Finished this little pocket rocket call for the lucky or skilled bowhunter that kills largest Klintworth Gobblepalooza 2015 bird based on NWTF scoring or my scoring if I have to slant it!!!!
Got a great crew I am joining that are regulars on here and my best buddy duck hunter from home to cut his teeth. Loaded up my dog box with about 2000 dollars of decoys and headed to get some crawdads and shrimp
NE can't come fast enough. I got a NEW trick decoy and blind ready to try. Hopefully Nick has scouted me his dumbest birds . Tippit Zack kip and 'mike . Travel safe
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/Mobile%20Uploads/35AA2AFC-FF53-4257-8BC6-56422BC73B9E_zps3hv0fm9o.jpg)
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/Mobile%20Uploads/818FCB84-B788-452D-969A-04855DE5A5F1_zps10t8mmin.jpg)
Joey getting on an airplane Wed. morning looking forward meeting you and the rest of the group.Really need some R&R will explain at camp actually good news.See you soon.Kip
Always look forward to the next "next level" of turkey tactics. Good luck Joey and crew.
Good luck guys!
Working today is killing me! I got my gear packed, broadheads sharp, and shooting, well, we will see :)
Let's get ready to rummmmbleeeee!!!!
crawfish (check)...shrimp (check)....crab boil...(check).....secret decoy..(check)
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/BD2A0323-364B-45D1-8777-CA1667A94DC8_zpsgh7vjtii.jpg)
Looka dem mudbugs!!! I can't wait to tie into them...I am taking my boy in am before work, coming down with the green apple trots at 12 noon and heading to NE...don't tell my boss. She owns 51% of the company and owns everything else I like except my taxidermy mounts and bows :)
Safe travels amigo!!!
I hope you guys have a great trip. I look forward to hearing the Tales.
Good luck!
I wish I could join you guys for dinner!
Bisch
Joey, Mike and Kip all trying to outdo each other in the kitchen? Oh man, I should drive on out just to eat table scraps! Y'all are gonna be living the high life this week!
Good luck men. Don't stuff yourself so much that you forget you got turkeys to kill.
Looks like a fun trip. Good luck to everybody.
Whip,
I might just pick the kitchen window as my blind so I hardly have to leave the table :biglaugh:
cooler full of Crawdads to NE... cooler full of Turkey from NE... sounds perfect. Good luck guys, take lots of pictures.
:campfire:
Good luck JoeBuck. I`m struggling to get one close this year. But it ain`t over yet!!RC
Go get em Mississippi Man!
QuoteOriginally posted by joebuck:
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/Mobile%20Uploads/818FCB84-B788-452D-969A-04855DE5A5F1_zps10t8mmin.jpg)
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/BD2A0323-364B-45D1-8777-CA1667A94DC8_zpsgh7vjtii.jpg) Look, um, dude, uh, like, um, your dog has feathers and your cooler's got bugs.
homebru
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
Whip,
I might just pick the kitchen window as my blind so I hardly have to leave the table :biglaugh:
I would do the same thing Jeff.
get em boys
Good luck!
Can't wait for the reports on this one. Bear Quest and this spring Turkey chase are my favorite threads this time of year.
:archer2:
Good luck! :campfire:
Back in the saddle again at work...dreaming of having just a few more days. We got some stories: some of them involve turkeys :)
:coffee:
:campfire:
(http://i.imgur.com/BALVogB.jpg)
Imgur testing...
Nice bearded lady that got a pass. The guys may still be traveling so I will start my long winded story and get out of the way :)
First off, this is my 3rd trip to Klintworth Ranch. Yes it is loaded with birds, but they are managed right. No guns, no disturbance of the roosts, and no fooling with the sanctuary. On top of that, Nick, Mary and the boys run their cattle farm and this hunting operation with the respect of a family that loves what they do. Fine folks that I call friends!
I traveled with Kip my buddy from LA (not the smoggy one). He is a trip and a fine cook but a crappy photographer. I can spend pages of Kip stories...one is coming that is nuts :) We arrived a hunt short as I had some work I needed to finish. We got in an evening hunt. I had told Kip this place was going to blow his mind...mission accomplished!
