Nice turks, guys.  Our season is still almost a week away, but I know where a couple birds are hanging out.

Bill - you must not have taken your Jagd along on the recovery....I see your Tom still has his feathers! - I hope you can make it to Compton's in June - looks like we'll have a blood tracking seminar going on Friday....

R

Congrats everyone! Our season opens here Monday morning and I'm really looking forward to it!  The blind has been set and the broadheads touched up.

I need some stories to feed my obsession please.

Ryan,
No, I never used Suzy on the recovery as the turkey died immediately behind my Double Bull. I probably will miss   :(   Comptons again this year as I will be on Bear Quest IV. Wish I could be at both.

Great photos Mike R.!

Thanks for sharin'!

Shoot straight, Shinken

Here is my first. Taken last week in central Kansas. Saw a lot of birds!! He's a small jake but I was pretty tickled. First time Turkey hunting. Had a blast!!!! Taken with a 52# Kempf "Little Grizzly" and Woodsman Broadhead.

Ken,   I think the advice of letting them go for a bit, similar to deer, is new.   I don't claim to be an expert, but I think it is sound advice.  

I know Brooks Johnson (former owner of Double Bull Blinds, big trad guy, and turkey hunter) advocates that you wait an hour.  


Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you.

Two words for advice on finding shot birds- String Tracker!

Congrats on your first bird Gun!

with NY's turkey season kicking off on Saturday, i'm getting pretty excited.  i got good news in that my cast comes off of my hand on the 21st. i hope that i didnt lose anything in my shooting. good luck to all.

Good Luck everyone!

Some local hunters I talked to over the weekend were complaining about the wet and windy weather but it can be an asset when the longbeards are "henned up"; some lose their hens before fly-up and apparently spend uneasy nights worrying about where the gals have gone as they're tossed about by the wind and soaked through the feathers. They can't wait to get on the ground come morning and relocate the AWOL hens.  This can create extended ground gobbling sessions with the big boys overly aggressive and once again acting plain dumb:^)  The last few wet and wild days have produced some great hunting here in KY.  I shot this lonely fellow through the "goodie box" mid-day Monday while kneeling in a big stand of river cane . . . used a 60 pound Acadian Woods Tree Stick and Terminator 250 broadhead.  A pretty good bird; 10" beard, 1 1/8" spurs, and weighed 24 pounds.  It took an fluffing with an old towel plus an hour of hang time to dry him up enough for these photos.  At least he didn't land in the rushing creek where he was heading when he finally tipped over:^)!  The old Rancho Safari "Shaggie" came through again.

(NOTE: Hit F5 on your keyboard to refresh if the photos fail to load.)

I've gotta learn to post pics.Two states,3 hunts 4 longbeards.Shotgun though situations didn't pan out for bow shots.I like to eat em too good to play too fair.3 with 10 1/2 " beards one with 11 1/2 inch beard.Two with 1" spurs and two with 1 3/8" spurs.Three getting ate 1 getting stuffed.One of these days i'll kill enough too play solely with my bow.This year is a good start.Congrats too all that do it with trad equipment.

Congratulations to all! The birds look terrific! I have had 4 very good days of hunting in CT, and had one good chance but gave it to a good friend instead. Can't wait for tomorrow and the rest of the season. Don't forget to keep setting your alarm earlier and earlier since as we go along we get more and more tired!  

Cade and I had an unforgettable morning yesterday!

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hey curt, this ones a great one.  i read your thread.  congrats!!!! cade's got a great start.

great story Gary, keep'em coming.

My dad killed a biggun w/ a shotgun, but I am going with a longbow and no blind!! So these pics are making me crazy! I think I have a good set-up, but will not use decoys at this point as they have been hanging up at about 60 yds. I will try an ambush and see how it goes. I hope to be posting a pic soon...

Does anyone have any pointers for decoy shy turkeys?

Got lucky on opening morning in NY (May 1st)!

Nice Terry!!