UpStateRedNeck

Appreciated, not quite that hard up. I have a few rounds, and a kindly forum member is going to sell me a couple boxes in case I miss another 3 gobblers this spring.

Whatever else happens, been a fun morning. Not my best laugh, but whatever!

Gorgeous but chilly, not a bird heard so far. 32 degrees upon arrival, still clear air.

Correct on all counts, sir.

Up, fed, dressed, rolling to the farm.

Any recommendations on boot inserts? I like these dryshod southlanders, but they're a tad too loose. I think the next size down would be too small. When I'm going up or down inclines my toe is ramming the front after slipping slightly. Might not be an issue with heavy socks, but they're already pretty dang warm!

Menthol, but the government is banning that too.

Ran out of staples for theast shot, but man this thing is throwing a pattern way off center. New sight is set as high and to the right as it can go. I really liked the pattern it was throwing with #4 shot, which I randomly found one of, but isn't pictured here. At least I know she's not shooting high now.

After epic phail on that bird, I got pinned down by 2 jakes for a half hour or so, and discovered my thermacell butane was out. So I sat in the sun and glassed the jakes harassing a hen, then cruise by south to the pines. Walked back to the cabin for a break, then cruised around the top property. Wind was really rolling by this time. Set up in the lower trefoil field out of the wind with the deeks, called, and 2 fields over on the lease one starts hammering. Problem: neighbor is around between me and him, so he never comes. Plus I'm having to scream on the mouth call to be heard. Eventually after about 45 minutes of that I pack up and head into the woods in the middle of the property. Thought i heard a gobble getting closer at that point, and it's possible he busted me as we made a move towards each other.

May 1: Went out opening day, high wind, snow. Tried the side of the hill where the wind wasn't too bad, trolled south about 800 yards a few ledges down, calling every 200 yards or so. Nothing. Found a really nice rub line right below one of my stands, and in a spot where I'd like to have the logger widen the logging road for a plot. May 2: Still windy, went south to buddy Alfonzo's white oaks, trolled the lee side of the knob, nothing, sat and called for a half our or so on the south face, nothing. Hiked back uphill to the very top point of the ridge, just south of the pines near the corner between Al's place and the lease property. Wind was hitting pretty good right there, but I called and got an almost immediate but faint gobble at least a few hundred yards away. Gobbled once, didn't again, I figured he was coming hot. Quickly set out the deek near the corner, backed off and put a huge oak to my back, was about 20 yards from the stone wall that is the property line. Figured he'd come right up along the field edge to take a peek at the deek. Just as I got settled with my left shoulder pointed at the deek, he started hammering from dead ahead of me in the pines. I called once then clammed up, within 60 seconds I could see him, crusing just over the property line/stone wall on the lease property. He picked a gap in the stone wall, under the barb wire, which I later paced off to be about 19 yards. As soon as he crossed the property line I squeezed off, and watched him scoot back through the gap onto the lease. I cackled immediately, and he started hammering again, with the stone wall between me and him. Kept gobbling and worked his way off down hill slowly. I know I shot high, put the dots right under his head. Sights have been replaced because I can't be intelligent in the moment and remember to shoot low. If the rain lets up I'll go tweak the pattern so it's right on the beads. Seems like most of my shots are 30 and under so it shouldn't be an issue. Keep thinking if I'd just kept the full choke / sight exactly the same as I have for 25 years I'd have 3 more birds. But that doesn't upset me the way it would with a decent buck. I find the past few birds I've killed I've given away most of the meat because I don't want to chew, or have my kids chew on lead pellets. Doesn't really make me mad to educate a some younger gobblers, but missing that big boss bird last year still stings. Had to break out all the tricks to get a shot at him.

Anybody in the Capitol Region see any shotgun ammo, or have some for sale? I've got ~8 rounds of turkey rounds left, plus a couple trash rounds, but I want to swap out the sight on this shotgun. Not worried about the pattern, just want it shooting center at 20, but that will probably leave me dangerously low. Been checking online for weeks and haven't seen a single shell outside 70$ tungsten loads, and even they are gone now.

Just watched 2 Jake's pestering a hen and then cruise by at about 100

No, you're right, I suck. He came in at least 300 yards in 5 minutes, easy shot, I really need to get over this idiocy I'm into for the last 2 years.

Another dumb 2 year old educated. In the heat of the moment once again I put the dot right on his white head at 20 and shot high. I either need a new sight that I can lower enough to just shoot how I want, or a new gun.

Still a bit windy up here at 2000 feet. If I don't hear anything sound off I'll head south to the White oaks and set up. Good luck everybody!

Certainly sounds alot nicer when I stick my head out the window than yesterday! All suited up, heasded to Stewart's and away we go! Look out old boss bird, I'm coming.

If that big fat Tom is still around this year and I get him, likewise.

New toy! For those quad only places. Valve stem needs replacing on the right tire.

Nice view of the Catskills

Trolled about 800 yards south along the side of the hill, nothing. Dead porky on a logging road. I'm going to climb out and check on the south fields up top before family obligations set in at 9. Grat's to TF and Mowin!

Freight train wind, dusting of snow, 33 degrees. Not 1 vehicle on the state land.

Sounds delightful out there. Start at the top of the hill, and head down, or vice versa? Between not hearing a single gobble Wednesday morning, and the wind, thinking lower in the valley is better

Debating on going to the top of the hill, 33 and windy, starting way down in the valley and hiking up a few hundred feet. Much more sheltered down there. Just doesn't feel like weather the birds will be talking in. Sunday on the other hand.....

This is last years turnip plot, the deer were hammering the turnips, and the winter rye in the plot 200 yards away as the snow came off in late march early April.

Big dang bear.