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I've been hunting the same gobbler for about two weeks.. He's been roosting in the same area and has been "somewhat" responsive to calls, but not to the point of being suicidal. I called in a bird there last Sunday that MAY have been him, but I only got to see his head and neck, and he spotted me before I could get a shot. Three days ago I called him into a field about 75 yards away from me and I got a good look at him, but a hen intervened and led him away. I could see he was a BIG bird, with a huge fan and a nice beard. This morning, things fell together...he gobbled early, and responded to (hot) calling, but eventually moved away, probably because he hooked up with a hen. Then about 10:00 AM he started gobbling again. He was across a road and a creek, and I never really thought he would come, but I started calling anyway. When I heard him gobble on MY side of the creek, I knew he had committed. I killed him at 10:45 am. At 22 1/4 pounds, he's the 2nd heaviest gobbler I have ever shot in NY. Spurs were 1 1/4" and sharp, making him at least a 3 year old. His beard was heavy, thick, and 10 ". I can count the 10" beards I have killed on one hand. I have pictures on my digital camera. If The Mermaid can figure out how to get them on email, I'll send them to someone to be posted. Meanwhile, I am a satisfied old turkey hunter.. Hunting a nice bird for a couple of weeks and finally killing him. Just don't GET no better than that.

There is 2 Toms 1 Jake 2 hens. I thought at first he was dancing for my chickens then i seen the rest coming

It sure looks like your chickens want some of that cock-a-doodle-gobbler,lol He's definitely got their attention! Love seeing wildlife in the backyard! Nice shots Paula!

two eights from last year

The cameras have been working overtime at the fox den. I've got 1000's of pics from this cam, and 100's of video to go through yet from my Moultrie I have set up from another angle here. It was tough to narrow it down to my 10 favs!

I have no problem with killing a jake every once in awhile, lets get that out front first. This morning I hooted (I know I'm not supposed to or I'll educate them too much!) for the first little bit then after I heard the first crow (I know, I know) I gave a few blasts on the "Ol Faulks wooden call. Nothing........... I took a loop around and got off the main trail and headed to the head of a gully/ravine. With water rushing pretty good in the creek bottom it was tough to hear very good. I backed off a bit and plopped down on a log and gave a little hen talk on my box call. I'll be dipped, a gobble! From across the gully a tom hollered pretty good to me. I made a move down the ridge and set up. I made a quick call and determined he was still on the limb. After about 5-7 minutes he made a few more gobbles and then I could finally tell he was down on the ground. I moved one more time and I was set, he gobbled a couple more times before he showed his purty blue head. He strutted twice, I noted a full fan and had a quick glimpse of a beard and pulled the trigger. Cool....... Much to my surprise but NOT disappointment I noticed he was a jake. I've killed full fan jakes before so I wasn't too surprised. He'll eat very good.................................................

Awesome!! Let's see those pics. How about some ground turkey stuffed peppers? Sent with Tapatalk on my Samsung Galaxy 4

We're all arguing from essentially the same side here, folks. Bubba nailed it a couple of posts ago, Cuomo has to go. It won't fix everything, but it's a hell of a good start. I just came back from the local transfer station, what we used to call 'the dump' before the EPA got involved. Things were a little slow so I had time to chat with the two elderly gents who run the place. It took less than 5 minutes, but now they know the name Rob Astorino. They even asked that I write it down for them so they wouldn't forget. Someone pulled in behind me so I had to leave, but as I did they they were talking excitedly about 'the new candidate'. They come in contact with a lot of people on a weekly basis and chat with everybody if they have the time, and I have no doubt that some of those chats involve politics. I feel like I accomplished something today. Besides getting my shop cleaned out, that is.

What you post is senseless.

Historically, every state that has pushed any type of semi-auto rifle ban, has eventually gone further with other gun, magazine, or ammo bans. Anyone who thinks NY State is different is ignorant. These types of laws are always "first steps". The final step is usually on the center of your back as they haul you off to jail.

