catskillkid

We are overrun with coyotes in my area of Delaware County. I'm sure that has a lot to do with Toms not gobbling too much

Awesome

Nice pics, congrats!

I have also been seeing fishers over the past 2 years. Never saw them before. I hope they munch on all the porkies by me, we have a ton of them. The porkers have been devouring the white pines, young beech trees and my house!

Fighting purrs work wonders sometimes as per BIGTOM, But a neat little trick is to shove a peg in the ground with an eyelet on top in front of your hen decoy. Run mono line from your hen decoy's beak then through the eyelet and then to your sitting position about 20 yards away. Tug on the line to make the decoy's head bob up and down. It gives it a little life like feeding motion. This has worked for me many times on toms that hang up. Good Luck!

The majority of people who provided input do not support a year-round coyote hunting season. My guess is that the antis were very vocal. The majority of hunters never seem to speak up for themselves or our sport. The study is 10 years old, maybe the DEC should take another look at the issue, but they would more likely spend what resources they have elsewhere.

Nice bird, congrats! I've never seen a beard like that before, how long was it?

When you can hear 2 to 3 different packs of yotes yipping and howlerin after sundown every other evening on a 200 acre piece of land. Walk through the woods in late May and see fawn skins here and there. See a reduction in the wild turkey population from seeing flocks of 20 to 30 birds to almost none. I would surmise that the coyote numbers are too high in my area. I agree that there should be a predator / prey balance, but in my area of Delaware County there is an imbalance I wouldn't shoot one out of season either, but the DEC should look into opening it year round until things are under control. My .02

Great bird, congrats!

Great story, would have been nice to have on video. The same has happened to me, many yotes have come to my hen putts and yelps. I'm a firm believer that the toms do not gobble as much when on the ground anymore because it will tip off the yotes as to thier location I have seen a big reduction in the turkey population in the last 6 years in Delaware County and a large upswing in the coyote numbers. Good Luck! persistence pays off. Coyote season should be open all year!

Congrats!

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss, My condolences

I have a Leupold on my 270 Browning A-bolt and a Zeiss on my 7 mm Mag. I always seem to pick up the Browning when heading out to the woods to hunt. The Leopold is extremely clear & crisp and the guarantee can not be beat. Just send it back if there is ever a problem and they will replace it with no questions asked. They also replace the old scope with new scope which has the newest improvements or model they may be manufacturing at the time. Hunt with the same rifle set up until it feels as comfortable as your softest lounge chair. If you have not realized it yet, I recommend Leopold. :-\

Good info

Great buck, congrats!

porkie poo

It looks to me that they are still carrying their fawns, I think that is just the tuft of hair below the belly. Can't see the teets in the pics.

Thanks guys, I'll be in Gander Mt. next week

I have a few friends that just can not sit still when I'm calling to a turkey. They are swatting at flies, adjusting thier headnets and hats or just trying to get into a better sitting position when a bird is finally getting close for a shot. I really think it may be subconscious movements because as I am reminding them not to move as I watch them, they are telling me that they are not moving. Maybe it is just their excitement oozing from the brains but it is not helping me to get a bird in close for them. Last year, I borrowed a friend's two man pop up blind and it worked miracles. The birds could not pick up any movement and would walk right into the decoys. We shot 3 birds the first 2 mornings that we hunted. Now I'm looking to purchase one, does anyone have any recommendations on what brand to buy? What camo pattern or any other thoughts? I'll be setting it up just inside of woodlines along field edges and using two nice comfortable beach chairs. Thanks, Catskillkid

One more shot would have pushed him out of the picture frame

Growalot, I'll look at the radishes and both soy beans as you recommend. Maybe I'll plant one plot in radishes and one in beans and see how the deer react to each one. Thanks for your help!

Awesome buck, congrats!

I have learned to just ignore that person's replys and skip to the next one and read it . Life is too short to be bothered with someone like that! My dad always told me, he who argues with a fool is a fool himself. I wish there was a youth hunt when I started hunting 40 years ago, maybe we would have more hunters these days.

If he is old enough for a hunting license for the youth hunt, he should be old enough for the BIG BOY hunt too.

I have taken a couple of kids on youth weekend. It is a great experience for the youngster and myself. The anticipation builds listening to the tom gobbling and getting closer. Nothing beats a kid's smile and excitement when he shoots his first bird. Just too bad it is on Easter weekend this year.