Team 8 "Strut Busters"

[x1957x]

GOOD LUCK Rundrave on saturday! Get some good pictures to get the show started!!

[rundrave]

I wish I could sit here and type up a good report but it was brutal. We fished the river all day Friday only managed 1 walleye and a pike. Was a great day to be outdoors though, absolutely beautiful weather. Scouting didnt go well either so we went into Saturday with no clue of where the birds were roosting.

Saturday's weather was another perfect day weather wise although a bit warm for hiking and hauling a pack full of food, and gear up and down the hills. I hunted from 6am until about 4:30pm on Saturday didn't hear a gobble or glass a single birds.

Took a break to eat some dinner and get some more liquids and hunted again until dark. I managed to by peer accident stumble across 4 Toms and a hen with out spooking them. It was in a open meadow so I didn't have much for cover. I was able to belly crawl within I would say 60-75yards but was just to far out for me to take a poke at them with the shotgun. I tried to keep up with them but with lack of cover it really wasn't an option until they went lower and out of my sight.

I tried to make a stalk but they were no where to be found. I had a general idea where they may have been roosting based off years past but no birds showed up.

Sunday I set the alarm for 5:30 knowing the weather was going to be bad. Sure enough when I woke up it was 35mph wind, a combo of rain and snow and a nice temp drop of almost 50degrees from the day before. Needless to say the odds were not in our favor.

So for the weekend my party of 8 guys, none of us bagged a bird or even got a shot off at one. I don't know if winter was hard on the birds or what but we saw a significant drop in numbers from years past. Hopefully I can get some wife time off approved so I can get back out. Right now its not looking like its going to be an option.

Good luck to the rest of you guys.

[sticknstring]

Wow - that's pretty rough! Unfortunately my report isn't much better. Temps pushing 80 w/ full sun coupled w/ above average amount of hunters in the area made for a tough trip. Nevertheless, we saw some birds and had a great time.

The hunt started Thursday am and not much happened until 7 pm when 2 toms came in and bumped the jake decoy at 9 yds. My BIL was the shooter and he got bug-eyed when I dropped the window of the blind and there was a big strutting tom at nearly spitting distance. He's never shot one w/ his bow before and hadn't heard drumming before either. I think he got a little excited and all he got to take back to camp was a few feathers. This one shows a souvenir on the left and his arrow sticking in the dirt on the right of the decoy.

Friday morning found us a 1/2 mile away down along a picked cornfield. At 9am, a line of jakes came in to the decoys. I was taking pics while my BIL got ready for a shot. Here's a pic of the first 2 coming in.

All of a sudden we had nearly a dozen jakes in front of us flogging the decoy and making a racket. Shane drew and I could see he wasn't going to clear the blind as the birds were so close. Higher I said... higher... higher. Soon the bow went off and it was a clean miss. The gig was up so I grabbed an arrow, drew and released at one walking away. A clean miss. It's always amazing to me how you can be sitting for so long contemplating a move with nothing going on to having birds in your lap in seconds. So dang exciting! This was our view that morning.

That night, we saw some birds in the distance and established a game plan for morning. We got back to camp and refueled w/ some veni steaks.

Morning came early and we found ourselves in familiar territory. Birds weren't real vocal, but we were confident they were around. Sure enough, they started filtering out of the cedars into the fields and open pastures. This group w/ 1 tom, 2 jakes and a few hens entertained us for quite awhile. I was able to call him away and he strutted to 50 yds before he decided our decoys weren't what he was looking for. Probably worn out from earlier in the morning.

Once the tom w/ the missing tail feather was out of sight we developed a plan. We climbed the big hill and found the birds on the other side in the open. No chance for a stalk there but saw a move and made it. We climbed back down, circled way around and found ourselves in a shaded open piece of timber. I tucked down into a brushpile w/ the recurve and Shane stood in a multi-trunked tree w/ the shotgun 50 yds below me. We had no idea if we'd even see the birds, but at the time it was only thing we had. I gave a few soft yelps every now and then and after about 20 minutes I spotted 2 red heads - sweet this could work! The two jakes worked through first just out of range. Then I could hear yelps soon followed by drumming. I was too high in the timber for a shot, but watched the hens pass me at 35 yds and the strutter followed behind. The hens were getting close to Shane and I though there was no way this was going to work. Soon the dreaded alarm putt sounds and the hens nervously turn and walk back the way they came. But it was too late, the tom was in range and I looked over to see the shotgun come up and bark. Bird down!