As the message is and has been and will continue to be. Cuomos gotta go. And again if there is no pressure on the senators and assembly what will stop them from voting in more legislation. None. So get rid of the guy who will sign it. Essentially send Cuomo packing it is done Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

I didn't contradict myself at all. In the first post I said I didn't think Republican Senators would be foolish enough to vote for a stricter version of the SAFE Act during their next term. I said voting against your constituency once, in the wake of a national tragedy, is one thing. Voting against them twice would be political suicide. In my second post I asked how many were even being challenged in September. I did not "say" anything. It was a legitimate question because I don't keep track of "upstate" Republican politics. It would, however, surprise me if many of them were being challenged. My question to you is, if indeed they aren't even being challenged in a Primary race in September, how can you possibly be preaching about the November election? Unless, of course, the change you spoke about included voting for their Democratic challenger.

"Well known?" Never heard of him, I had to Google his name. I have no infatuation for, nor have an interest in "celibrity hunters."

Well one came back but same thing. I just can't get them to close the distance. I know I'm a beginner but it's getting discouraging. I've been near some 15 birds since opening day. Still no tag punched. I've tried calling softly when they're close, I've hammered on it, I've gone dead silent, ugh frustrated frustrated. Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

The biggest problem is you aren't really going to get much on him on economic issues. He's been fairly conservative for a Democrat. He cut spending, played hardball with the unions, and was pro-corporate subsidies. If anything, he has weakened his own base more than any Republican could do by not being "Democratic" enough. Oh yeah, and he has a $33+ million dollar war chest. So what are you choosing on? Gun Control? Women's rights? LGBT rights? Marijuana legality? Nationwide polls have the Republicans on the losing side of 3 of those 4 issues (and rightly so, in my humble opinion). The only way Astorino wins is if he give centralists and and moderate Democrats a reason to vote for him without scaring them away on abortion/gay rights. If he panders to the religious right or the Tea Party, he's done. EDIT: PS - Astorino also wants there to be terrible, terrible weather on Nov 4th in NYC. EDIT 2: Bubba, how many of those Republican incumbent Senators are even being challenged in a primary?

I've been doing a lot of bird watching this morning from a far. One Jake came in but way out of bow range. Got plenty of room in my new blind so I'm sticking it out. Sent with Tapatalk on my Samsung Galaxy 4

You aren't seriously blaming bow hunters for any significant changes in deer populations are you? I know you have some sort of weird vendetta against bowhunters and would like to blame all the world's problems on them, but try to be a little rational. The deer population is controlled through the antlerless permit system. And the primary tool for that system to work is the gun. So if you have a problem with changes in deer numbers, don't be pointing fingers at bowhunters.

K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple (I'm) Stupid! Guess not! I was really hoping for a "not much to it" process. Honestly, I don't know if it's worth it....I drink whiskey and beer and don't even like wine!!!! I just thought it would be a cool thing to do. Maybe I should just go straight to moonshine! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Thanks guys! Since this post got brought back up to the top I figured I would load a few more pics and videos from my Moultrie I also ran at the den. First a couple quick still photos... Every now and then I would drop off some "Scooby snacks" for momma in the mornings and watch her scoop them up and hide or burry them around the den throughout the day. I threw an antler out there to see what they'd do with it. I got a few vids of the pups wrestling around with it, but I'm having a hard time finding those pics and clips among the 1000's of files. The antler escaped with no damage even though they chewed on it a bit with those little needle teeth! Every once in a while I'd catch momma coming back with some "fast food" for the kids! ****- these next images are video clips. Click pic for clips. Momma dropping off a mouth full of moles for breakfast. One day I went up there and found 12 little mole bodies piled at the den entrance,lol Here she is scooping up some of her special delivery treats I brought her. Doing a little spring cleaning at the den entrance while the kids get in the way... Fighting over that big fat squill momma brought home for them... This little guy must not have gotten any squill so he decided to chew on my cam for a bit... And finally after a long day of playing and eating everything in sight, it was time for a tall cold glass of milk before bed time.

