Had a really exciting hunt today. Heard absolutely nothing till around 10:30 when I heard a gobble waaaay behind me up on a pine ridge. Threw some loud calls at them and got a response. I went quiet for a bit then sounded off again and they gobbled a little closer. Then all three of them were gobbling their heads off and moving in. Saw them up on a little lane that is just out of range and they were gobbling, strutting, drumming, and spitting the whole way in. I have two tags for this season and was thinking that just may be I will have a chance for a double. They moved in behind a brushpile and I figured a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and when the first one stepped out I nailed him at 40 yds.

He has a10.5 inch beard, 1 1/4 spurs. He seemed like a very heavy bird and I figured about 24 pounds but when I got home our old, junky scale was not working so 24 lbs. is my story and I am sticking to it. I have killed a lot of birds bigger than that but am really proud and excited to get this guy given what I have been through the last few years.


Moosetrot

Sweet!!!

Nice job!! Looks closer to 25 LOL

Way to go Moosie

Good one

Nice shootin Moosie!

Zim

Nice Tom for sure.......Congrats Moosetrot !!

Vic

Good for you! Great bird.

Congrats! Great bird.

Give a man a good hip....feed him for a life time ..............good Shootn Moosetrot

Congrats on the thunder chicken .... Our season opens tomorrow of course it looks like rain but I'm going regardless ...

Great story and bird. Must have been something in the weather with the big wind coming as I heard my first gobble at 10:30 AM also. Single bird came all the way it took him 1 hour and 4 0 minutes to get to me.
Weighed 22 lbs. but seemed to be skinny as his breast bone was really prominent and there was only two bits of green in the whole crop. If he has been running hens for 2-3 weeks he probably shed a few lbs.
I did not notice until I butchered that he had two beards one 10 inch and another smaller one at 7 inches.

Bryce

Good deal.

Congrats Moosetrot on a great bird. Looks like that gun has got a lot of use over the years

Way to go Ray,,

Mac

That gun has killed so many turkey, deer, ducks and geese there is no way I could keep count. It's a Remington 870 Special Purpose that I bought in a Pawn Shop here in Lacrosse when the guy said it was an Express and priced it as such in the late 80's. I have many, many guns, but that's the one I will always go to for those "special" hunts. I have several different barrels for it. I even found another used one I bought, sight unseen, just in case...

Bryce-This is my 32nd year of turkey hunting and I am a firm believer in the potential of action in mid to late morning. I used to be running the ridgetops chasing after roosted gobblers before the sun came up. No more. To be honest, I was on my spot today at the crack of 8:30 a.m. I have seen, heard and killed more gobblers in mid to late morning than any other time of the day, especially in the later seasons.

Thanks to everybody! You may be aware this was a special and important hunt for me. I will never forget it. I have killed many, many turkeys in my day, but this day and bird were special for me.

I still have another tag for this season but I know I will not be going out tomorrow (Friday). We were told our second Grandson is making his appearance tomorrow morning. Instead of turkey hunting I will be waiting for my phone to ring. Come Saturday, though, maybe....

Moosetrot

Moosetrot. I have been looking for a SP and can’t seem to find. My dad has one and I really like it.. good luck on the second bird

Awesome story and great bird moosetrot. Good luck on the second bird.

Congratulations on a great bird and another grandson coming.. love the grandkids, they make everything worthwhile.