DuckSouth.com

Well, let us have the reports. grimes reported in under Jeff's post. Good job grimes, I am glad that you had a good hunt. Here is my story. Got to the woods at 5:15. One cranked up at 5:30. Gobbled 12-15 times in the tree (was in a creek bottom), and only 2 times on the ground. No action for an hour and a half. Here comes the bad boys (4 jakes), one of them could gobble pretty good. They hang around for 15-20 minutes. Finally they leave. Only other action was 1 hen strolling by. It was clear and cool in southeast La. All in all a very nice morning. Maybe next time. Jack

Beautiful morning! Not too cool......not too many skeeters.....red birds chirpin'. I spent too much time drinkning coffee and sittin' in front of the computer.....almost got out there too late.

'Got within 80yds of two gobblers still on the roost (barely made it to'em 'fore the hen bailed-outa the tree). When she flew-down, I SAT down. 'Watched'em pass by about 40yds out. 'Didn't take the shot 'cause they weren't coming to ME......Oh, they bowed-up and took a look, but they were more interested in the hen (I'm no match for the real thing......truth is, can't call worth a flip). They'll get desparate, later-on.

Call wouldn't work......plus, I left the sandpaper back at the house. So, after things settled-down, I went back to the house to practice on the call and get a second cup of coffee. Went back out and heard one other bird gobble once. Set-up on him. 'Saw him breifly but couldn't really tell how big he was......HE wasn't havin' anything to do with me either ('calling really sucks).

This afternoon, I went back to the same area. Calling was better but still no takers. 'Heard several birds fly-up to roost in about the same spot they were in, this a.m.

You can bet I'll be there a little earlier, tomorrow......with a call that works. 'Rookies'

Didn't go...Took my daughter fishin' instead..but a bud of mine blasted one today....18 lbs..nice beard...dont remember the length..guess it doesnt matter now..lol

Well, Jim and I went out yesterday morning and got close to where the gobblers have been for the last few days at 5:10.

5:20 - first bird gobbles about 100 yards off.
5:25 - within 75 yards of first gobbler, but couldn't get to a clearing. Next 5 gobblers fire off what sounded like a hundred times.
5:35 - first bird never makes another peep, so we move towards the loud talkers.
5:40 - While walking through the woods towards the birds, a limb falls out of a big pine above Jim's head, we both froze. Looked up and it was a longbeard in the tree. It was the first gobbler from that morning. We thought we had gone wide of his position, but I guess we were wrong. It was still a little dark, so we just eased down to a sitting position right below him. He sat on that limb and spitted and drummed for 15 minutes!
The other 5 birds were going crazy gobbling, he just kept on spitting and going in and out of strut.
5:55 - Stupid bird flew down within 25 yards - BIG MISTAKE - 9 1/2 inch beard 7/8 in spurs. Jim took him at 5 minutes til 6am.

We tried to set up on the other birds, but by then they were henned up.

This morning. Went to the same general area.
5:20 - first bird gobbles followed by 2 others that were together. We went to set up on the lone bird.
5:25 - My bird gobbles again followed by 6 others. I know that sounds unbelievable, but I would bet my truck on the number - 7!!!!!!!
5:30 - Within 75 yards of the gobbler (which turned out to be 2) Set up and started soft calling and used the wing to fly a couple down.
5:45 - Turkeys all around. 2 in front 75 yards. 1 behind and to the right on the ground. One to the left about 150 yards. All of the turkeys are responding to our calls. Especially the two in front.
6:00 - 2 hens fly down in front, between us and the gobblers. Two gobblers fly down and follow the 2 hens.

OH WELL, I guess that's how it goes early in the season. It sure does feel good to know that there are at least 7 gobbling turkeys out there that will be lonely eventually.

ok...so im used to duck season......no one reminded me that by the end of march it gets daylight at 530....oh well, showed up at my farm at 5 till 6....got out of my truck and immediatley heard turkey gobbling about 300 yards away on farm next to mine......right in the vacinity where i saw a truck parked on the side of the road....well....turkey gobbles about 5 more times before i could even get sittin down.....then, all of a sudden..."BOOM"...pause for 3 secs "BOOM" again.....needless to say that guy got that tom.....didnt hear nor see a single other turkey.....and jeff davis county is full of em.... did see about 9 deer though and managed to read a good book....never ceases to amaze me.....during deer season i see 40 turkeys to every 1 deer.....during turkey season, so far, 1 turkey heard and 9 deer seen.....oh well, ill try again next weekend....
Skeeter

Two for three.

Got set up on the same bird from yesterday. He ignored my calls yesterday but gobbled at every one of them today. Pitched down and slowly strutted all the way in. Dead @ 5:45. 11" beard, 7/8" spurs, and 19.5 lbs.

Had 4 longbeards within 20yds on Saturday morning, killed the dominant bird and the other 3 birds commenced to whoppin' on this bird as he flopped on the ground. Put the bead of my trusty 870SPS on one of the other birds and began whispering to myself, "you can only kill one per day." After 20 minutes of continued strutting and gobbling, they followed 2 hens off. They didn't so much as run when I shot, I couldn't believe it. I just kept purring real soft and calmed them down.

I would have given a gold monkey to have had my video camera with me, it would have been some awesome footage.

Went back to same spot Sunday morning and birds didn't gobble, heard 2 more on another property. 2 of those birds are like Saddam Huesien, there days are numbered. They living on borrowed time!

Deadeye

Managed to slap one in the head with my ole 870 this morning. On the way out of the woods he shock gobbled at a crow, so i sat down and cut a few times and he and his buddy strutted up in front of the wrong tree. 10 1/4 " beard 3/4" spurs and 20 pounds(i guess he hasn't strutted any weight off yet.)

Gees Deadeye,
Never heard of someone setting up on a skillet shot and only walking away with one bird!

You know you can't take a video, because that is evidence. It can be used in court.

I guess I missed my phone call telling me to come eat on some deep fried bird.

Delta, I try not to break the law whenever possible, but if I had it to do over again, I'da busted his booty at about 23 steps.

As for eating some fried wild turkey, ask your buddy down at Longleaf how he did Sunday morning? PS, I bet you can get a good deal on shotgun..

I offered him $50 dollars for that shotgun but he wouldn't take it. Says it patterns good but misses turkeys.

Come go turkey hunting with me.
Deadeye

Fun reading the reports since we still got a couple weeks to wait.

Grimes you must know whats up with the turkeys, way to go!

Vicksburg and Bigbear, congrats!

Deadeye, my expectatons for you were high and you didnt let me down..but surpassed them. Do the camera, my brother-in-law does it and has some great videos. I would lose the camera if I tried it. I would give my left trigger finger to see a video of ole Delta Duck sweatin' while one of those 22+ pounders strutted into gun range. I bet he will be out there before the season is over this year. INJ

took a 9 in bearded gobbler today at 1:25 this eve... they have patterened to come to my clover field each eve at the same time, so i took my lunch brake late and brought home the bacon.... i know of 2 happy jakes that had been keeping just out of range of the ole tom.... had three hens that got topped right quick..... i can't call a tom off of hens this early.... i seem to shine when all the hens are nesting......

judge jb