Foggy Mornin' Tom

[osprey]

Went out in the fog this morning, set up in a good spot on my place where I've killed several in years past, in one of my stacked log blinds, second time I've been there this spring and again never heard a gobble nor a peep from anything roosted, not even in the distance. Sat until 7, then walked back to the hunting shack, checked the boat, was going to check the minnow trap to feed my bass when I heard a gobble off in the fog, maybe a 1/2 mile away. But it was in the woods behind my Uncle's house, so I grabbed the gun and vest again.

Hotfooted it down there, set up against a big pine and hit the slate call. Bird responded right away, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 mile still away on the far side of my neighbors woods. But he was hammering every sound I made to him and I thought he was coming. Less than 5 minutes later he was definitely coming, I could hear that booming gobble in the woods, echoing through the fog. Kept hitting him with yelps and I eventually saw his fan and head through all the green leaves, coming my way to where I'd have a chance. At about 35 yards we shared a Bang-Flop moment. ;D

9" beard, 3/4" spurs, maybe 18-19 pound two year old. Good way to spend the morning before heading in late to work!!

[nalley1952]

Good job. Nothing like seeing them with their head all lit up coming into your call.

[busco]

nice bird, congrats. but ive heard wierd things about stuff being bent over a stump like that

[BIG FOX]

Congrats dude... that is pretty cool, i really enjoyed the year of the bang flop myself. wish I could go out a do it again.. but I have to wait till next year i guess.... nice bird and congrats

[THE DEER HUNTER]

Congrats Osprey!

Big FOX,
You can still get out there, just not with a gun of your own. Still can get out there to practice your calling & introduce someone to turkey hunting at the same time.

[Bartman]

Nice bird Dave. Way to make my wait til the weekend even longer.

[osprey]

Why are you done Fox?!?!?! There are FORTY-NINE OTHER STATES WITH TURKEY SEASONS!!!!!

Bart, you hunting your Cordtown place? Should be cake in that woods. As a matter of fact, I'll even volunteer to help with crowd control if the Toms are running you over.

[davep]

Nice bird dave!
BP or smokeless?

I HAD plans of only hunting with BP this spring, but heck,I'm STILL trying to get out there!
%$#@ work!
(on the upside, I'm closing in on 150 hours comp already, so methinks I'll be spending FALL in the woods!)

[Hardcorehunter]

Congrats Osprey. From looking at that birds fan he has either been fighting or you blew off his head and tail. Either way, way to go!

[osprey]

Nahh, just wet and bedraggled. It was foggy with a very heavy dew that morning.

[nybuckstalker]

Congratulations Osprey. It was a quiet morning near Salisbury as well. I didn't hear a gobble until 11:20! It took a simultaneous box and diaphragm to get one to respond and even then he was barely audible.
This Jake closed the distance in just under thirty minutes. I have to admit, I thought this hard charger was a mature bird based on the way he came in and the sound of his gobble. Regardless, it was my buddies first spring gobbler and he could care less about the beard after the six hour hunt.

[BuckMaster]

Congrats!

[Bartman]

Dave, I'm out at Cordtown. Unfortunately, I don't have the field edge as they are roosting right around it. I missed my first bird at 45 yds. on Sat. I can only hunt til 8 this Sat. until I have to go to work.

[Hardcorehunter]

Nice Bird NY. Jakes ain't gimmies, sounds like you all worked hard for that trophy. Congrats.