We took some pics and hiked on out as the temps were climbing fast. We'd have to come up w/ a new plan of attack over lunch. We spotted this guy laying low in the shade on the drive out.

The temp in the truck said 83 as we drove back out to hunt. Anticipation was low and the evening turned out pretty uneventful. We spotted one group of birds at 6, but they went the other way. At 7, a lone hen w/ a tom right behind skirted us at 70 yds. Here was a partial view that evening. We pulled the plug on day 3 and hoped our last morning would bring us some luck.

Sunday morning came and before I even unzipped the tent, I knew it was going to be tough. The wind was gusting 35-40 mph. We found a quiet corner somewhat out of the wind figured we'd give it until 9-10am and then would have to pack up camp and hit the road. I wasn't expecting any birds in the open, but around 8am, I peaked out and a bird was on the far end of the field. One turned into 2 and soon there were 8-10 birds heading our way. The wind was really whipping the window flaps. Things were looking good until they got to about 75 yds. Then a hen turned and walked off and took the rest of them with her. I contemplated a stock, but there was too many eyes and not enough cover.

With rain/snow moving in and a long drive ahead, we opted to pack it in and wish for better luck next time. So sorry guys, no bird for me yet. I'll be giving it my all here in MN starting May 1st. Best of luck to you guys on your upcoming hunts this week!

[ANYFISH2]

Thanks for the stories guys, we all still have time. Anxiously awating Wed. Seen a ton of birds this past weekend, two large groups that would meet in the same field, the poor tom and jakes ran and strutted back and forth for hours. Sat at about 8 am there where 56 birds on the field with 10 tom and 7-8jakes mixed in. Sunday was a little smaller gathering as there were only 36 birds and 9 toms/jakes.

[DonBo]

Great story and pics Stick. Looks like fun with plenty of action.

[pumper317]

Sweet story and picks stick. Sorry it didn't end with a bird on the ground for you, but the memories for your bil will be worth it. Great read! Good luck in MN.

[ANYFISH2]

This the view of the decs soaking in the nice cold snow!! Turkeys are gobbing on the roost as I type. Hopefully they travel similar to what they have been, witb 15 mph wind and snow.

Good luck to everyone else out today!!!

[sticknstring]

Cool - live action from the turkey blind! Good luck 'FISH! I saw some action this morning wishing I had an A tag. Going to be a long wait 'til May.

[ANYFISH2]

Well live play by play was the plan but then connection issues insued.

It was a short morning for me, woke up plenty early everything ready, blind set up, decoys ready to be deployed , just get dressed and go! Wrong!! Somehow I had misplaced my shells, needless to say 45 min later I find them. Now I am running late, get in the truck and strike off on my "20" minute drive. Well I find out quickly it was going to be longer, roads are carp, packed ice I was only able to drive 40mph. Moo

Not a good start, i was thinking I should have listened to my daughter and stayed home. See she was suppose to accompany me this morning but MCA testing nixed that plan, she would go out tomorrow instead and doesn't want me to get one today.

I finally get to the property and at 6:05, already getting light and legal shooting, quickly set up decoys hoping the turkeys weren't roosted to close by. Get comfortable and wait.

Soon the turkeys began to gobble and cluck on the roost, they seemed far enough that I shouldnt have bothered them going in. They stayed on roost for much longer than this past weekend when they would fly down at 6:15. It is now 6:40 and I see the first bird hit the ground and another and another ect...

This the first group.

Sorry pics stink all I had was the phone.

In the the group there appeared to be 5 males, the closest bird in the above pic is a tom, he was the first bird down from the roost. As soon as he landed I gave a loud call, thinking loud because of the wind, with the box call. He gobbles and begins to sprint towards me and the decoys. The other birds fly down and start making a racket, this gets his attention for a short bit. He then proceeds to walk and strut his way towards me. Only stopping occasionally to gobble and check out the rest of the group that are now working away and to the south.

Hes coming on his own, so I stay silent. He's now approaching at 50 yds, this may just workout! However, a group of 12 hens and working towards us and being quite vocal. This seems to lock him up at 40 yds. He seems unsure about what he wants, these talkative hens or these two birds spinning a circle in the wind. Trying to convice him, I call softly and then aggressively, this gets him to gobble and strut closer. Now he stops between 30-35 yds, and he stands there making me make a decision, upset the daughter or take a bird.

Now in real time this has only taken 8 minutes from the time he flew down. Is it too quick? I don't know but I don't have much for will power! So I shoot and I have now have my 3rd turkey!! At 6:53.

