Team # 6 - Strut Busters

[Steve Foss]

Eric, there's a "how to post pics here" thread sticked at the top of the photography and photo sharing board. It's pretty easy, but you have to join up with one of the free online photo hosting sites like Photobucket.

[eric29]

Thanks woody,I wish they didnt take my other pic down, that one realy showd the mass in the beard. Squeezing the beard in my hand was like holding on a roll of quarters in my hand. I think it got deleted bc of a box of beer in the back of my truck, Eventhow i see alot of ice fishing pics that have a beer in the pic. Maybbe ill try editing it and make my first pic post along with a story.

[woody1975]

Hey Eric,

Send me the picture and I will see if I can get it acceptable!

But I would say that a few cold ones are definately in order after a bird like that!

[email protected]

[eric29]

Heres the story.

I got was all set up in my ground blind by about 5:30am. I was tucked into the woods line face an open field and close to an hour and a half past with absolutely no action while i would do some key-key calls mixed in with a few yelps and purrs on my slate call. And just before 7 i heard a gobble in the distance. Me and him talked back and forth for probably 15-20 min but he seemed to be hung up on the other side of the creek. A few times i didnt answer him and that really made him mad. He would go off in a fury of gobbles, 7-8 gobbles a min untill i talked back to him. In the mean time i had a jake and a hen run down the open field from about 300 yards out all the way up to about 30 from me. While i was watching those to my gobbler got further and further down the creek. Just as soon as the jake and hen got scidish and ran i had 5 more birds come out of the same place they did. It took them about 5 min to close the distance to me, they were on a mission. I had the one i wanted picked out as soon as i saw them at 300 yards away. That big thick beard was a great site even at that distance. The 3 jakes and the tom all came right for my feeding hen decoy, which i set up bout 5yds out and to the side of where i was sitting. The jakes ended up making a wall of defense between me and the tom. He danced and struted for bout 5 mins at 30 yds from me right behind the jakes. Then finally he made a mistake and got off to the side and i had my chance-BTD.

Sorry for mumblin for so long.

[klecker]

Eric,

Congrates on the nice tom. Why to go!

[Nightcrawler]

nice hunt eric, enjoyed the story ,,congrates.

[woody1975]

Hey Wally

Waiting patiently for the story on that big boy you bagged in Idaho.

DL

[eric29]

I scored mine at 74.37- I think. That beats out that 4 bearded monster, so a few more nice birds and we can have this thing.

Im interested in seein some stats on wally's bird too.

[Wallydog]

I'm officially posted! And inserted the story with my pic above.

WD

[eric29]

Nice job wallydog!

I was hoping there would be 4 more beards hidden in that pic

[Wallydog]

Eric, I dug and rooted around but could only find one this year...

When is everyone else on them?

I'm going to Oregon in the next few days then back to try fill my second tag in Idaho.

WD

[woody1975]

I just get to watch from now on!

Already starting to plan a trip to SD and maybe IA next year!

We stumbled across some land in both states that we could hunt, just need to get there.

My Dad and two brothers are starting to get the fevah, so I think it may become a yearly ritual.

DL

[mozy]

I'm heading home on Thursday night so I can make it out Friday morning. Heard it's been a pretty slow year around the area I'm hunting, but hopefully it picks up before this weekend. Weather's not looking the greatest.

[Hoyt4]

Nice job Eric I knew someone would be the 4 bearded bird.that is going to make it a close contest now.

[mozy]

Another one fell to the Hoyt Saturday night. I'm waiting for the pics to be emailed to me, but here are the measurements anyways:

18 lbs 6 oz.

7 7/8"

3/4"

[woody1975]

Atta boy Mozy - We are on a pretty good track - Mine being the smallest of course, but better than the big skunk.

Can't wait to see the pics.

DL

[Wallydog]

Sweet work Mozy.

I called to watch another fall to a friends shot Saturday morning.

What a team!

WD

[woody1975]

Klecker should be hunting right now, hopefully he is killing a big boy in WI - Then that just leaves SlamNFish. He has been MIA.

ANyone heard from SlamNfish?

DL

[Wallydog]

Teamers.........sure wish I could use the bird I whacked yesterday! Pictures later.

Also wish i had an image of the cougar that crossed the jungle like skid trail this morning at 40 yards, then vanished. Wonder if he was responding to my calling?

I'm done wishing.

WD

[woody1975]

Can't wait to see it Wally!

Hey Mozy - YOu need to get that bad boy you shot entered into the contest. That 49.125 will put us on top with 2 more hunter to go.

Going out to video tape for a buddy this weekend! Fishing didn't work out to well - Must mean I need to get into the woods.

DL

[Wallydog]

Here is my second Idaho bird..........

1" spurs, 8 3/4 beard, weight around 18#

the lodging was spartan at best

[123fish]

Congrats on the nice bird. As far as the lodging goes at least you had a roof over your head. Well maybe not...

[woody1975]

Where are all the Strut Busters?

DL

[Wallydog]

I'm done chasing gobblers for the year so..............

Sitting here trying to sell some carloads of lumber!

Go team go

WD

[eric29]

Who are we waiting to hear from, Klecker, mozy and slamnfish. Anyone know if they had any luck or if theyve hunted yet