team #52--"Beards of Glory"

[Arrow3]

This is a thread for teammates to communicate with each other and "talk smack" if needed. After teams are drawn on March 11th, all team members are required to make at least one post on this thread with a picture uploaded from a camera...Doesn't matter what you take a pic of as long as it adheres to the forum rules and is in good taste....Good luck in the contest. I will open the thread up for posting as soon as the teams are known...You will have till 11:59pm on March 17th to post a picture on this thread or you will be replaced in the contest...Period!

 

[rutandstrut]

Go team #57

Hello, My name is Tim Sandford. I am an avid Turkey and Deer Hunter and a Custom Call Maker! I can't wait to get out there and put the smack down on some Turkeys! The Bird in the Picture is an Eastern from North Florida, 23.5#, 11.25" Beard, 1 5/8" Spurs. Good Luck to everyone!

 

[hotamighty]

My name is Dane Lancaster. I am from Nashville GA and I love both Turkey and Deer hunting. Here are some turkey pics i got last week on my hunting spot.

 

[hotamighty]

Go Team #52

 

[hotamighty]

This is going to be a long, sleepless night. I cant wait for daylight tomorrow.

 

[hotamighty]

May your hunts be safe and the beards be long!!!! Good luck guys.

 

[hotamighty]

Icalled in a few hens saturday and sunday but no toms. Didnt even here one gobble Sun. morning after roosting 2 Sat. afternoon. Maybe next weekend will be better. Cant be a whole lot worse.

 

[rutandstrut]

We heard one Gobble the 1st Sat. and my buddy ended up killing an Eastern on the 1st Sunday. The 2nd week with that front going through and all the rain, they were pretty shut mouth! Hopefully they will pick up on the Gobbling as the weather clears!

 

[Slings and Arrows]

"Beards of Glory" What a great name! Good luck to y'all.

 

[hotamighty]

All of the turkeys in the pics above have left my hunting spot and went across the road to the neighboring property. Maybe I can get permission to go after them over there. If not, it will be a long, dry season.

 

[rutandstrut]

I finally got on the board! Go "Beards of Glory"

Here is the Osceola that I harvest at 11:30 this morning. I took this Gobbler after missing three times (1 was my fault the other two were Red Dot Malfunction) over two days. I guess third time is the charm! After not hearing a thing at the first spot that I set up. It was overcast and threathening to rain. It sprinkled a little bit and I decided to go try the spot were I had missed a good Gobbler the morning before!

I headed to the truck and drove to the area. I put on my vest and grabbed my gun afte putting a Flambeau Pro Series Hen and Challenging Jake in my Game pouch. Once I walked to the area and crossed a small creek, I entered the area that I wanted to hunt. This area is a circle shaped clear cut that has been recently burned. It is totally surrounded by Cabbage Palm Swamp. the burnt areas is approx. 400 yards across and 500 yards wide. Allow this field had been recently burned it had an abundance of new growth already sprouting! The whole area was eat up with Turkey and Deer sign! Once I entered the Cut, I move to the right to a place that I had scouted out as a good setup opn Friday. The set-up was located just off the edge of the Cut and had great cover.
There were a couple of small pines in front of me and I was set-up against a good size Oak tree. I set the Decoys about 25 yards away and went back to my hide.

I waited about 20 minutes to let everything settle down and then made a short series of yelps on one of my Double Slate Calls. I got an immediate reply. I made one more short series of yelps to make sure he was answering me. I got a second Gobble and put the Call down and got ready to shoot!

Little did I know how long I would have to wait! After not hearing anything for approx. 20 Minutes I made another series of Yelps, nothing. I waited another 20 Minutes and repeated this sequence, Nothing! I decided that I needed to sit tight and let things work themselves out! I figured the Gobbler had Hens with him and Gobbled but didn't come until he was finished with the business at hand! I slid my Seat Cushion forward and stretch out to wait him out!

