I know this is a angler's forum, but no Turkey hunters

[Kicknbass]

I know this is a angler's forum, but no Turkey hunters. I though when I got on the forum tonight, I would be able to hear some success stories on the opening day of turkey season.

I couldn't make it out this morning, but will give it a try tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

A buddy of my killed a nice 3-4 year old in the Elsberry area this morning. His first bird, he was beaming this morning when he came into the office.

[joefish]

I called in a nice gobbler within 5 yards but could not shoot cause he was behind some thick brush. So I settled for a jake a little later. But the good news was I caught two 19 1/2 inch walleye on my way home which really made my day. This is in north mo. I saw 20 gobblers in this one field runnin 6 to 8 in a bunch. It was a good day. Didnt find any mushrooms though.

[Phil Lilley]

Just heard a shot from the woods/field up the hill... College of the Ozark's farm. There's been a bunch of turkeys in the field everyday- till now.

C of O farms are strictly 'no hunting' but I guess someone snuck in.

Sorry- not a turkey hunter myself. We own ozarkhunters.com but haven't done anything with it really. I don't have time of knowlegde to run a hunting site/forum and I'm interested in doing something half-way.

BUT I'm open to ideas.

[joefish]

I would run it just like you are running this one. You could just have a catagorie for the major topics like deer, turkey, upland game, waterfowl, and general discussion, and a catagory for archery and then do what you do best. Which is have a kick butt web site.

[Stuartwp]

Wanting to go hunting and getting to go are two different things; much like my fishing. I have never had the oportunity to hunt opening day of spring turkey season. They never cancelled school way back when when I was a kid and so far they haven't cancelled work either. I have a four hour window of opportunity Saterday morning, so I hope it isn't raining.

[Kicknbass]

Well I got out this morning and began walking down the logging trail to an area that I had heard gobbling activity on Saturday morning. I hiked in about 2 miles before I started listening for birds gobbling. At about 5:30 am I heard a bird gobble across the draw on the adjacent hillside. Then another up the ridge from the first about 200 yards. Just my luck the birds are always on the other hillside. I started down the draw and began to circle around to get on the ridge above the bird. Fortunately, the bird was actively gobbling on the roost and gave me the ability to get into a go position on the hill w/o spooking the bird.

I pulled my box call from my breast pocket and made a few soft yelps. The bird continued to gobble and didn't initially seam to respond. I just stood and listened trying to plan my next move, when the bird gobbled and seamed much closer. I backed off a few steps and found a blow down to use for a ground blind. The bird seemed to stop moving and just gobbling in place. I got the call out again a made a few soft yelps. The bird immediately responded. The area to my left was an area that had been cleared and allowed to grow back w' thick brush. The bird worked into this area and gobbled every so often for about 20 minutes hung up very close about thirty yards away it the same position but I couldn't see him due to the thick underbrush. I was not calling hoping that he would keep hunting for that love sick hen. After what seamed like eternity, the bird started moving away. Fearing that he had lost interest, I picked up my box call and gave a few soft yelps once again. This time the bird double gobbled and turned back toward my direction.

The bird came back to the position that he hung up earlier, but this time he kept coming. When I could final see a bird, he was about 15 yard away but I couldn't get a shot due to the root ball from the blow down that I was using as a blind had obstructed my view and shot. When this bird came out from behind the root ball, he was about 8 yards away when I pulled the trigger. I'm sure he never heard the shot.

All you fisherman know how peaceful and relaxing the stream is at daylight, being in the deep timber before and during the break of day is just as majestic. I have been turkey hunting about 25 years and the thrill of working calling a gobbler into range is still as exciting today, as it was in my teen's.

The gobbler weighed 21 lbs and had an 11 inch beard w/ 1 inch spurs.

Here is a picture

[Stuartwp]

I am impressed and jealous. I have never got a spring bird. Only fall birds. That is a nice turkey. I hope I get mine on Sat.

[Seth]

Here's one I got Tuesday at about 8:40. Watched him and 5 other gobblers hang out in the middle of a field for almost 3 hours before they came by close enough for a shot. They wouldnt come into any calls or decoys, just chased each other around and eventually meandered by me. He weighed 18 pounds and had a 10.5" beard and a 4" beard. He is the second double bearded beard of my career and my second in a row also.

[Kicknbass]

Here's one I got Tuesday at about 8:40. Watched him and 5 other gobblers hang out in the middle of a field for almost 3 hours before they came by close enough for a shot

Nice bird. Double bearded birds are few and far between. I have never seen or killed one. Were the birds w/ Gobbling actively or just loffing in the field. Any Hens w/ them to keep them from working to a call?

I have found that bachelor groups get competive and come to a call more often than single birds.

I hope to get out this weekend and call for my Cousin. We will be hunting in Shannon county in the mornings and SMB fishing on the Current river in the PM. I aways look forward to this time of year because I love both activities.

[KRflyfisher]

You guys are killin' me! I doubt I'll get a chance to get out this year (school!!!) But it's good to see that other folks are out there having success! I love turkey hunting and have only scored a multi beared bird one time in my life, they are truely special birds. Congrats to all those who are getting out, and "Well Done, when's dinner?" to those who score!