ATbuckhunter

Ok guys heres the story of what unfolded today. I got to the property I hunt at 4:48 and finished up my sandwich and drink. I decided to change it up and go to where theyve been roosting instead of going to my blind. I got to the tree I was thinking of and walked 20 yards to place my decoy out. I bumped a decent sized bird from the tree and hurried back to my tree. A few min after I hear some gobbles to my left and see a bird stand up in the tree directly infront of me about 40 yards out. I was sure it was a hen because I thought i saw a grey head, no beard and lack of gobbles. When it flew down to my right I saw that it had a beard and I decided to take it. It was moving from my right to directly in front of me but walking away. It was on the edge of my self imposed range, but I was comfortable taking the shot. When I shot it went right down and started flopping in its spot. A few min later it got up and started to run away so ran as fast as I could and stomped on its head. In the process I dropped my phone (camo cased) and pot call. Took me a little while to find both of them and in the mean time I did hear a branch snap in the direction where the bird was but figured it was flopping around. The beard wasnt too big (about 8") but its spurs were pretty big. Turns out as you all know that was not the case. Still not sure what happened, but I'm hoping to figure it out next time I go. Im happy I got aggressive and it worked out in that aspect, but I made some choices Ill never make again. From now on I run to the bird and don't let it out of my sight till I tie it up to a tree.

Neither have I nor the deee search guy, but even he said it’s worth a try. There was plenty of blood on my pants and on the ground around. Although birds don’t have near as much blood as mammals do. If I’m lucky some predator will find it tomorrow and make a big enough mess for me to spot or some crows will give up its location to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I figured that a couple hours ago. Meat won’t last at 85 degrees. It’s just for closure at this point. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No luck guys. Looked for every minute since I found out it was gone. Only took 3 10 min breaks. I think I walked a total of 5 miles looking for it. Huge lesson learned that’s for sure! I’m going to call deer search on last time and see if they can maybe help me out. If not I may head back out tomorrow morning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It was a 2 year old Tom at least. Smallish beard so I’m thinking 2 years old. No other hunters, but yotes have never been a problem here. Only thing I see a lot is fox, but I don’t think it would come in after the shot like that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No tracks of any kind. It’s definitely the spot I stomped it’s head. I’m doubting that it was any predator. Called the dec agent and he said something similar happened to him and he never found his bird. This really sucks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well I have some terrible news. I went back to look for something I dropped after I shot and when I went back my turkey was gone. I’m not sure if it got up and ran or something took it. I did stomp it’s head after I got to it. Does anyone know of any tracking dogs close to the 3j area. I’ve never had this happen before Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just shot one a few min ago. At the shot 3 more gobbled. I’ll give the full story once I can calm down Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got out today after my last final. I was bsing with some guys instead of actually fishing so I missed some decent fishing, but I did get one nice eater blue. I’m torn between going for strippers tomorrow and goin for blues. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Happy Birthday!

Congrats TF! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hope all goes well!

Well i got my butt kicked again. Didn't even see a single turkey and I heard only one gobble after they flew down. I might have heard a few more later in the morning, but I'm not sure as it was far. I was pretty close to them on the roost, but they went in the same direction as last time. Ill be changing up my plan a bit and sit in a different spot for the fly down and see if I can cut them off. Starting to get a little frustrating , not even seeing a bird. They were gobbling a lot more compared to last week. Ill be making that 2 am wake up call at least 4 or 5 more times to see if I can get one.

Had birds gobbling on the roost from 5:15 to 5:50 and one lone gobble at 6, but now nothing. I think they answered my tree yelps once, but won’t answer now. This is getting frustrating now. Hoping those gobblers will swing by later the morning Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got out just a little while ago. Man it sucks that my secret spot for 8 years has blown up with people this year. Ive never fished with more than 3 people, but there were 15 there today. Got 1 decent hit and then hooked up 5 min later, but lost it right away. Got no hits for a couple hours after and only saw 2 fish being caught in that time. I was bullshitting with some guys when I saw these two guys hook up 3 times with some really big bass and they didnt even know what they were doing. I walked past them and I was into a big fish on my 3rd cast. I was standing on a small rock in the water so i fell when it smashed my lure. I fought it for a bit and when it breached I saw it was around 35". Lost it right after that, but it was fun to just hook one. Ill be out tomorrow for sure. I was thinking of getting some bait, but I think ill give the lures some more time.

Seem like a case of murphys law. Happens to every one though...you'll get him next time!

Just realized i forgot to answer the second part of the question. Minimum size for striped bass below the george washington bridge is 28". I personally only keep 1-3 bass a year ranging from 28-33. Anything over gets released.

Yeah its a striper. I should have clarified that

Got out to my spot and got nothing. Some guys got a couple shorts and one guy pulled in a 31" bass. Ill be hitting it tomorrow with lures again and if I come up with goose eggs again, ill bring out the bait for wednesday.

Suffolk archers is members only, but members can bring as many guests as they like at any time so you can always plan something out. Blue mountain does not require residency for either the gun range or archery course, but there is a discount if you have some type of westchester resident parks pass.

After I try a second and maybe third shot, Ill immediately look for an excuse to take the blame for my dumb mistake haha. Turkeys are dumb, go for him as soon as you can

Welcome!

I just wasn't sure if they were still in the tree or on the ground. I think I heard them fly down shortly after, I just cant be sure. I took the safe route, and It didnt pan out to well for me since they went off in another direction lol

I've got a question for you more experienced turkey hunters and callers. So I had at least 3 gobblers and 1 hen with in 200 yards of my bind (one with in 100 yards) this morning on the roost. I heard some yelps from a hen and I called back. We got into a bit of a pissing match. Now I was worried that they were still up on the roost so I stopped thinking I may keep them up there. What would you guys have done in this scenario? Would you have continued calling or stayed quiet. I've kept calling in the past with this particular hen and she did swing by and I shot a nice 3+ year old that was following her. I'm not so good at knowing when they hit the ground either so that plays into it. Of course they only gobbled once when they hit the ground. The more I think about it, the more I think I should have kept calling knowing that it turned out well for me in the past.

Same here. I had 3 birds with in 200 yards, but o can hear at least one hen and they went with her. I was surrounded by 6 deer and a fox with in 30 yards Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk