Tom's on the Ground (Team #8)

[triggertrav]

not sure if anyone else is hunting this weekend - but the weather is gonna suck. Wind, Rain, Thunder, all weekend, pretty typical for my turkey hunts.

good luck to anyone else out there.

[123fish]

Know what you mean. They are already predicting the same thing starting next Thursday when we head for Nebraska. I'm just very thankful for pop up blinds. Good luck you never know.

[hugonian1]

Well guys, I let you down.

No bird for me.

I hunted all 5 mornings until around 11:00 and then had to get in to work.

Had turkey activity every day. Lots of early gobbling but once they collected their hens it shut right down.

I could have taken a jake or a short bearded tom but was holding out for a long beard.

I have never hunted late season but am guessing this is what it is like.

The woods are sure greened up and everything is 3 weeks ahead of normal.

Looking at the submission thread it looks like others are not finding it as easy this year either.

It was still a great season getting out. Spring turkey woods are magical.

Good luck to all still hunting.

[123fish]

Well you certainly had great weather anyway. Some action too. Maybe triggertrav will get us started this weekend.

[triggertrav]

Gobbler Down! 20lbs 11.5 inch beard. I will put a story and some pics up tonight or so.

Good luck to the rest of you!

[Borch]

Congrats!!!

[DonBo]

Great bird! Can't wait to see the pics.

[SETDAHOOK]

After two days of hunting I also have nothing to show for it. I still hope to get out on Wednesday morning.

This season was extremely difficult. The conditions were not as bad as they projected, but the Toms would not cooperate. I passed on two Jakes early Saturday morning, as I knew there were at least 6 Toms in the area, looking back I should have taken one of them. On Sunday morning, I had two big Toms about 30 yards away, I had a clear shot, the only problem was that they were on land I did not have permission to hunt.

Very little Gobbling this year. I don't know if this means they were tied up with hens or what, but I saw a ton of hens at all times of the day without any toms or jakes.

I am not sure what to think, but I know these turkeys have not been pressured as I am the only one that hunts them on this or any surrounding land. I am stating to think that hunting this season is more like hunting late in the season. Still fun though!!!

I will keep you posted if I have success on Wednesday.

[123fish]

Way to get it started triggertrav! Can't wait for the pics and story. Keep after them setdahook. It only takes a second to be a hero. Good luck.

[hugonian1]

That sounds like a great bird Triggertrav.

Congratulations!

Way to get us on the board.

[triggertrav]

Fellas - got my score up and we are officially on the board.

As to my hunt, the group i was with did the best we have ever done, despite the weather. We had five tags and filled four of them. Hunted thru the pouring rain and lighting and saw one tom. It was during a break in the rain and i had him coming in from 200+ yds, but when he was getting close it started pouring again. He headed for the woods and never saw him again.

Hunted most of the day on saturday, with no luck and very few sightings(just hens). Sunday morn went back to the same spot as sat - nothing. Weather was not as bad but the wind had picked up.

Tried a different spot around 10 on Sunday and as soon as i stuck my last deke in the ground a gobbler sounds off just over the ridge to the north(I would say within 100 yds). i scramble to grab my gun and find a spot to sit. 30 minutes later, he comes into sight at about 70 yards and disappears behind a cedar. What seems like forever he still is undetected. I am about 30 seconds from ambushing the ridge to figure out where he went, but hear the familiar pluck just to my left. Either i called in another bird or he somehow suck in. He is at 25 yard and zoning in on my dekes. I turn to the left and tip him over on the spot. Perfectly executed. Run up to make sure he isn't going anywehere and another tom takes off, not sure where this one came from either.

Couldn't be more happier with my bird.

Here are a few picture of the birds.

[Borch]

Very nice!!!

[mknolls]

That there is a nice bunch of bird. Congrats.

[DonBo]

Good job!

[123fish]

Nice, nice bird triggertrav. Congrats. Now that the skunk is out of the bag I hope I can help the team by getting the job done in Nebraska. We leave tomorrow morning and hunt until Sunday. Can't wait.

[hugonian1]

Great bird Triggertrav.

Sounds like you had a great hunt.

Way to put your "Tom on the Ground"

[sticknstring]

Congrats - Now that's a meatpole!

[123fish]

Well just got back from Nebraska and did manage a tom out there to help the team. It wasn't easy though. Living on the Buffalo Ridge here in southwest Mn. I deal with a lot of wind but I thought there were times in Nebraska where the blind was actually going to blow away. Brutal. Really shut down the bird movement too. Just stuck to it though and had a tom come in from behind us and walk past our single jake decoy. Shot him and his measurements are 1/2" spurs, 20.1 lbs, double beard of 8.5" and 6". Will put pics on the submission thread soon.

[hugonian1]

Way to go 123fish.

Sounds like a dandy bird and a double beard to boot.

Can't wait to see the pictures.

[triggertrav]

Nice bird 123. Puts a couple on the board for us.

Where are we at for a team? We have two for three so far? Who has yet to get in the woods?

Good luck to all.

[123fish]

Thanks. I think Tom Linderholm is still up to go yet. Hopefully he will punch one's ticket. Called a nice tom in for my buddy this morning here in Minnesota. His first Minnesota bird at 23#, 1" spurs and 8.5" and a 3.75" beards. What I call a fringe turkey. Here in the far southwest corner of the state amongst farm acreages and corn and soybeans. Maybe will throw up a pic and small story up on the 2010 turkey pics thread.