My first set was a coulee with a roost destination in mind. I had my dekes out and had some hen action. It was good to be back! Just when it was time to pick up my stool, pack my ghilli and jet, I see a strange critter heading my way. First it is a long lost house cat, then it is a blond ground hog then it is what it is: A darn BADGER closing in at 10 yards. I waved him off and shook my head. He nearly became my lap pet. This place is crazy...
I ended the evening with a visitor who sang the blues as I watched the sun go down and the turkeys at the end of the coulee fly to roost.
(http://i.imgur.com/1lNYFIz.jpg?1)
I realized 2 years was too long a wait from Klintworth ranch. Shaking Nicks hand Wed afternoon was that of a missed friend . Gosh what a great crew of guys to spend a couple days with. Little did I know we had a bull rider amongst us ! I went through my list of trick decoys and got tricked! My best bud from oxford got his first bird and now he is hooked. A veteran bow hunter claimed the1st Gobblepolozza Klintworth call and 2 of us basically ate 30 lbs of crawdads. More to come
We got in that evening and a bird or two might have been there too...that part is coming!
What we got into later was food in epic fashion. Seems my brother Joe Buck had prepared food instead of hunt that evening. Being from the south originally and spreading the mudbug love to my yankee friends had been a labor of love. Joey had turned the tables and nailed the low country boil perfect! He and I were the last men standing after even tapping out Kip...I came in second :bigsmyl:
(http://i.imgur.com/e1HG7LD.jpg?1)
*Crawfish heaven...why are all these Yankees eating crawfish and Joe Buck is just drinking? Rough day :)
(http://i.imgur.com/ZYayE11.jpg?1)
*These cats can flat wear out some food :)
Thanks Joey for the meal! I am already looking forward to the food next year brother!!!
More to come...guys got some birds to talk about :campfire:
This bird woke me up from a nap gobbling in driveway
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/31293E85-D2E4-4500-8986-643B49149C20_zpsck3wglbg.png)
I think I gave that turkey a ride in my truck :archer2:
When Clarke and I drive out at 8 30 to go home., this was our good bye committee
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/5EC16DAC-D10D-4126-968A-D13FEF0CEE43_zps0qhujavi.jpg)
As a turkey hunting enthusiast, I always enjoy this thread.
I have to admit I have never killed a turkey gun or bow until now. I have to thank Mike for letting me be a fill in this year.I first met Mike at Ray Hammonds.He was after hogs I was after turkeys.Mike quit hunting the hogs to help me kill a turkey and almost did it.Fast forward he calls me to go to his house so that he can get me a turkey but it rained 3 1/2 days out of four still no turkey.When I got a call to go on this hunt I jumped at the chance to be with friends and meet some new guys, I have not met.Mike picked me up in St.louis airport. We drove in a little late for a morning hunt but got on an afternoon stand.A tom came in and my shot was perfect my first bird with bow or gun.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/Turkey%20hunt%202015%20013_zpsb2ojdzj6.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Kip_album/media/Turkey%20hunt%202015%20013_zpsb2ojdzj6.jpg.html)
I will get back with rest of my story soon.
I see two turkeys in that picture. Lol. Looks like a real nice bird Kip. Congrats. Can't wait to hear the rest.
That evening all the hunters gathered around the barn for a crawfish boil hosted by Joey and his compandre who I had not met except reading his posts in past hunts(reading through the lines of his post I was sure he was a hoot).he also had a compradre Clark.I also met up with Jeff Springer and his son Zach who I had met at bear camp and also in Louisiana.The boil was a sucess.The next morning was a quik hunt some Jakes came buy following some hens and I filled my second tag.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/036_zpsiqesrcde.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Kip_album/media/036_zpsiqesrcde.jpg.html)
After I tagged out I became the camp dog for the rest of the hunt.Cleaning the dishes,cooking and looking at the birds all over the place.I also rode with Nick the owner of the Ranch feeding the cows and talking about his work and turkeys and many other topics.One day the bull broke the fence and was in the road so I went with him to repair the fence but as we passed he asked if I wanted to ride Toad the bull so I said yes why not.So I jumped on Toads back but could not get the rodeo jumps with out my spurs or my hat.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/046_zpsum9p3wtf.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Kip_album/media/046_zpsum9p3wtf.jpg.html)
I had a great time on the hunt Thanks Mike and Nick ,Joey, Tippit, Zach, Clark
Kip, I was so happy when I came in that evening to see the smile on your face! I was a little excited about seeing that darn badger and the crawfish being cooked to get all the details...but we made up for that on the ride! I couldn't ask for a better traveling partner my friend. I also have a new dish to pull off: stewed spotted catfish! It was off da hook :)
Don't let Kip fool you. He is a fine woodsman and Hunter. He might be motier foux (half crazy) too! Bucket list for trip: kill some birds, cook a fine meal and entertain us with his stories...and ride a damn bull! Love it!!!
