Team 3 - LEGION of BOOM

[Archerysniper]

Holy smokes that thing is a pig,congratulations

[walleyehunter02]

Don't be talking bout my gf like that! haha jk. Thanks! He was a beast and she was proud. We had a 1/2 mile or so walk back with half of it through a plowed field then across a creek and a field driveway the rest of the way and she was determined to carry it all the way back. Here is a clip of the hunt. Enjoy!

[DonBo]

That's great. Congrats to you both. That bird is a beast. Now it's your turn, good luck!

[DonBo]

Here's my story:

My good friend Dave and I have hunted this same area of west central Wisconsin for years. We've had some really good luck. We camp in the area and hunt hard for 5 days. We typically sit together in the blind, we have two tags each.

Opening morning, last Wednesday found us in a familiar spot, one we've had great success the past few years.

The gobbling early was a bit disappointing, there was some, but nothing close. A hen starting talking to me and was soon in the middle of the decoys yelping like crazy. She finally wandered off across the field, but someone was listening and the sound of close gobbles got our attention. A big tom showed himself down the field edge and headed towards the hen, now 100 yds away. Next thing I knew there were 6 jakes in the decoys.

I tried hard to convince Dave to shoot one, but he, like me, wasn't ready to take a jake opening morning, not with a big one in sight. The jakes eventually headed out towards the other two birds. After a while, they all came back our way with the hen again in the middle of the decoys. The jakes surrounded her, but were more interested in the decoys than the real thing. When she wandered off, the tom finally came back to her and Dave dumped him at about 35 yards. After having his tom down he swung on the jakes and when one finally cleared the others, his tags were full. It was 6:20 opening morning.

He sat with me for a while before heading off to register and clean his birds. It was a long walk back with a heavy load.

I sat here alone a few hours till Dave came back, with no more excitement, then we headed to a different farm. Here, we saw a hen and heard one gobble, but that was it for opening day.

[DonBo]

Day 2 was much nicer than the weatherman promised.

There was some gobbling early, and a couple were pretty close, but all were tight lipped after flydown. It was after 7:00 before we saw our first bird, a nice tom that had someplace else to go. Maybe a half hour later a bearded hen made an appearance about 150 yards away. Soon there was another, then a tail fan showed itself above a rise in the field. Game on!

These birds all seemed to want to go another direction, but some pleading purrs kept them headed closer and closer. OMG, there are two more toms! Now things are getting exciting. They are taking their sweet time, but they keep coming. Then from behind the blind I hear some yelping and look as a pack of jakes come charging out into the group of birds. The lone tom was not happy and chased those young birds all over the field, mostly closer and closer to our position.

It seemed like an hour, but finally the two toms together were right on top of my jake decoy. They were so close together the whole time that I wasn't sure if I was going to get a shot or not. The lone bird was still too far away. Soon there was an opening and my first bird was on the ground. The remainder of the flock jumped at the shot, but unsure what happened. The second tom was standing all alone at about 30 yards, so, seconds later, I was filled out.

When I rolled over the first bird and saw hooks well over an inch long, I was ecstatic. I have shot dozens of birds, but none had spurs over and inch long, these were both longer that. When I rolled over the second bird, I could believe it. These were 1 1/2" & 1 5/8".

Sorry, but because I'm too dang honest, I'm registering the first bird, the smaller bird. Totals: 20.57 lbs, Beard 10 3/8. Spurs both 1 1/4, still not too shabby.

Here's the "little" one:

A heavy load that I was happy to deal with.

[IlliniWalli]

double congrats, donbo

thats a pretty good haul for one hunt

those spurs are killer

[8point]

It's been one hell of a season for me in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. I was able to punch three tags on three great toms and help several others, including friends and veterans punch their tags as well. Lots of good encounters and incredible footage. Turkey hunting is so special to me not only because I get to call turkeys using calls that I make, but I get to experience nature up close and share these awesome encounters with others.

Here's a few pictues of my season. I was able to harvest my season A Minnesota bird and Season C Wisconsin bird within the first hour of my hunt. I filled my Wisconsin season D tag on the second day of the season. Saw a lot of birds this spring, especially hens and jakes so I think we're going to have great hunting for the next several years! Nice job this spring everybody!

Veteran hunt

[DonBo]

Great job Kevin. Nice to see someone else with the same drive for this sport. I've had 6 birds taken out of my blind so far this spring, and I HOPE I'm not done yet.

[8point]

We're still going strong in Wisconsin! I still have one more tag to fill!

[ANYFISH2]

Nice going guys and walleyes' gal. Beautiful birds and great stories. Awesome!

[123fish]

Good job fellow Legionnaires. Love all the pics and stories. It's been a good spring for sure.

[DonBo]

It's been a good spring for sure.

Yep, we are 5 for 5 so far, walleyehunter still has over a week to get-r-done. How's it going???

I've been bowhunting some the last couple weeks and it has been TOUGH. Good thing I already put something on the board because I'm finding very few birds that want to play anymore.

[walleyehunter02]

I am still chipping away at it. There are 2 birds i have my sights on that I would really like to get and would be great for the team score! Did not see bird 1 on the sit this morning or cruising around. I am sure the wind had an affect on them, didn't see a single bird strutting this morning while driving. I will be back in the woods tomorrow morning to see if i can fool bird number 2. After that i may lower my standards.

[DonBo]

Chilly morning... Way to stick with it.

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck Walleyehunter! think you can scavenge up a 80+ for us? . It would be most appreciated! !

Nah, just have a good hunt, no pressure really!

[walleyehunter02]

Going to be even warmer tomorrow.. No idea what either would score just know that they look to be bigger birds than the gfs. it would be nice to put a big number up for the team but having fun with it either way!

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck this morning.

[walleyehunter02]

Well team. I got good news and bad news.. Good is I just punched my tag! Bad, well.. Is there anything for the smallest bird registered? After waking up late and scaring off the bird I was after i went in search for some aggressive birds to sneak up on. I found one got permission, but he had crossed the road by then. I gave it a whirl anyways and snuck down the back of the tree line and placed the strutter in the field with a hen decoy. I called twice over the next 5 minutes and next thing Ya know I got 8 or so jakes making a bee line for the strutter. I drew as they passed behind some brush 30 yards away. When they were all within 12 yards I picked one out and let him have it! The temptation got the best of me. Just hoping the camcorder battery died after the shot..

[bigbucks]

Just hoping the camcorder battery died after the shot..

Too funny, I was laughing out loud, sometimes it's fun just to close the deal & be done.

[DonBo]

There is no shame in taking a jake, especially with the bow. Well done.

[ANYFISH2]

Well, congrats to you walleyehunter! ! A well deserved bird with the amount of time it seems you have spent.

6 for 6 for legion of boom, talk about team success (as well a fabulous success rate for HSO members). It has been a blast hunting with all of you this season.

[DonBo]

6 for 6 for legion of boom, talk about team success. It has been a blast hunting with all of you this season.

[walleyehunter02]

No shame here at all. First time success without the blind for me with the bow. Plus makes the gf feel better knowing she out did me! It has been fun hunting with ya'll. I will get my monster's submission in tomorrow. Or doesn't it matter being he will score a whopping 32ish!

[123fish]

Good job walleyehunter. I think that makes the Legion six for six. Can't kick about that.

[PFUNK]

Nice job on filling the tags guys! Congrats to all.