Team 8 "Strut Busters"

[ANYFISH2]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Stick with it, good things come wi th adversity and persistence.

Good luck monstermoose! !

[DonBo]

That sux. These birds are tough critters. If they fly after the shot, there's little you can do but put some miles on your boots. Look under deadfalls and logs, in brush piles, etc. The last one I shot with my bow flew across a field and burried itself under a pine tree.

Like I said, tough critters, archery tackle makes them even tougher. As much as I love bowhunting, and bowhunting for turkeys, I gotta admit, shotguns are a much more efficient weapon for the job.

[x1957x]

Good luck Moose! Persistance will prevail! Keep after them....

[sticknstring]

What a bummer Moose - sounds like you had a very exciting hunt! I know the feeling. Been there a handful of times over the years... it isn't fun. When they fly - there's not a whole heckuva lot a guy can do. Good luck if you make it back out. I've slept through my alarm the past two mornings now. Go figure, opening day I was up before my alarm rearing to go. I hope to get out tomorrow morning if the wind isn't howling.

[Borch]

Keep after them moose. That's a though break but it happens. These buggers are tough.

Sounds like you had a lot of action today so far.

[x1957x]

Hey Stick. Do you want me to give you a wakeup call!~ LOL

[monstermoose78]

Well after reading scoots story I headed out again this morning. I was out there about 8 am. I set up but this time I added a jake decoy again. I had many hens come in and talk to my decoys. One of the hens was huge. I drink my big water bottle and had lunch in the blind. I was seeing a hen at least every hour. About 130 I had to pee so I got out of the blind to 2 steps and hear something crack a branch behind the blind. There stands a tom watching me. He slowly made his way off, so I hunted until 3 pm seen a few more hens. However the tom never came back. When I was packing up I looked down in the cut corn and there he was with 2 hens. I will be back at tomorrow. This weekend will be the nephews turn with the shotgun.

[sticknstring]

I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me. Plenty. Claustrophobia sets in and you need get out to stretch, pee, move, packup, etc and there will be a bird within eyesight on a silent approach. Tomorrow is your day - good luck!

'57 - If I miss tomorrow morning, a call will be needed for the weekend!

[x1957x]

Good. Luck to both of you. Tomorrow is both of yours, lucky day. Here's an official good luck hex!#####$#####$#####****----,to you both!!! LOL

[ANYFISH2]

Stick and monster, I'll checking to hear of your success at each break tomorrow.

Strut busters need you!! Enough with the suspense, the drama has been nice, but I can't wait to see your birds!!

[sticknstring]

I actually had a tom roosting on property I could hunt this morning! I climbed the big hill w/ all my gear and listened for 10 minutes to put a game-plan together. It was dead calm and you could hear for miles. Finally, a jake gobbled 80 yds from me. Listened for a bit longer and that jake turned out to be 2 jakes. Not a peep came from any other direction. Figured it was good as any, so I set my gear down, popped up the blind and walked it 10 yds closer to the birds. The birds were still talking and now in addition to the 2 jakes, I heard a distinct tom gobble a little farther down the ridge. I decided to put the jake decoy out. It was getting pretty light now and as I turned to head back to the blind, I heard it. The dreaded alarm putt! A hen that was only 60 yds away busted me. They settled back down and the birds started gobbling again on their own, but the damage was done. That hen pitched out first and flew down to the bottom. I quickly cackled and flapped my hat in desperation, but the rest of the birds followed suit and my morning went boom to bust in an instant. That tom was pretty fired up though and I heard him gobbling in the bottom right up until I had to leave at 7:15. Going to make a phone call tonight and hopefully be in a little better position for morning.

Hopefully Moose has better news today and will take the heat off. I've never been much good under pressure!

[DonBo]

...and my morning went boom to bust in an instant.

Oh, if I had a dollar for every time that happened...

[x1957x]

+2 with ya, Don. IT WILL HAPPEN tho sticknstring. At least you know they are around and looking!

[monstermoose78]

Sorry Guys, I went fishing instead. I thought it might be best if I let my spot have a day off. I did catch lots of fish!!!

[monstermoose78]

O yeah I will be posting photos again. I got another camera and took some advice from the fellas on here to get one from the pawn shop and get one the water proof and shock proof one.

[x1957x]

Sticknstring. 57 here. Can you post a couple pictures in the photo forum for me. My son and I took my buddy out today on his FIRST EVER TURKEY HUNT and he got a good Tom. 21LBS, 3/4 AND A 7/8th's in spurs with an impressive 10 inch beard. Pm me and I will text you pictures of his archery Tom today. Thanks again..

[monstermoose78]

Well this morning my nephew did not feel up to hunting so he stayed home. I went by myself which was okay.

Here is my set up looking south

This is what is to my east

What lays to my west just beyond the tree line is a battle brook.

This morning I had toms gobbling this morning, but again they sounded like they were on the other side of the brook. I did not see anything until I decided to call it a day, because of the wind. I looked around before jumping out of blind this time and a saw a sneaky hen to the east.

I waited another hour to see if she had a tom or jake with her, but she did not. My sister told me last night the coyotes were very close to the house. I did some coyote scat and tracks. I do not know if they would have chased most of the turkeys away. I do know yesterday the neighbor plowed up the field again making it a lot closer to the property line which is great in my eyes. I did see 2 hen pheasants and 3 roosters, but they would just run across the opening to fast to get photo.

[sticknstring]

I went back out Sat morning until 10am. Other than 2 other ground blinds, I didn't see or hear a thing all morning. Beautiful day though.

57 - PM sent for the pics.

[x1957x]

Sticknstring, besides the buddy, my grandson shot a 25lb, with four beards at 10.25,6.25,and 5.175, and 5.00 with 1" spurs on each foot. He's pumped but not like his grandpa! Got some awsome video of him shooting it at appx 11+ yards. Took 3 and a half hours to finally commit to the decoys! Thanks and I sent you back a message.

[monstermoose78]

Wow 57 that is heck of turkey Congrats to him.

[sticknstring]

I'm posting these pics for '57. What an incredible season you and your family has shared in the turkey woods this spring - congrats! Let me know which pics you'd like to submit for the photo contest and I can post them over there for you as well.

[Borch]

Sweet!

That bird it almost as big as your grandson. What a brute for his first bird!

I would gather that would beat almost all of us hunters's personal best bird. I know I don't have anything with 4 beards.

Congrats on a fantastic season for your whole family!

[monstermoose78]

That is awesome! Congrats!!

[1eyeReD]

Suhweeeeet gobbler! Congrats to the grandson that shot the multi-bearded boar of a turkey. I wish to some day have that much beard on my own chin!

[ANYFISH2]

Wow, what a wonderful bird!

x1957x, congrates to you and all of your family this season, unbelievable season for you all. I couldn't be happier for all you.

Thank you for sharing.