Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: squirrelslayer]
#7212947
03/11/21 10:30 PM
03/11/21 10:30 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867
SW Georgia
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I shoot a 24" Very nice open pattern...plenty of wiggle room. Call me a wimp but when you can average up to 9-12 miles a day walking that little 20 is the gun to be toting around. Plus most are generally more maneuverable than the 12’s. And let’s not forget the kick, lol. I’ll take 3” TSS in a 20 any day over 3.5” 12ga turkey loads! I value my shoulder and jaw. Agree with this 100%. Got a little 20 gauge sxp with a 24" barrel that keeps me from ever having to question if I wanna trek to the next ridge, barely notice it's there but dont lose a stitch as far as effectiveness with #9 tss. I gotta say though one of my fondest childhood memories wouldn't have been the same without the same without the recoil of the ole 12 gauge hand cannon. I was 10 and my uncle had called a bird in for me at daylight that I killed. We went back to the house to clean it and birds started hammering behind his place so we went off chasing them. My dad had a habit of buying us kids boots about four sizes too big cuz he didn't see the need to buy the right size when we just outgrew them in 2 months. So as I'm trying to keep up in my clodhoppers making all kinds of ruckus my uncle politely tells me it's best if I stay back while he sneaks up to the crest of the hill. He works the bird and I'll never forget when he let the 835 loose it blew the hat off his head and he just causally turned back to me with blood dripping down his nose and gave me a fist bump that he'd found the mark. Come to find out that happened most times he shot that thing but it never missed a bird so I guess he was willing to deal with it. 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.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: matt]
#7215854
03/14/21 08:21 PM
03/14/21 08:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,847 Michigan
Michigander
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,847
Michigan
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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.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: Wanna Be]
#7215888
03/14/21 08:50 PM
03/14/21 08:50 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,847 Michigan
Michigander
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,847
Michigan
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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.
Last edited by Michigander; 03/14/21 09:03 PM.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: matt]
#7215904
03/14/21 08:55 PM
03/14/21 08:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872 Central, SD
Law Dog
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872
Central, SD
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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.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: Michigander]
#7215907
03/14/21 08:57 PM
03/14/21 08:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,770 East of the Mason-Dixon Line
DelawareRob
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,770
East of the Mason-Dixon Line
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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 ecxpecting his first grandchild 2 days before I leave. My brother has bad planning. 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.
Who is John Galt?
You don't rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training.
Semper Paratus
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: matt]
#7216839
03/15/21 07:05 PM
03/15/21 07:05 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867
SW Georgia
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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.
Last edited by Wanna Be; 03/15/21 07:06 PM.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: matt]
#7216845
03/15/21 07:09 PM
03/15/21 07:09 PM
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867 SW Georgia
Wanna Be
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,867
SW Georgia
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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
Last edited by Wanna Be; 03/15/21 07:09 PM.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: matt]
#7216890
03/15/21 07:54 PM
03/15/21 07:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872 Central, SD
Law Dog
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,872
Central, SD
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That second gobbler would not even bust a strut or fan it’s tail. LOL the bearded hen is very cool.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: slydogx]
#7216891
03/15/21 07:55 PM
03/15/21 07:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 507 SC Iowa
btomlin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 507
SC Iowa
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I am trying to get my first bird this year. Once again (like deer season) the property I have easy access to is marginal, but birds do frequent it. Got me some decoys and determination LOL. Only been turkey hunting twice...maybe 3rd time's the charm. Been watching the hunting public on youtube for 2 weeks now so the wife is already sick of turkey hunting LOL 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.
Last edited by btomlin; 03/15/21 07:56 PM.
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Re: Who’s ready for turkey season
[Re: Wanna Be]
#7216965
03/15/21 08:43 PM
03/15/21 08:43 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 270 West Virginia
WV Danimal
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 270
West Virginia
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Heck yeah! Ole Blackwing! Beautiful Osceola! Love hunting down there. Private or quota? Waiting on a 1.5” spurred one to get mounte d. Came close with 1 3/8” before. 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.
Trash your goals and plans for life. Just wing it and you'll never be let down!
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