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Post by littletoes on Dec 23, 2003 0:58:21 GMT -5
 Here are 100 and "something" turkeys just around 1 mile from my folks place. Its not the largest flock, seen one that is closer to 200 turkeys. Asked a couple of farmers if we could shoot coyotes, they said "no, we need them to help control the turkeys!" then they asked if we knew anyone who hunted turkeys. After a couple of these responsces, I am seriously thinking about it! Forgot to mention that this picture was taken in late October. I see dozens of turkeys everytime I go out, just have to get permission from the misses to borrow the camera! |
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 23, 2003 9:07:20 GMT -5
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Post by jdickey on Dec 23, 2003 20:50:19 GMT -5
:)We had almost that many around on opening day of deer season. I saw one flock of 18 toms and 22 hens. I shot one tom that dressed @ 18lbs! Then two weeks later, we see one flock of 23 toms and then 26 hens. But both times, nobody saw any deer except for that "SALAD HEAD whitetail that I posted. Soooo, we figure the deer have turned into turkeys!   |
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 23, 2003 21:32:30 GMT -5
Lemme guess - You shot half a turkey.........  |
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Bennie
Hunter
Hico, Texas
Posts: 242
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Post by Bennie on Dec 23, 2003 21:57:41 GMT -5
Hey come spring if their still around give me a holler, I like to call even more than shoot em. Be glad to use my limited calling ability to help you. Been seeing a group of toms at my deer lease, they have walked as close as 10 feet from my stand, but no challenge in shoot em with a rifle.
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Post by shane on Dec 24, 2003 15:32:43 GMT -5
Bennie, my hat is off to you!!!! I don't want to offend anyone, this is just my thoughts...so no hard feelings, but I'm a HARDCORE TURKEY HUNTER...some say we ain't all there....I have backed up and looked at myself a few times...and there has been a few times I would AGREE with that...but anyway.
I wish they would outlaw rifle hunting on Turkeys all together.....honestly how hard is it to pull the trigger on a high power rifle on a Turkey that is 75+ yrds away, you guys that do this....if you have never been spring turkey hunting and had a big ol' gobbler cranking out gobbles from 10 yrds away making the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, heard him spitting and drumming(some of you may have never been close enough to hear the spitNDrum...but it's wild) PPPFFFFFTTTTVVVVRRROOOMM
When your sitting in the middle of Gods country on a warm spring morning, shotgun in hand, anxiously waiting the daylight to bring everything alive, when it's just about to get light, you pick your call up and let out a few soft tree yelps and all you hear up and down the creek is Longbeards hammering back at you.....man this feeling will blow you away.I'm getting all gitty inside just writing this, you continue your calling everynow and then just to keep him HOT, then you hear that GREAT sound of him flying down out of his roost, you let out a few soft seductive yelps and it gets him so fired up he literally breaks out in a dead run towards you(now this don't happen all the time but it does happed alot), he closes the gap between you looking for this socalled love of his life(they are a sucker for phonesex ;D). He finaly comes into shotgun range(I like to keep this under 40 yrds), he is in fullstrut looking for this hot little thing(this is you ;D), all this time your heart is pounding so loud your afraid he is going to hear it, you let out a little cluck, he breaks strut and pokes that big ol' softball looking head up, Then you send him a nice heavey load of #5 sleeping pills and then he starts doing the backstroke right out infront of you, you GOT HIM!!! Playing HIS game, in HIS home turf , up close and in your face action, and you won.....now for you that don't do this, it aint this easy at all...sometimes it does, then other times they will have you feeling like a wooped pup heading back home with your tail stuck between your legs. I hear people say they are just a dumb ol'bird...if you feel this way...you let me know, and I'll put you on one with shotgun in hand, and well see how dumb you think he is when you hear that little "PUT PUT" and wings flapping-YOUR BUSTED!! All you can do is gracefully bow your head in disbelief, wondering what happened......but this is what makes you come back for round 2. You that have never enjoyed a Springtime Turkey Hunt(with a shotgun), Please give this a try, if you know someone that hunts the Springtime ask them to take you along, if not I will be more than happy to answer any questions that I can for you... heck it's springtime, deer season is over...what else ya going to do. This Spring, grab your shotgun, all the camo you can get on and a few calls and head for the woods and give this GREAT bird a run for his money, playing his game in his backyard...up close and personal. They are VERY vocal in the Spring season and sometimes can be very easy to call in with just a few soft yelps, you all need to honestly try this out, and if you get one in real close, I mean right out in front of you and he is Gobbling his full head off, and this don't get your blood flowing.....there is something really wrong with ya, may need to see a Doctor.
