Buddy's First Bird

[mws4dux]

Derek5 and myself went out with a buddy today for his first turkey hunt. We woke at 3:30 and headed out the door. We set up the blind in a pasture between two fields. Derek5 hunted this area during the F season and the birds were tough.The rain ended and we heard our first gobble a ways out,then another much closer.The bird closer gobbled a few more times then flew down.He gobbled once on the ground on the other side of a treeline. Made a few yelps and he came through the treeline and strutted down to the alert jake and upright hen decoys.At 15 yds he strutted his stuff and when our buddy couldn't take it no more the shot rings out and silences the spring air.At 5:50 am his first turkey was on the ground. 25 3/4 lbs. 11 1/2" beard and 1" spurs.

[goblueM]

wow talk about a huge bird... he must be hooked now! like that 2nd picture

[hugonian1]

Congtrats the the great bird.

[mrklean]

Very nice bird congrats

[IlliniWalli]

big congrats to your buddy!!

thats a heck of a nice bird, especially for a first bird!!

[derek5]

I chased that bugger for 2 years now, and I'm glad we figured him out one hunt for a good friend. That was a good time!

[Shu]

Congrats on the big boy!

[reinhard1]

i like that second photo myself. great story and results. congradulations. good luck.

[Wallydog]

Stud of a bird indeed.

WD

[DonBo]

Great bird. Why is it everyone's first bird is bigger than my best? Congrats to both you guys!

[Borch]

Awesome hunt and bird!!!

Congrats to all of you. He's a beast for sure.

[engfish]

I posted on Katman's post, but I wanted to let you know that I bought a Rohm Brothers box call--the one you suggested--to add another call to my vest. I have used slate calls and mouth calls exclusively for the past seven years largely because they were more compact and didn't require a lot of movement to generate a sound. I consider myself a decent caller with the slate and the diaphragm, but I will be the first to admit, my box calling technique is definitely below average. I'm not exactly sure why, but it may have to do with being left-handed.

After 7 soakings, mud and ticks, and working a single unseen bird for 4 hours, I closed the deal on my biggest bird--24.2 lbs, 9.75 inch beard, and 1 and 5/16 inch spurs with two little taps to the box call sitting on the ground underneath my left hand. Even as bad as my calling was, it was the most effective call this weekend, especially when it got windy. Thanks for the recommendation earlier this season.

[engfish]

mws4dux and Derek5--Congratulations to you and your buddy on one beautiful bird. You are going to have to work awfully hard to find him a nicer bird next spring. My suggestion is to teach him how to call and let him work the birds for you two next year!

[mws4dux]

Here's some footage of buddy's hunt.

http://youtu.be/Z4J3cRGqK0E

[123fish]

That's some great footage. Congrats to your buddy on a very nice bird. One reason he's so heavy is he because he has a pound of mud on each foot. I think we should be able to add him to our team's score because brain melt never showed up. j/k. Definitely makes you want to get back out there again.

[engfish]

Agreed. What camera do you use to shoot your hunts? I was kind of hoping there was going to be a little music this year. Last year's highlights footage is one of my favorites.

[mws4dux]

A hand held sony hd camera. I Believe hdr-hc9.I might try and put together a highlight clip again this year.Ended up with five turkeys on film this year. It was a fun spring!!

[engfish]

It's always fun to watch footage of hunts that are "local." You do a great job, and that is definitely a good camera. Let us know if you put together a 2011 highlights film.

Cain's hunt WAS "way too easy." All of us who worked our *sses off to get a bird could only dream of something that good.