That jacket Kip has on has been all over the world as my brother wore it in Afganistan and Irag and other tough places and was a gift to me. When I told him it had now been on a bull he laughed his arse off. Way to go Kip!!!
Day 2 for me...gonna keep rolling as my work week is gonna be rough. I set up in one of my favorite spots.
(http://i.imgur.com/SPRo0Ka.jpg) (http://imgur.com/SPRo0Ka)
*Pick of my rig: Mag handle, 50# limbs. Tried a string tracker this trip. Coarse all of my shots were without it 'cause soon after this pick I tried stalking a turkey and got wound it around a bush. I was easing along a coulée looking for my bird and kept hearing something. Each time I would stop, the noise I was hearing would stop. When I looked back I had 300 ft of white thread trailing me. What an idiot...
My tormentor just escaped with his life. He came through the gap in the fence but sent his three Jake buddies to check out the ménage a trois I had tried enticing them with. He held up just short of bow range as his buddies tried to break up the party. I had enough and tried to draw, sending the red-headed fools back to the safety of the group of birds heading up the ridge.
(http://i.imgur.com/rapylh5.jpg) (http://imgur.com/rapylh5)
*My tormentor
(http://i.imgur.com/XQhR39E.jpg) (http://imgur.com/XQhR39E)
Turkey Dekes to keep them occupied...my Jake took a broadhead at home in IL the week prior. I don't want to talk about it :)
I had Nick take a pic of my set up after it was all over. They didn't flare at the draw but I think were intimidated by the jaker. He took a broadhead for God sake. I got back and fixed that: red spray paint to make him look less intimidating. It proved not to matter as the birds hated everyone's decoys!!!
(http://i.imgur.com/r1wMFm8.jpg) (http://imgur.com/r1wMFm8)
*Ambush ready
When I got back and fooled around a blind or two it was obvious I had no mojo. I took a shot at a bird too far and got bailed out by a clean miss, then another at a jake that was walking too fast at close range. Strike two. I am the worst turkey hunter on the planet.
When I got back for a sandwhich Nick told me a big strutter was up a coulee and asked if I was game. Does a fat kid like cake? As I eased over the fence and noticed a bull he told me he was a good boy but to watch the horses...
I eased into the junipers and heard the tom hammer a gobble. I eased off my boots and tried to ease along the cattle path. When I got to the last bit of cover I sat my chair up. No sooner had I sat my rear down did I see a hen and just a bit of fan over the prairie grass. He was going away and I let him. If I would have called it would have been loud.I had to give him some space. When I did call he was out of sight. Soon I had hens coming from 4 directions and ended up with 6 within 20 yards. Pinned down and nervous...man I loved it!
Finally they eased down the next ridge leaving me between them and the Gobbler. As if he read the script there he was closing from 30 yards eyeing the hens and paying no attention to the ghille blob hunkered down with a sharp broadhead loaded. Just as I controlled my heart rate to just under stress test levels and began to draw I heard something snort...or whinny or toot, heck I don't know. I just know one minute I had a mount picked out and a gumbo made and the next minute I have a bay and Blackie in my lap. The two amigos...Nicks horses. Yeah they came to say howdy, sending my bird too far out of range and they into range. Needless to say, game over. Or so I thought...
I worked the bird even after my company and had some more company by way of 4 jakes in range but in direct fire of the bull Kip rode first and then a wad of cows. I finally got clearance for a launch but had a head shot only at a Jake that made me at the last moment. Strike three for the day and trip.
