Anyone out chasing them? I have seen more birds this last fall and spring than I have in a number of years. Last year was the first spring we have not had buffalo gnats since 2011. I believe the gnats are why our turkey numbers have been down in recent years. I heard more gobbling yesterday morning than I had heard in recent years.
Spring Turkey's
- Thread starter noweil
- Start date
chasin mallards
Senior Refuge Member
I killed one last Monday the first day of the 1st season in the northern zone about 6:30 am. I heard 7 different birds gobbling that morning. I went out that evening to try and roost one of the remaining birds and not a sound. Took a friend the next day to that area and again not one gobbled that morning. We did have one respond to a call about 7:30 and he was laying in the decoys about 10 minutes later.
Yesterday in the south zone for 3rd season a friend and I had roosted a bird on the edge of a field. We set up on that same field where we could see him and had the decoys in front of us. He gobbled a ton. He pitched down toward us and landed about 10 yards from the decoys and hunt was over at 6:02 am to fill my second tag. One more tag to go in the northern zone for 5th season.
Yesterday in the south zone for 3rd season a friend and I had roosted a bird on the edge of a field. We set up on that same field where we could see him and had the decoys in front of us. He gobbled a ton. He pitched down toward us and landed about 10 yards from the decoys and hunt was over at 6:02 am to fill my second tag. One more tag to go in the northern zone for 5th season.
Miker17
Senior Refuge Member
Hopefully get my daughter out for her first ever hunt next weekend as long as I don’t get mandatoried back to work. She turns 5 next weekend and she sleeps with my turkey decoy in her room so she should be excited to go. North zone.
riverrat47
Elite Refuge Member
I got one last Monday at 09:30, first day for first season in the northern zone. I didn't have access to a scale, but I estimated him to be close to 23#, with a 10.5" beard, but both spurs were broken off...the longer one about 2/3" long.
rism
Elite Refuge Member
Way to go ED. Luke hasn't got one the last I heard. I don't hunt em.
Killing one the first morning is nice. Sitting on the ground for days leaning against a tree for hours is getting old, or I am.
riverrat47
Elite Refuge Member
In my younger days, I'd sometimes wait for a bigger deer or turkey or hold my shot hoping to work the bigger flock. NO MORE. I went home empty-handed too many times. Now, I take the first decent shot I have. Besides, that ground gets hard and that tree knot that always seems to hit you right on a vertebrate gets bigger and more painful by the hour, day, or year. Yep, you are getting old, Mike. I've been there for quite some time.
