who got the first?

[BilletHead]

8:45, billethead scores.

[JohnP]

Congrats Marty.  24 lbs, 10 inch beard, and 7/8th inch spurs.  Got off work at 0600 set up in the field by 0620 and bird taking a nap at about 0700.  Fun quick hunt but about blew it and let him get when he and the other Tom were more interested in the Jake tailing 3 hens 50 yds away than my strutting Jake decoy.  They came to it and then turned back around.  Believe I got busted when they turned but not bad enough the left the country.  Let clear the tree to my left at 20 yds when one if them started strutting again so I didn't give him another chance to change his mind ;).

[Seth]

I busted one at 7:20 this morning. It weighed 23-3 and had a 9.5" beard and 1" spurs.

[BilletHead]

  Way to go John P. and Seth! Good pictures too guys. Rainy and wet here. Killed my bird in a freshly planted field so the bird looked more like a wet dirty rat. Ten inch beard, inch and an eighth spurs, nineteen and a half pounds. Raining so hard I did not leave the house until seven thirty. Checked out a big field and seen a few birds. Slipped through the timber along the edge and took a wet seat. Just watched eight tom's make a circle along the edge staying way out. At their closest point I made a few bad calls. A couple perked up and gave the timber the stink eye. I suppose they wondered who was making that awful noise on the damp slate. They began to work my way. The closest one got invited to dinner. The birds never gobbled once or paid any attention to the hens across the field.

The meat pile,

Not much left

BilletHead

[JestersHK]

Nice birds fellas!

[fishinwrench]

Nice work fellas! 

They are fun to hunt, but a bitch to clean, and taste like a dehydrated grasshopper and grub pie.   Gimme a Butterball any day!   

[MOPanfisher]

Nice work gentlemen, get some of them things killed our so they don't try to k ock my windshield out as I head to the launch ramps.  They taste just fine, but can't fix them like a fat Ole butterball, but they will never be as good as crappie fillets.

[BilletHead]

    Oh contrary to popular belief gentlemen they eat and clean just fine. No plucking just rip off the skin, fillet off the breast halves and have at the wings and legs and thighs.  Wrench have you ever had turkey breast cut across the grain and fried in a spicy coating? You are missing out young man! We have braised the legs, wings and thighs in spices and herbs all day until the meat falls off the bone. Shred the stuff and crisp it up in goose fat. Drizzle on some honey and squeeze on some orange juice. Load this into a tortilla, add what you like we add cilantro and diced onion. Another squeeze of citrus this time lime. Chow down brother! Carnitas . Wash it down with an adult beverage. Crappie be darned Timber chicken is where it is at,

BilletHead

[jdmidwest]

Skinning them is the best.  Not enough fat on them to roast them anyway.

Did not get back from Pickwick till 10pm last nite.  Was not going to dig turkey stuff out and drive an hour this morning.  Heading out in the morning for a trial run before the monsoon sets in.

My only worry is that it is too dam warm.  I hate walking thru woods in dark in temps warm enough for copperheads and rattlers to be active of a nite.

[slab slinger]

Nice birds. I got schooled by 2 big gobblers early both hung up and wasn't having it. I Scored late 11:30am. 20lbs, 9in heard, 1 inch spurs. Thank goodness for 2yr olds. Called 4 in together in a group. Had all 4 struttin and gobbeling. What a great show. Back to work tomorrow. Gerrrrrr.