Lawdwaz

Have you killed a gobbler in the past with a shotgun?

30 yards? You can't blame the dekes for not killing a gobbler. Maybe your placement of the dekes or blind is the issue.

Why?

I'll bring paper, Sharpie AND a spare hunk of wood.

Pretty interesting theory and it does make sense.

For those that don't know, they changed the system (must have been FUBAR?) for the phone reporting so that you can speak the name, date, county, WMU etc. instead of entering the info. via the key pad. Seems that must have been too much for some people to do so they tried to simplify things up........... In the future I'll do it via the web. Maybe we can get Amazon to run the damned site..............

Man what a can of worms this has turned into......grins. I'd sure like to see how mine shoots via the paper route. Hint, hint. I have paper and a Sharpie.........

Successful hunters, how was your experience with the DECALS System when reporting your kill? The system (phone) had trouble when I spoke the County "Wyoming" and got stuck a couple times. After a few tries it finally said "hang on for a real person, your wait time is three minutes or less" 7-8 minutes later I got a guy who took all the info down and gave me a reference number. You'd think they could get this system working properly............................. I KNOW I had trouble at least two times last fall reporting deer.

It'd be nice if they could get the DECALS system to work properly before introducing more techno stuff.

Off the top of my pointy head I know three guys that strictly bow hunt, Tom D, Gerry F and Tom T. The interesting thing is their ages are 76, 54 and I'd guess 70. No gun hunting for these guys out of choice of course.

It's easier for me to do that type of thing from my Iphone rather than my laptop PC. Sorry I couldn't rotate it.

HA! My technological skills are only so good. I tried it and I think it is viewable, no?

Trying to attach a short video of Dan's great gobbler. I think this will work???? trim.EFB76B88-93A6-4049-95C7-8ACB7D77BCAA.MOV

The past few guns I was interested in weren't in stock at Bud's when I checked. Lots of good options these days. If the price was right and it was in stock I wouldn't be afraid of buying from Bud's.

Check your email. I just sent you a stunner...........................

Great job, congrats!

Wow, how cool must have that been? Damn that would be one of those once in a lifetime deals. Those are big gobblers!! I had a good gig for exactly ONE year like that. It wasn't exclusive but permission was limited to some of the guys that worked for the company (Lafarge Cement) and I never ran into them. I killed a dandy gobbler one morning in Lancaster right next to a golf course. Three longbeards came in and I smashed the fastest one to get to me!! My buddy Gerry and I bow hunted that fall and then the plug was pulled...........we were all out of a honey hole. Actually, that gobbler was the closest I ever shot to home, about 7 or 8 miles. Usually they are 50-80 miles from home base!

Those are big birds Dan. Was that a guided hunt or a DIY? Did Gator make it down to hunt with you yet this year?

No but a guess might be 15 lbs??

1/4" or so I'd guess.

You ain't killed enough jakes.

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.................................................

Wow, you & your wife should be very proud! A hearty congrats from here.

Well done! Patience and experience sure paid off. Looking forward to pics!