Team 8 "Strut Busters"

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck stick and monster!! I confident you guys will figure them birds out in the next few weeks.

[Borch]

Out of our 6 birds this spring only 2 were shot in the morning and both of those were about 9 am. Still henned up early in the day around here.

[sticknstring]

My brother-in-law invited me out to a place he knew that was holding some birds last night. We were setup in separate blinds by 645. I had a hen come through at 715 and then a tom at 8. 30 yds was close as he got - didn't want anything to do w/ the decoys. I could hear him walking straight out and he popped out right by those taller pines on the right. Won't be able to get out for a few days, but I'll keep you guys updated.

[Hoyt4]

Good luck string

I'm sure you will put him down.

[sticknstring]

Thanks Hoyt - it won't be from lack of effort if I don't!

[x1957x]

Good luck stick! It will happen. Sounds like you are in a good spot to.. 57

[x1957x]

You guys out and about today Moose,,, sticknstring? Good luck to you both. Sounds like you really got into a good spot stick. Your buddy did his home work for sure.. Hopefully this weather stays good for you guys. Souns like wind in my area today and clouds but 70 for a high. 57

[monstermoose78]

I will be headed out in a little bit. My plans is to hunt for them once they get done breeding the hens. Truck is packed up just giving it some time.

[x1957x]

Good luck to you Moose. 10-2pm. is the time most hens are nesting then. Toms are on the move. Hope you connect bud...

[sticknstring]

I returned the favor and took my BIL out w/ me to my primary farm Saturday morning. Calm, clear, perfect morning. Heard a bird gobbling a half-mile away on the neighbors place, but all quiet on our property.

Called sparingly for a couple hours and finally spotted a hen in the field around 8am. Called her in w/ some cuts, but she was solo. 20 minutes after she wandered off, we spotted 2 birds in a different direction. Binocs up... red heads - we're in business! It was a pair of jakes that I had seen a few times already. With no toms spotted on this farm yet this year, we each nocked arrows.

They worked slow to the call, but once they saw the decoys, they started trotting in. We had planned to hunt separate blinds, but with the lack of birds we both sat together and combined our decoys. Two jakes, two hens, and a tom fan. I think it was a little more than those jakes bargained for and after coming into 15 yds, they backpedaled to 20 and held up investigating. It was a little farther than I was comfortable with with the recurve so I told Buck to shoot whenever he was ready. The lead bird folded w/ a perfect arrow while the 2nd one hung around for a bit. I proceeded to make a fool of myself and miss 3 times w/ the last one glancing off a sign into the timber! The bird had enough after that and ran off. I've had multiple birds killed from the same blind before, but never a true double. Maybe my tag wasn't meant to be punched that morning, who knows! This pic shows half our spread with Buck's bird down in the background and the sign I hit with my 3rd shot. I actually felt pretty good on the release of that one too.

We took some pics and headed home at 10 as we both had obligations to get to. It's been a tough season, but still great to be out in the woods. Hopefully I can get out a few more times yet before the season winds down. We need ideal weather for poults in the upcoming month or next year could be really bad.

[DonBo]

Nice! No shame in taking a jake with the bow.

[monstermoose78]

I am going to head out for little bit today. I have been working on my honey due list all morning and just am finishing up. Nice work sticknstring.

[rundrave]

my seasons done guys unless I can get out this next week I am eating turkey tag soup again. Sorry to disappoint just didn't work out for me this year. Good luck to the rest of you.

[brittman]

Nice! No shame in taking a jake with the bow.

I do not believe there is any shame in taking a Jake regardless of method. While I typically chose to pass on jakes, I chose not to condone those that kill one.

Bet you other forms of mortality far outpace hunter kill on jake turkeys between this April and next April when they would be a two year old gobbler.

[sticknstring]

Good luck today Moose! Let us know how it goes.

It's been a long time since I've shot a jaker, but with the way this season has gone and the unique situation present to double-up w/ my BIL, I was in shooting mode! It didn't work out, but I wouldn't have done it any other way. Except the shooting accuracy part! It kinda felt good to still have my tag on the walk out though.

[Hoyt4]

Good luck string go back after them.

I'll be the first one to day I never pass a jake.Does not matter if I have two tags or one. I have taken many more longbeards but my jake count is up ther. The still play the game the same way and still put on a show. Oh and they tasted good. I do say it was just a jake or anything like that. I just love being in the turkey woods. Tom or Jake will never matter to me. I'm hoping a few come by this week over in WI.

[monstermoose78]

I got set up and called a few times and had gobbles come back. Then a heard something and I watched the neighbor chop his corn down. Then he decided to disk it up today. I just packed up and will try again tomorrow.

[DonBo]

They LOVE those freshly plowed fields. Hit it again ASAP.

[Borch]

They LOVE those freshly plowed fields. Hit it again ASAP.

Yep. Sometimes they're in it before the tractor is out of it.

[brittman]

grubs and worms are the attraction ?

[monstermoose78]

I will go tomorrow and give it go

[Borch]

grubs and worms are the attraction ?

I've killed them with then in their crop. So likely yes.

[monstermoose78]

Well guys I had my chance I will give a detailed report in a little bit. I need to go check a few things first.

[ANYFISH2]

I sure hope your efforts paid off big. Looking forward to your story.

[monstermoose78]

First of Donbo, archerysniper, sticknstring, and Borch you boys are awesome with Turkeys in my opinion and thank you for all the help!

First off I got up this morning and did my honey do list. I was packed and headed out about 815 this morning. I got to my dad's at about 830 am and started to walk out to the field. I got next to the pond and notice 2 turkey which I though were decoys and then one them went into full strut. I back tracked back to the house set up a hen decoy and called a few times. A gobble followed rate away. I thought I am going to shoot a turkey off the deck of my old mans. I got one more gobble and nothing for an hour. I decided to head out to the field and set up.

I got out to the field and set up my blind next to the oak tree in the middle of the field. I was in my blind about 930 and with one hen decoy set out. I called a few times and never heard a gobble. About 1015 I heard a noise it sounded like the wind blowing. I about jumped off my chair then it happened again. I knew it was close, but I could not see it. I got my crossbow up and ready then I see a beak peak out from the corner of the window. Next was the head and neck. Then tail feathers, so I unzipped the window where the turkey is. The hen saw me open the window and it made some kind of odd cluck. The tom walked out to about 20 yards with no shot possible. He stopped and strutted at 20 yards. He turned broadside and I let an bolt fly rate over his back. A few choice words muffled and hurried to get another bolt loaded. I shot again as he just stood there I aimed lower, but used the 20 yard mark I sent him another warning shot just low. The hen had enough of my warning shots and headed west with the tom in tow.

I watched them chase each other around for while. I heard them getting freaky or that is what I thought. Then I notices movement out of the window facing west. The hen came rate into my hen decoy and made funny noises at it. The tom stayed where I missed him before. Finally the hen headed to the north and went just pasted my blind. The tom came closer and when he hit 15 yards I let another bolt go. SMACK!! The tom jumped up I bet 20 feet in the air. I could see my bolt buried rate where it should have been. When he hit the ground he and crappie flopped. I jumped up and flipped the blind over and I see him get up and start walking away. I watched him go into the brush. I waited a half hour as I would do with a deer. I followed a good blood trail for 75 to 100 yards and nothing. I thought I heard some flopping while I waited. I think he flew across the brook or somewhere. I searched for 3 hours and then I went and got my cousin and his hunting dog to see if the dog could find it. The dog went straight down the blood trail and stopped where the pool of blood was. We walked around looking for the bird hoping the dog would catch the scent. It was a no go. I do know his beard touched the ground and he had some nice spurs.