(http://i.imgur.com/3tFQ45f.jpg) (http://imgur.com/3tFQ45f)
*Some more company
That night was festive as ye shall hear. Spotted catfish, wine and stories. Joey and Ryan (Nicks youngest son) also did some serious turkey decoy fabrication. He managed to take two decoys worth about a hundy and turn them into well,you decide. He recreated some type of turkey visual obscenity and took poor Ry along as he was the material man. Bailing wire: check. Sharp knife: check. Drill: check. It was a mad scientist at work with an innocent young man as an accomplice. The end result was a thing of beauty. Evil scientist, no way. Pure genius. This had to work. Patten pending, I give you the Decoy to make grown men blush.
(http://i.imgur.com/RILDm73.jpg) (http://imgur.com/RILDm73)
*Moves with the wind
I will let Joey give you the turkey tally...and perhaps design plans for version 1.1. The next morning was more attempts by me to find a bird that liked my decoys. I sat some in my ghilli. I sat some in blinds. I pouted some and enjoyed the success of others. It didn't seem to be in the cards. After losing my first tom in 5 years last week in IL to a low arrow and the coyotes I got a little bummed. Nick kept me in the game, letting me stalk and move or sit blinds but for some reason it was tough. I decided to cook my dish for the guys and end my hunt early, drink some fine red wine and soak up a Kip story or two.
Nick bailed me out when he spotted some strutters heading to a blind he had set up. I grabbed my gear and piled in his rig. Before we got there we spotted a lone tom heading to a strutting area to hit before roosting. I bailed out, kicked off my boots and eased into position near the farm equipment and a barn. I got spotted but it was too late for him. An arrow was gone and it hit him mid-ship, maybe a little low. He did a summer-salut, made it to his feet and a few yards before he stalled out. I put another arrow in the boiler room after my follow up missed the spot I wanted. I was so excited I flubbed the first one.
So, after all of this: bad shots, long sits, blown stalks, unraveled string trackers, good Bulls, bad horses and badgers (hey we don't need no stinking badgers)...I had a beautiful tom! Unconventional but I will take it.
(http://i.imgur.com/9AHmCKS.jpg) (http://imgur.com/9AHmCKS)
*Beauty of a bird
(http://i.imgur.com/rLSRovy.jpg) (http://imgur.com/rLSRovy)
*In situ, Mag Handle same year as my wife (74). Still looking good like her!
Nate you and my wife are kinda right.When she saw me on the bull she just shook her head that a 64 year old man still acting like a teenager.The reason I had on Mike's jacket was I could not find mine.Mike I would never have used it knowing where it came from until after the fact.Very sorry should have known better.
Not at all my friend! Glad you had it. That is the closest I will ever get to a bull :) It has had a life of adventure. Glad you are home safe and sound.
When I came in from hunting that evening and was shown the pic of Kip on that Bull, my errand shot on a Jake was immediately forgotten!! I laughed so hard. Kip is the best camp companion. he is game for anything and thank goodness for his dish washing skills.
It became very apparent after first day of hunting, these birds were Henned up pretty bad. Decoys or calling was futile. I tried several different decoys and as mentioned ,made up a X rated version...but couldn't get a gobbler to come in and fight to help me draw an undetected fan protected shot.
Great story and birds! Congrats to all!
"Turkey Dekes to keep them occupied...my Jake took a broadhead at home in IL the week prior. I don't want to talk about it [Smile] " Cracked me up Michael! I was in Ks this yr and decided to take a practice draw on my brand new avian x jake. Lets just say "I don't want to talk about it!" Lol!!! :banghead: :biglaugh:
This is an awesome story so far. I have another buddy that shot his avian this year too.
Randy, I almost cried after I shot mine! Little goop and he was good to go!
I used plumbers tape and goop...it was a single bevel head and nearly took his head off! I was trying to shoot a gobbler off his back as he was assaulting my poor Avian X. Shot a little low :)
Michael, there wasn't a turkey in sight when I shot mine! I just picked a spot, drew and my clicker went off and I shot the dang thing! If I could, I would have whipped my own butt! Never had that happen before, crazy! They do look real. That's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kip:
That evening all the hunters gathered around the barn for a crawfish boil hosted by Joey and his compandre who I had not met except reading his posts in past hunts(reading through the lines of his post I was sure he was a hoot).he also had a compradre Clark.I also met up with Jeff Springer and his son Zach who I had met at bear camp and also in Louisiana.The boil was a sucess.The next morning was a quik hunt some Jakes came buy following some hens and I filled my second tag.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p191/Kip_album/036_zpsiqesrcde.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Kip_album/media/036_zpsiqesrcde.jpg.html)
Kip, you are to young to be riding bulls! :biglaugh:
Great stuff, even if it does make me homesick!
