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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166 |
I drove up to my place yesterday, and it was surprisingly warm and very windy. I gambled on where to set up, and it paid off. I was about 400 yards northwest at the opposite end of a grove of trees along the river from my camera where I’ve been seeing turkeys, because I know they hang out in those trees. The wind was blowing pretty hard so I was up wind to hopefully get the sound to carry into the trees. I called a few times and after a while got a glimpse of something moving in the shade about 50 yards away. When he came out into the light, I could see it was a tom I’ve been watching that has something wrong with his beard (maybe beard rot), so I just sat still and watched him for about 30 minutes as he milled around my decoys (which I set up way too close). All of a sudden I hear a gobble south of me, but I was afraid to call back because of getting busted. Well, the other tom acted as my live decoy and coaxed this tom within 10 yards. It was a bang and no flop. The 1 1/4 oz #7.5 load dropped him like a hot rock even out of a modified choke. He has a 9 1/4” beard and 1” and 1 1/8” spurs.
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 1,812
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,781 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,781 Likes: 2 |
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
NRA life member
Illinois State Rifle Association member
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Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,082
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,082 |
Real nice bird with a cool shotgun. Congratulations on a fine morning.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 14,846 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2015
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,044 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,044 Likes: 1 |
Very nice, congrats. Can you share some info on your firearm?
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,651 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,651 Likes: 1 |
Nice bird, shotgun and field photo!
WWP53D
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166 |
The gun is my Blaser BBF97 12 ga over 308 with an Aimpoint micro red dot. I love hunting with it, but it handicaps me a little for turkey due to being a fixed modified choke. I set up my decoys close to compensate, but having the turkeys get too close creates movement issues.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,570 Likes: 3
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 176
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 176 |
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,326 |
I may not be smart but I can lift heavy objects
I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 62
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 62 |
Nice bird congratulations!
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 164
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 164 |
Nice job. You should get a prize for most unique turkey gun. Pretty cool.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 151
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 151 |
Great bird wit a great story.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,538 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,538 Likes: 2 |
I'm jealous! 😉 I didn't make it out opening day. Turkey's are still a bit thin here. They haven't recovered from the pox. ....AND....my hunting area is full of pigs! 😖 In fact, this year is the first time I've even SEEN any birds since 2019!
Congrats on a nice bird. BTW, do you keep a hunting journal? You're still a young man! If you start now, you'll have all kinds of stories for your kids and grandkids!
P.S. - I'm about halfway between Lawton and the river, near Randlett. You?
Last edited by MartinStrummer; 04/20/24.
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 32
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 32 |
Very nice bird. Sometimes I really think I stink at turkey hunting but occasionally I get lucky.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,166 |
I'm jealous! 😉 I didn't make it out opening day. Turkey's are still a bit thin here. They haven't recovered from the pox. ....AND....my hunting area is full of pigs! 😖 In fact, this year is the first time I've even SEEN any birds since 2019!
Congrats on a nice bird. BTW, do you keep a hunting journal? You're still a young man! If you start now, you'll have all kinds of stories for your kids and grandkids!
P.S. - I'm about halfway between Lawton and the river, near Randlett. You? My place is in Alfalfa county about 10 miles south of Kansas. I’ll be 55 next month, and I don’t keep a journal but need to. I’ve spent years working to improve habitat, trapping and killing nest raiders, and NOT hunting turkeys with the hopes of seeing the population grow. At the same time, the guys on the places around mine are hunting them. Last year, I just said screw it and decided to quit denying myself the fun.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,538 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,538 Likes: 2 |
So, is that a Merriams? Tail tips look pretty light. Maybe a Rio/Merriam's cross? Apparently, the "pox" didn't hit as hard up there as it did down here. It nearly wiped the slate clean down here.
I didn't start keeping a journal until I was about your age. It's still worth it!
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 390
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 390 |
"One should not talk to a skilled hunter about what is forbidden by the Buddha." - Hsiang-yen by way of Gary Snyder
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,217 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,217 Likes: 1 |
Keep up the trapping and help with nesting cover and the birds will come. I'm seeing dramatic results here.
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