So, next time don't pull your rifle up and shoot that Turk, let that ol'bird walk, and come back with your shotgun in hand and make it a challenge, get out there and get some of that up close, smack talking, in your face action. It should only take one time, and I honestly feel you will know what I'm talking about.
Sorry for being so long winded...but I'm getting that itch...it's coming...COME ON SPRING!!!!!!
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless.
Think about that Springtime hunt....if you don't hunt the spring your missing out on some great hunting.
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Post by littletoes on Dec 24, 2003 17:16:52 GMT -5
Shane, I didn't relize folks hunted turkeys with rifles. If so, I had never heard about it being done here in Washington. Not sure its legal either. Usually have to get out of the truck to clear the road to drive through. We have all three species here. If you guys want, next time I go out for 'yotes I will try and get some more pics. I have been as close as 3 feet to these "wild" turkeys. Doesn't seem to matter wich batch, either.
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Post by jdickey on Dec 24, 2003 21:53:46 GMT -5
:)Hey ICM...I actually shot the whole turkey! He was 78 yards out and I shot him at the base of his neck, the exit was out his AH! So he was already gutted when I picked him up. And while shooting turkeys with a rifle may not seem too fair, shooting them so that you still have something left to eat is not the easiest task either! And Shane, you're absolutley right about the spring hunt with a shotgun or bow! But, spring turkey doesn't last too long on our table! So, when the opportunity presents itself in the fall.... why not! And, in Coke County Texas, hens are legal in the fall too! I too enjoy the thrill of calling that big tom in, watching him cock his eye your direction... he knows somethng ain't right! But he's got one thing on his mind! WOMEN! Also, I've had the pleasure of hunting with my cousin who is a champion caller; he really puts on a show and gets those toms so riled up that they come running! Over the years, I've also managed a nice collection of various types of turkey calls that I bring out in the spring. Can't use those diaphram calls, so I've got several box, slates, wood tubes, and so forth. My most recent favorite is the Moss DoubleTone hand made by Bill Moss. Has a real unique tone and works great with toms! Yeah, you're right Shane, I too can't hardly wait for the spring hunt, for I know where I'm gonna be come April 3, 2004! ;D  |
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 24, 2003 23:31:01 GMT -5
I shot a turkey with a rifle two seasons ago. It was late in the season and the gobblers just weren't responding to anything. It just wasn't as good as calling them in close, from one perspective, but from the taste perspective it was just as good. I do much prefer to call them in, though. If that doesn't give you the puckers then nothing will........ And like JD, on the third of April, the good Lord willing, I'll be just outside Cuero leaning up against a tree. It is the best of times (and can be the worst of times, if they don't respond to the call.) |
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Post by jdickey on Dec 25, 2003 0:20:01 GMT -5
:)ICM... you could always bring CoonDawg along... Of course he's want to start callin goats again... Here billy, billy, billy.... ;D |
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Post by Krustyklimber on Dec 25, 2003 13:58:22 GMT -5
Little, Dangit you guys are keepin' all the good critters to yourselves on the other side of the mountains!  Everything that is fun and exciting about coyote hunting, is the same for turkeys... and you get you eat the turkey! A turkey has as good or better vision then a coyote, the sound you make is maybe more important, but a turkey has a poor sense of smell... and for being really smart birds, they are really stupid. It all balances out about the same if you ask me. In Washington State we have three kinds of wild turkeys, Merriams, Rios, and Easterns. We have experienced a population explosion, in the last 3-5 years, of the turkeys that were introduced here some 25 years ago (finally). In some of the eastern counties, like where Little lives, they may actually start handing out damage control tags. We cannot hunt turkeys with a rifle, only with a shotgun or bow. We have an open spiring gobbler season, and can draw for a fall hunt of either sex. It's funny but those big flocks will scatter like dry leaves in the wind about a week before hunting season... just like the deer and elk do. Krusty  |
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Post by littletoes on Dec 29, 2003 0:36:22 GMT -5
Hey KK! How You been? Just one question-How big a flock do you want me to take a pic of this spring, to send 'ya? LOL You'll hate me for it! And I don't hunt 'em!
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 31, 2003 16:40:37 GMT -5
Hey Littletoes - where was the photo taken? Was it here in Texas?
thanks.
Jim
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Post by littletoes on Dec 31, 2003 18:05:32 GMT -5
ICMCumin-NE corner or Washington State. We have an over abundance of them. This is just one of several flocks that are in this immediate area. Its all you hear while deer hunting in the area. Can't even go to the dump without having to spook them off the road. I've even had to get out of the truck to shoo them off so we could pass. It's going to cause problems. People still hit hundreds of deer on the highway, but I think it will soon be replaced by the number of turkeys hit along the highway. When insurance companys start to complain, they will then drop the cost of tags.
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