I waited about an hour and then made a short series of yelps on a Cedar Box Call, Nothing. I decided that I needed to get more agressive, so I cutt on the same Box Call and got an immediate response. I then cut him off and cutt hard at him and then got passive making a soft series of yelps. He Gobbled at every Call I made and then I saw his Head first and then his Fanned out Tail. He was soming in fast and on a string! He had to go through a little depression and all I could see was the top of his Fan. When he came out of this Depression and saw the Hen with the tending Jake, he did something that I have never seen a Gobbler do. While he was still Fanned out and had his wings down Strutting he began to run toward the Decoys. It is the strangest thing I have ever seen! A Gobbler in Full Strutting Running toward my Decoys! When he made it to the Hen, he started Spit and Drumming. Once he passed the Hen and moved toward the Jake he was all business! He flogged the Jake with his Wing twice and then pecked him!

At this point I had seen about all I could take. I had one of the Lime green Goofy bat Wing Diaphragms in my mouth, the safety off and the Gobbler in my sights. I cutt at him and as he raised his head, I squeezed off the trigger and watched as he began to flop! I let out a war hoop and ran toward the Gobbler! I was on happy Turkey Hunter! I said a short prayer and then began to pack up and head toward tmy truck and then the check station! Mission accomplished! Now it is time for
Osceola #2 before I head to Kansas for Rio's and then New York for Big Easterns. I may try to go to S.C. if I can find the time inbetween!



County: Volusia
Weight: 17#
Beard: 10 3/8"+
Left Spur: 1 3/8"
Right Spur: 7/8"​

This Birds score is: 1.375 (Longest Spur) X 10= 13.75 + 10.375 (Beard Length) = 24.125

 

[hotamighty]

Man thats a nice bird. I'm glad someone from our team got one. Icant even buy a bird now. I saw birds everywhere the week before season opened but havent seen anything since but a few hens. CONGRATS!!!!!

 

[rutandstrut]

Man thats a nice bird. I'm glad someone from our team got one. Icant even buy a bird now. I saw birds everywhere the week before season opened but havent seen anything since but a few hens. CONGRATS!!!!!

Thanks! Don't give up. The Birds down here were in a lull and just started to Gobble good again! I think the first phase of breeding is over and they were in a lull waiting for the younger hens to become receptive! I didn't see a lot of Hens until two or three days ago and they were starting to hang around the Gobblers and come into their Gobbling. I watched a Gobbler breed a Hen on Sunday Morning! So it is still on! I think this is just the start of the second phase! I will be back out there tomorrow after work trying to Roost one!

 

[hotamighty]

Hey rutandstrut, I looked at the official kill thread at the top of the page and didnt see the pics of your bird. I'm not 100% sure but dont you have to post him there for him to be scored? Like i said I'm not sure so you may want to check before time is up.

 

[rutandstrut]

I posted the Bird there and was told that I didn't have the proper pictures so that my bord doesn't qualify!

 

[hotamighty]

Well that aint no good. You are the only one on the team that has had any luck. The rest of us havent done anything but try.Did they say what was wrong? Just in case I find a bird to shoot at so maybe I will get them right.

 

[rutandstrut]

I didn't have a Picture of myself, the Bird and a Cell Phone or Newspaper in the same picture. It was my fault and it cost us a good Bird in the contest. I will be headed to Kansas tomorrow morning at 0530 and will have a chance to add two more prior to the contest closing. Hopefully they are two good ones!

 

[hotamighty]

I hope you have good luck in Kansas. I am trying to put something on the board. I hunt most afternoons after work and every weekend I'm home but I just cant see a bird. I read your post on the other page and it sounds like you wont have this problem. With 2 flocks of 300 birds each you will probably need a stick to beat them off of you.LOL Best of luck on your trip and be safe.

 

[rutandstrut]

I just got back from Kansas and harvested Two Nice Gobblers and called one in for the Land Owner while I was there. I will post some pictures and the story this afternoon!

 

[rutandstrut]

Entered Three and all three were disqualified for one reason or the other! I have one more chance in NY and then I am done!