrels aren't in season in May!       Thank god

[Izzy]

I cant say for sure but he looks less than law abiding and may be of the much maligned squirrel poaching persuasion. Sorry DD, I really owe you though.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Not sure If I know who you are talking of.  I'm sure I'll figure it out when I catch an arrow in the eye    

Found that shop you told me about on Central!  Didn't stop just did a drive by.

Cant wait to get some of my own feathers for my arrows.
Gobble Gobble.

[Sean B]

Domestic Death......now that's a cool handle!   :cool:

[Follower]

Alabama opened up today!  Unfortunately not much to tell...one distant gobble at daybreak - rest of the morning was quiet.  I've lived here a while now but I still think its weird that spring turkey season opens 6 weeks after peak rut.  I saw buck sign this morning that still looks pretty fresh!

[Don Stokes]

Follower, I know what you mean. We have a late deer rut here in north MS, December and January, and I've found scrapes in turkey season in mid March. Too few bucks, and a really spread-out rut. State biologists doing surveys on spring does have confirmed some March breeding.