22#14oz

5/8" left and right spurs

9 3\8" beard

Now to go buy the daughter a license and let her at them.

Thanks for reading, took me longer to type this than the hunt lasted!!

These are the girls that tried to steal him.

[sticknstring]

Congrats ANYFISH! Way to get it done in the snow and get our team on the board! You sure those spurs are only 3/8"??? We may need all the points we can get!

[DonBo]

These are the girls that tried to steal him.

Dirty birds

Good call - SHOOT! Your daughter has weeks yet to get 'er done. Congrats!

[rundrave]

congrats on the bird! Some of you guys make this look way to easy.....

[ANYFISH2]

Congrats ANYFISH! Way to get it done in the snow and get our team on the board! You sure those spurs are only 3/8"??? We may need all the points we can get!

I quess reading a tape measure has never been my strong suit, wife would agree after doing our laminate flooring! Looks as though their 5/8", right?

[ANYFISH2]

Rundrave, it certainly isn't me! I have been fortunate enough to gain access to the best section of land I know of in the area. It is all thanks to a couple of the best landowner/caretakers a hunter/friend could ask for.

[DrJ]

Anyfish2, Great story and congrats on the nice bird. I know when it happens right away the 1st morning its bitter sweet,since your done.But still hunting that last hour on day 5 to get a bird is a real bummer. Your lucky that you'll still be out in the blind with your daughter. Best of luck to her. DrJ

[sticknstring]

How's the hunting been going x1957x? How about your grandson Dalton?

[x1957x]

sticknstring. My son got a tom today and my grandson Dillon(team5) got a 23.90 lb tom today also. My grandson Dalton( team 8) and I are left.He missed today at 30 yards on a nice longbeard his brother Dillon called in for him. Lots of talking but just not in the right spot TODAY!! Tomorrow is the connection date!

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck to all of you. Sounds like you guys on some good birds.

[sticknstring]

Hard to beat turkey hunting w/ the whole family! Sounds like you guys have a great spot - can't wait to see all the pics!

[x1957x]

sticknstring,I am in with a dandy Tom.Nice beard, heavy body, and real good spurs. I got it early, and pictures,etc and weight will come soon. Dalton had 2 locked up just outside gun range and didnt commit. Going to take a small break and head to their afternoon strutting zone. Hopefully he connects then we are done at 4 for 4. How do you get pictures on here of a sd card and also have a few sweet ones from my phone I can e-mail etc.

[sticknstring]

Man, you guys are good! Congrats!

You'll have to get the pics off your sd card onto your computer. You can email or text me the pics and I'll get them posted for you.

I sent you a PM.

[ANYFISH2]

Way to go x1957x!! You guys are doing better than fantastic. Congrates!!! Can't wait to see pics.

[x1957x]

anyfish. thanks alot to you and everyone on our team.What happend was my son and I was going out to hunt a strutting zone where we new they worked it. We had previously set up my double bull. Any ways we went in at 2:30 AND had 5 toms and one hen in there. Four at full srutt and the other tom at full strutt with the hen all by himself. We decided to walk back and not hunt there knowing that with the nicer weather coming we had a good chance at busting the big one the next morning.Couldnt have come early enough knowing that they were that night. with the clear night we decided to go in early and be real quite doing it.Set up my DSD decoys with the submisive being at 10 yards and the Jake right on her hot heals. Sat the feeder to the right of the blind and the upright to the left and slightly back farther than the others. The wait began. At about the 6:10am time my son made the comment that he hoped the jake dont move with the slight breeze. No sooner had he said that a slight gust turned the Jake to look like he was turning and walking away> What the ****. we are cursed! Birds already goobling and one directly below us! SO here is the idea I said to Matt.Lift the blind up and I will crawl out to it turn it and wet the o-ring to keep it solid. Do it and crawl back in to the blind. Meanwhile he had the one below us cutting him off. Sorry. running out of space and will finish on a part 2 coming in a bit!

[x1957x]

Team 8,, my grandson Dalton on our team scored today and the info is on the way about his first tom. And very aggressive one at that! 4 for 4 for my family, myself, my son, and my grandson Dillon( on team 5) and my grandson Dalton on team !

[ANYFISH2]

Well I'll be, a sweep for team x1957x in season A .!!!! You guys clearly hunt hard, smart, and know your birds. I am more than impressed. Congratulations to all of you.

3 birds for "Strut Busters" all ready with 3 hunter with seasons left, looking good so far, keep up the good work guys.