Team 3...Gobblers Galore!

[123fish]

Way to go Nightcrawler. That sounds like big time fun. Dang that must be nice to live in an area where you have that much bird action. Here in the far southwest corner hunting turkeys is like hunting trophy bucks. Almost every place that I know that has a bird is thirty five miles away and more than likely there is only one bird there. No room for errors like Monday where I misjudged that bird that was close enough to shoot but didn't. I am envious of you guys for sure. Good luck Joey on your upcoming hunt.

[Scott M]

123fish - MN B season, SW Minnesota

Joey - MN C season, 508/NE most zone

da_chise31 - MN D season, SE MN

bluehat28 - TAGGED OUT

mnhunter2 - Where ya going and when?

Nightcrawler - TAGGED OUT

I hunt a week from today. I'm pretty jacked, 5 days off, calls have been in my truck all week, and I'm packing the rest of the gear this weekend.

Remember guys to have fun, if you tag out or not doesn't matter since we all have unequal levels of opportunity. In the end this "contest" is all about having fun!

[Borch]

I hunt a week from today. I'm pretty jacked, 5 days off, calls have been in my truck all week, and I'm packing the rest of the gear this weekend.

Remember guys to have fun, if you tag out or not doesn't matter since we all have unequal levels of opportunity. In the end this "contest" is all about having fun!

That's what it's all about. I'm hoping to be in the blind with my brother and 8 year old nephew when he gets a chance a week from today. It's all about the memories and the funny stuff these birds make us do.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

[Gordie]

My bad dachise Joeys hunting 508C and yes all about fun these boys cant wait to here thwe gobbles at first light

[Scott M]

Good luck tomorrow Joey.

paging mnhunter2! What's the scoop?

[123fish]

Well I'll be eating tag soup this year. Didn't see or hear a bird Wednesday or Thursday hen or gobbler. Needed the son-in-law to pull the trigger on the Monday bird which was my fault. Still had a blast though and got to watch the son-in-laws bird on Tuesday pitch out of the tree it was roosting in and come at least 250 yards across the bean stubble gobbling and strutting the whole way until it was 20 yards away and he shot it. Good luck to the rest of the team and everyone else.

[Scott M]

Tough luck 123, that's just how it goes some times. We'll give em heck for ya!

[Gordie]

Tough for us too only had a hen come in about 20 yards away and then Joey got a really bad ear ache and we had to go home cause it hurt so bad. Just hopeing it feels better in the morning so we can get back after them.

heard a few gobbles

[Nightcrawler]

Get well Joey.

[Gordie]

Joey and I spent 6 hrs at the doctors and Pharmacy he has a double ear infection so we never got out today he's hoping tomarrow after school to get out, if he feels better.

[123fish]

Good luck with his health and hunting.

[Gordie]

Between sick kids and drivers training and school activitys doesnt look like Joey will be on a bird this year.

Sorry guys that we could nt make it happen.

[brittman]

Between sick kids and drivers training and school activitys doesnt look like Joey will be on a bird this year.

Sorry guys that we could nt make it happen.

Know how that goes.

[123fish]

That's what's bad about only being able to hunt the short seasons. Weather, sickness, obligations can really screw things up. A long time until next year. Luckily I've got one more hunt with a buddy who has a late season tag. Just like being out there.

[Nightcrawler]

That's what's bad about only being able to hunt the short seasons. Weather, sickness, obligations can really screw things up. A long time until next year. Luckily I've got one more hunt with a buddy who has a late season tag. Just like being out there.

Man , next year is a loooong time away. Thats why we have fishing , bear, deer and fishing seasons in between turkey seasons

[Scott M]

Scored on Saturday morning, details coming later this week.

[123fish]

Way to get it done da chise. Congrats! Looking forward to the story.

[Nightcrawler]

Congrats , Da chise

[Borch]

Nice job Scott!

[Scott M]

As promised, excerpted from the Insiders Forum:

I reached the spot I had thinned out and put out two hen decoys. As I sat down, I heard a few birds gobbling. I got comfortable against the tree and tried to keep as still as possible. After 45 minutes, I let out a few yelps. I heard a few gobble responses in the distance. Time slid by slowly. Finally I heard something a little closer, directly behind me really. I sat up and paid attention, making sure my facemask was in place and I was ready to go. Twenty minutes passed and I heard nothing more. Finally it sounded again. It seemed closer. After what seemed to be forever, I heard something moving behind me. Resisting the temptation to turn my head, I kept still. Finally, after another five minute, the bird entered my periphery from my right. It was quiet as a mouse and slinking about like a frightened child. My heart was beating so loud, I feared it would hear me and leave! It's beard seemed short...was this a jake? Am I prepared to take a jake three days in, I asked myself. Before I could mentally answer, the bird crept a few paces forward and puffed up. The beard was more substantial. It was a tom, but not boss bird. I swallowed. The bird turned and looked at me hard. Oh no! I didn't move a muscle and sat. After what felt like forever, the bird returned to approaching the decoys. It seemed to keep an eye on me for the longest time. When it turned its head, I slowly moved my hand to the grip of the shotgun. The tiniest of movements aroused the bird's suspicion. I froze. After another five minute standoff, it got comfortable and focused on the hen decoy ten yards away. When it finally went into strut and raised it's fan, I turned and picked up the gun, shouldering it and breathing rapidly. Oddly enough this movement didn't draw the birds attention nor did it hear me. After an excruciatingly long minute, it finally turned its head back towards me, I put the bead on the head, and let it fly. It crumpled into a pile and squawked as the shotgun wad bounced to a stop near the bird's writhing body. I stood up and did a double fist pump. There is no elation quite like filling a tag. I swiftly picked up my decoys, gun, empty casing, and bird, and walked back to the truck. He was hefty. When I butchered the bird later in the day he was 23#12oz, with an 8.25 inch beard and 0.75 inch spurs. Likely a two year old bird. His unease as he approached the hen decoy belied his springtime inexperience.

I butchered with a friend and had him sign my sheet and help with weights and measures. I'll try to upload that to the submission sheet tomorrow.

[IlliniWalli]

nice job!!!!

sure gets the heart poundin when you got one that close, eh!!!

big congrats on a nice tom!!!!!!!