I was an avid duck hunter before taking up turkey hunting and had shot plenty of 3.5 duck loads. So, I got a box of Winchester Supremes 3.5” #5’s turkey loads. I went out to shoot different chokes to find the best pattern. I set a target up about 40 yards, sat on a little stool, and balanced the ole 12ga on a shooting stick. I decided to shoot it like sighting in a rifle...gun against my shoulder, right hand on the stock with my other hand sorta curled around the shooting stick resting on my right arm. Just like on a bench sighting in a rifle.
At the shot I don’t remember much except coming to on my back in this field. I thought maybe a bomb had went off until I realized I was holding a gun and I immediately thought my gun somehow had gotten the barrel clogged and it blew up. My shoulder felt out of place and my jaw and cheekbone were throbbing. I found my phone and called my wife and said she might have to come get me because something happened and I wasn’t quite sure what yet.

Needless to say I found a new respect for 3.5” turkey loads, lol. I then decided to spend a little money and get 3” Hevi13’s. Way less kick and was shooting 7.5 shot to boot...more pellets! When we started playing with the 20ga and TSS years ago and could get the same distance and knock down power, it was a no brainer to switch over.

Have not seen any strutting around here which is odd as I have been seeing a fair amount of toms and have had some nice mornings. I did finally get a box of ten shells today from Midway USA. I was getting worried there for awhile as Cabeals/Bass Pro and the local Wal-Mart was out. Last year I shot two with 12 ga, 2 3/4", pheasant load 6 shot. I just let them get within 20 yards but still wasn't overly impressed. It was all that I had and didn't feel like buying any at the time. Good luck to all.

Went to check a camera after resetting a couple of traps and as I’m standing there a bird gobbles about 75 yards away. I hop back in the truck and in less than a minute two gobblers walk out and see the truck and break in strut and gobble at me, lol.
They eventually ease up into the pines feeding and I hear another gobble in the back of the field I have my camera facing. Here comes another gobbler from over the hill in strut. I sat and watched them until they met up to see who could strut the longest and gobble the loudest. When I started the truck to leave one bird broke strut to watch me and the other broke strut long enough to gobble. Their days are numbered.
Going to listen in the AM at a different spot on the property. There’s a lone gobbler that hangs out up front I left alone last year. I think he might have switched roost locations on me, so I got to find him again. His buddy was killed the year before and he’s been stubborn about revealing himself since then.

Well...next Saturday March 20 is our opening day! I roosted 2 birds together last night. Went this morning and found another on the North side of the creek. He’s not a big talker, guessing he doesn’t want the “brothers” on the South side flying across and taking his hens. Heard one more riding around up near the front of the property, but not where I thought he would be. Going to have to do a little more recon to find his roost.
I have a wedding to attend next Saturday evening, and two of my boys are in the wedding, so my main objective opening morning is getting Brennan a bird before 0900.
Our birds are even gobbling on their own in the evenings now!! It’s almost time!!!

Just booked a flight to South Dakota yesterday. I will be there a week so hopefully I can get the SD bird and move across the line to Wyoming too. Looking forward to it, first time hunting anything other than easterns.

Been seeing more birds this year than ever and my 10 yr old is driving me nuts wanting to go. Two more weeks and we'll be after them

I haven’t hunted SD yet, but had a buddy that went out there and was done 2 hours after he started, lol. I believe you can by OTC tags for Black Hills birds as well. Don’t quote me on that, but I know he was able to buy another tag somehow and get two.
Merriam’s and Rios sound about the same which is NOTHING like an Eastern. First time I took my son to Kanas, he swore I was calling in a jake. He actually said our jakes sound better, lol.

Good luck and please take plenty of pics and share your hunt! You’re going to have a blast!!

Yes, I am ready!
Delaware opens 4/10
Maryland opens 4/19

I am not a very good turkey hunter so it will probably take me longer than 2 hours. Nebraska is close too incase I tag out in SD and Wyoming.

Hopefully my Dad is able to come along to double the tags but he is expecting his first grandchild 2 days before I leave. My brother has bad planning.

I would be if our numbers were a lil better. Been low for
a handful of years now.

You should get a SD Hills tag ahead of time no over the counter tags sold but I had a buddy buy one at the GFP Nature Center in Rapid City check if a NR can do that. WY is over the counter but research some public ground it’s sparse in the southern half of SD. You want a true Merriam get away from the bigger cities.

You need anything drop me a PM.

Congratulations on the new addition to the family! But, your brother needs to work on his planning skills. The audacity of some people to not schedule around the important times of year.

Wife tried to pull that knee surgery BS timing during turkey season I said no way shoot for mid summer.

South Florida was good to us...…..

Heck yeah! Ole Blackwing! Beautiful Osceola! Love hunting down there. Private or quota?
Waiting on a 1.5” spurred one to get mounted. Came close with 1 3/8” before.

Checked cams today...
Notice the bearded lady. This camera is on the edge of small burnt pines which lead to larger pines and then the creek where they roost. They use this field every year. We’re calling these two the “Brothers”. There were 4 last year and each of my boys took one.

https://youtu.be/aAl-2KrNfL8

That second gobbler would not even bust a strut or fan it’s tail. LOL the bearded hen is very cool.

Matt Dale (Dale Outdoors) does a better job of actual instruction on youtube than THP or Dave Owens, IMO. Maybe check him out if you are learning.

I think I’m heading into my 32nd yr of chasing longbeards...and I’m ready. I got crazy this year and added an XF choke and a red dot reflex sight from Swampfox to the “meat stick”....actually pretty silly to add them when you can’t recall the last bird shot over 30yrds. LOL.

Fortunate to hunt private where my buddy manages for deer and hates turkeys. This was my first time using a tactacam and I am amazed with the footage. Shows the entire kill even with the recoil of a shotgun. Awesome way to preserve my kid's hunts. Well worth the money. Saw a pile of hens on the place so I'm hoping the future will be even better.