2023 spring turkey!

[trb]

No longbeard pics to contribute, but spent the past couple days exploring FL's largest National Forest and chasing Osceolas for the first time. It was my first out-of-state turkey hunt, and boy it was a hell of a lot different than my normal pursuit of CO's mountain Merriam's.



Got on a Tom with 2 hens opening morning, belly crawled into 75 yards but couldn't get any closer or motivate him to come in with those hens with him. Fantastic show watching him strut for 30 mins in the blue-green grass of a fresh burn under long leaf pines.



Set up on them pre dawn this morning, but they went the other way after gobbling on the roost. Made a dumb mistake looping around to cut them off rather than staying put and patient. That strategy might work in the mountains but not when it's so flat...got busted and spooked the gobbler off at close range.



Flying home tomorrow, but overall had a great trip, really enjoyed exploring a new ecosystem, and I will be back! Gotta get into the swamp next time. CO's season starts next week...moving from 80 ft of elevation back to 8,000+.



Huge thank you to @Andrewlonghi for his generous help and advice in planning and navigating a new (to me) application system and hunt.

 

[bowhuntmontana]

Draw tag opens in one week. Too bad it's still a snowpocalypse here. Got 30+" of snow at my place just this week. Probably going to wait for decent weather and some high pressure, then go out and help my daughter get her first bird.

 

[Andrewlonghi]

No longbeard pics to contribute, but spent the past couple days exploring FL's largest National Forest and chasing Osceolas for the first time. It was my first out-of-state turkey hunt, and boy it was a hell of a lot different than my normal pursuit of CO's mountain Merriam's.

View attachment 270502

Got on a Tom with 2 hens opening morning, belly crawled into 75 yards but couldn't get any closer or motivate him to come in with those hens with him. Fantastic show watching him strut for 30 mins in the blue-green grass of a fresh burn under long leaf pines.

View attachment 270500

Set up on them pre dawn this morning, but they went the other way after gobbling on the roost. Made a dumb mistake looping around to cut them off rather than staying put and patient. That strategy might work in the mountains but not when it's so flat...got busted and spooked the gobbler off at close range.

View attachment 270503

Flying home tomorrow, but overall had a great trip, really enjoyed exploring a new ecosystem, and I will be back! Gotta get into the swamp next time. CO's season starts next week...moving from 80 ft of elevation back to 8,000+.

View attachment 270504

Huge thank you to @Andrewlonghi for his generous help and advice in planning and navigating a new (to me) application system and hunt.

Glad I was able to help you. Hopefully next year we can meet up and give it another shot.

 

[np307]

Well, looks like I'll miss the opener next Saturday. Dairy plant is shutting down for repair work. Oh well, opening day has been a waste of time the last few years anyways.

 

[BenP]

Took my oldest out this morning for youth opener. He showed self control and discipline as a nice 2 year old come in at first light and he wouldn't shoot because he wanted to get the big one that we knew was in the area. Felt like @Big Fin with Matthew on his antelope hunts, drove me crazy seeing a bird at 13 yards walk away.

About 20 minutes later that same bird came back with a 3 year old which was not the big one he was after but since he attacked my decoy my son took him into custody.




Aftermath on my decoy body, also damaged the fan pretty bad.

 

[Bowfan03]

Here in AZ our season opens 4/28. I drew a tag this year after several years. Getting excited as I took an older 870 and put an older red dot sight on it. Sighted it in yesterday and it is impressive. Maybe this is THE year?

 

[WildWill]

Took today to scout some public I'll be hunting in western Oklahoma on our opener. It was a very good day! I haven't seen so many birds here in years really encouraging after the last few dismal years. All my favorite spots either had birds on it or birds on private right next to the public.

 

[TheBenHoyle]

I'm getting excited. I'll be out there trying to get a turkey a week from Thursday. I have a good feeling about my options to hunt turkeys this year.

 

[mdcrossbow]

Pa. Season starts on the 29th and this guy my be available. He has is lady's now but hopefully he'll be looking for some new tail.

 

[mdcrossbow]

Va. Opens Saturday 8th 2 targeted birds
My friend who owns the farm claimed Blam !
I'll give him opening weekend
But I'm sure he'd Blam ! Either one.

 

[okie archer]

New gun's choke may be just a little too tight at 15 yards

View attachment 270342

Did someone mention tight chokes?

 

[Gellar]

Went down to the gas station and bought a turkey tag this morning! The season runs 4/10-4/13. I thought about waiting for a later season because I’m super busy next week but I’ve got a bad case of FOMO!

 

[fwagner]

Did someone mention tight chokes?View attachment 271053

Dang...what size shells? what size shot? Brand.....etc.

 

[okie archer]

Dang...what size shells? what size shot? Brand.....etc.

Back when I was still shooting a 12 guage, 3.5" hevi shot. Shot was at about 4 yards.
I don't put myself through that punishment anymore since I started handloading tss a few years ago I shoot sub-bore guages like 20 guage and .410.

 

[Scott85]

Did someone mention tight chokes?View attachment 271053

Bet it didn’t even flop.

 

[WildWill]

My brother sent me this from his neighborhood in Casper taken today.

 

[D4570]

I think this one has the flu.
I would not stand up and run or even just stand up.

 

[mdcrossbow]

My brother sent me this from his neighborhood in Casper taken today.View attachment 271206

"We're getting the gang back together"

 

[BenP]

I think this one has the flu.
I would not stand up and run or even just stand up.

Did you call the biologist so they could get it and do tests?

 

[D4570]

I called our FWP what they did with it I have no idea.