Even when the birds don't cooperate hunting the Klintworth ranch is turkey hunting nirvana. And Kip on a bull? I would have paid good money to see that alone!
It seems we've heard from half the crew so far. Do the rest have some stories to tell? :readit:
QuoteOriginally posted by wapiti792:
......... Spotted Cat!!!!!!!!! .......
One of Ville Platte's finest delicacies. Kip will say he's just an average Ville Plattian cook, well maybe so, but that still ranks high with me.
Whip there were a couple of other birds killed but other types of weapons were used...
I know Tippit and Zach had some traveling to do. Something I need to tell you Whip...our spot was a bit of a bust. I did have a hen come right to me raising cane. She made me when I flinched as she stepped into the hole I was buried in. She still wouldn't leave. After a while she left calling me some bad words. I couldn't figure it out until I looked to my right at the base of the little pine my Waldrop was leaving against...I had set up right on her nest! I left it undisturbed but took a pic. That has never happened before!
(http://i.imgur.com/tonvRXK.jpg) (http://imgur.com/tonvRXK)
*Nest
I did have another run in with some birds but passed jakes after my tom. I sat up near a fine ambush point and nearly got it done. I saw something in the tree near me that puzzled me some. When I asked Nick he just said "Joey was here."...Ok got it. Didn't need an explanation. My thought was if the biodegradable tissue is there, where is the land mine. I started checking my feet...
(http://i.imgur.com/bnTFNCq.jpg) (http://imgur.com/bnTFNCq)
This bird woke me up from a nap gobbling in driveway
(http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/jmb1221/31293E85-D2E4-4500-8986-643B49149C20_zpsck3wglbg.png)
Way to get after em guys! Nice job on your first Kip! :thumbsup:
Congrats to all!! Great story's guys
Like Whip said... y'all just made me homesick is all.
Best hunting camp on planet earth.
Hope to do it again some day.
Missed you Julian! I hit the old home place north and nearly got it done. Someday we are gonna make another hunt together my friend.
That's good to hear. Is there a good roost up there again?
Just west of there about a 1/4 mile. 20 or 30 birds. Put on a good show!
I had another great trip to Nebraska with my son Zach. The guys in camp were first rate couldn't ask for better. Vittles were phenomenal...you've already seen pictures.
This year I decided to only shoot a mature Tom or Bearded Hen. I saw plenty but didn't get a chance at either. Jakes on the other had were all over me. One afternoon I had 30 birds around me at one time...15 Jakes within five yards! I think I had a total of 25 Jakes at 5 yards for the hunt. So I still have my 2015 Nebraska tag as my trophy :knothead: may have to rethink that decision next year...tippit
Some of the boys hanging out @ 5 yards...
(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv3%3A3%3C2%3Enu%3D32%3A4%3E%3B87%3E672%3EWSNRCG%3D3%3A%3B33%3A9%3A%3B832%3Cnu0mrj)
My Holly Grail---nice Bearded Tom with a Bearded Hen @ 50 yards across a water hole...
(http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp83232%3Euqcshlukaxroqdfv379%3B2%3Enu%3D32%3A4%3E%3B87%3E672%3EWSNRCG%3D3%3A%3B33937%3A732%3Cnu0mrj)
Teasing you Jeff! Elk season is but a 100 days away. Gotta get out there :)
Great Stuff!!!!....I gotta go to lunch now!!! WOW I love those type meals!!!
Just off the phone with my main man Nick...hunt planned :)
That's Great News Mike. I look forward to this thread every year.
Turkey hunting is just around the corner (2 months) here in NY. I need for you guys who can hunt them early to whet my appetite.
Good luck at Klintworth.
:coffee:
The good news for me is I bought this hunt for 2017 at the PBS banquet so I will be joining Joebuck and crew next spring at the Klintworth. Looks like I better bring my appetite. :) . Can't wait to experience the Klintworth. Have to make do with VT gobblers for this year.