Thanks..I think for the most part ny hunters don't go out with the intent to hunt bear, like myself alot of us get lucky as a bear ambles by as we are deer hunting.

If I was standing in front of you I'd shake your hand. standing around, waiting to go vote won't win this election. Astorino needs a lot of help being known and thought about. There's a huge reason Cuomo never says his name or dodges discussing him. It's a long standing proven tactic in politics. Cuomo changing this tactic is the worst thing he could do, now anybody listening to him knows Astorino is there and acknowledged as a running mate. this is one of the most things that pisses me off and loses elections. it kills hope and puts the Governor on a mountain top. Nothing personal but if it's truly pains you, then you shouldn't be saying this. it's ok if you think that. when someone asks you though if you think King Cuomo will fall, you say absolutely!! He's reign is going to fall and NY will once again be the Empire state and not the state of an Emperor. Your voice can be a catalyst for change, so use it! Be clear and concise, but not repetitive and others will listen to what you're saying and follow suit. A voter who votes might be just a sheep. A voter who votes and has a voice commands a legion for change.

Turkeyfeathers and Machinist, Thank you so much for what you do for your daughters, respectively. I felt the same way as your daughter does, Turkeyfeathers, and was more excited about going hunting with my dad than I ever was for things like birthdays etc. He used to take me even when I was too young to know better and sit still.. tromping around in the woods with my Sesame Street boots on and so forth. I'm sure I busted us on several of our hunts back then. My dad's patience and care in taking me out and teaching me about the woods and critters-- not just the ones we hunt-- instilled a livelong passion in me for hunting, conservation, and respect for nature. I was also very concerned about the chance of wounding an animal when I started (I am still concerned that I only make a good shot but not scared silly like I used to be as a child), and my dad was very patient with me as I worked up the courage to shoot my first squirrel, then my first turkey, then my first deer... So, thank you, from someone who has been where your daughters are at now.

That's a gallon in my book, LOL. Nice job on the mounts!

To shoot a bow. She is a ham. Hopefully the video works

Yeah I'm pretty sure my first effort is a bust- after a week sitting with all the ingredients there seems to be nothing happening. I ASSumed regular yeast was fine since I couldn't be bothered trying to find other yeast...seems like that's a big mistake - I thought this was some easy, dare I say "hillbilly" concoction (I say that with great admiration for those who can live off the land!) that would not require special ingredients . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

Very cute!! Brings back memories! My daughter has been shooting since she was 5 (now 14). She's spent many hunts tagging along with me in the stand and in the blind. She's been wanting to bowhunt, but just hasn't been able to get the bow back with much poundage. Now that we can use crossbows, she's very excited to finally be able to bowhunt! She got her first deer last year during the youth season. As we were skinning it, she said, "Ya' know Dad, some father and daughters bond over sports, but I think our bonding time is during hunting." (I have zero interest in sports, unless my kids are playing.) Sure put a smile on my face and something I'll never forget...

I went to Geneseo yesterday and set up the Quad Pod Platform . I had pre-assembled a little bit to make it faster to set up . It still took me quite a while and it was HOT out . I set the platform up on the bank of a pond where the deer travel along the pond and across an East - West horse trail . I put a camo tarp across the top and along the front and one side . I also mounted the stand on 2X6 so the feet wouldn't sink in and the drove 5 foot stakes in the ground so it wouldn't blow over . I fastened the stakes to the legs woth hose clamps . I won't put the blind on top until maybe a week or two before the season opens October 1st .

The 250-3000 is a great deer caliber and a classic in the M99 rifle. It was the first factory chambering to reach 3000 FPS ( albeit with an 87 grain bullet) whch was really sizzling 100 years or so ago when it was introduced.

This one has rotary clip and safety on lever. Still may buy it. Looks like a fun gun.

the only complaints I have heard about the 99 is where the safety is.........there are some that have the safety on top of the receiver and some with the safety on the lever, the one on top of the receiver seems to be the better of the two......no doubt a nicer piece of work than a Marlin.

,LMAO!