turkeyfeathers

dang, viewing on my phone. It looked like a trough .Now I don't have a clue after looking closer.

work of a pileated woodpecker

I mowed for the 4th time this morning. Only contending with morning dew but it needed it bad. Mower keeps chugging as wet grass gets caught underneath. Have to lift it up and let grass spin out and continue on

yup, shacked up with Heidi Klum for awhile.

Wife is a vet. Recently been pulling a lot of quills out of dogs from WNY area. I've never actually seen one myself. Closest was chewing of hiking sign in Darien Lake State park and a roadkill on 219 just short of Springville. So my need to shoot one isn't there. Many years ago them bastids chewed up a bunch of saddlebags on my brothers and some of his friends motorcycles in ASP.

The reason I post this thread was because that morning I watched a hunting show on TV. Wasn't Turkey Thugs or Turkey Man but forgot the name. Guy plum missed, shot high, right over birds head. Not a difficult shot at all. His dad razzed him as he did the same thing the year before. And holy cow could this guy call on a mouth call. And thankfully he didn't try and shoot bird in strut for coverage. Taking my daughter out again and try to call in 2 birds we saw during youth hunt. I'll be stuffing heavi magblends as XR's way too tight inside my daughters guns range. I don't want to be posting about another miss and me be the one possibly messing up a potential double. Oh boy, actually it would be funny for her to razz me if it happened .

Yes, depends on child . A bb gun would be a good start. Make the shooting fun, teach them to respect of the gun, shooting form etc. I think my daughter first shot her single shot .22 Cricket at 8 or 9. Never got her a bb gun but may have started her earlier. Bought a Ruger 10/.22 40th anniversary when she was 13 months old. Still NIB ,need to get optics. She's been shooting mine for years. Bought her Gander MTN limited youth pink woodgrain 870 20 when she was about 2 or 3. Just started shooting that last year. Low brass field loads. Bought some reduced recoil Magblends I stuff in it for turkey. Heart racing, blood pumping and bird strutting hoping she never feels it go off. My Winny 1300 used to kick the tar out of me testing 3" loads. On a bird,never felt it.

Decoys sometimes seal the deal and sometimes may ruin it. I've killed birds without them and had birds hang up as the dekes didn't move to the gobbler as real hens should. Decoy(s) would be a good attention getter for the bird and like someone mentioned gives the youth a one spot focal point to concentrate on. I would expect the birds to pitch downhill versus uphill off the roost. Get in tight but not too tight as the youth maybe a little restless more than yourself. Hmmm, wait or call. I'm always confused on this too. Call very softly though, and don't overcall. Maybe even around the side of your leg. That bird will know within feet where you are. Look up "flydown call" and beat your hat against your leg like wings flapping together. Side note: look up Woodthrush songs if you don't know what they sound like. The youth will love the watery call of them. They've been singing greatly lately. He'll enjoy the "woods waking up" for sure and good on you for taking him. Good luck to you both and hopefully pics tomorrow.

Congrats Huntscreek. Nice bird!! How are the hooks ? Good show ?

Take some pics of that bad boy robot turkey Good luck. Daughter and I will also be out

Welcome neighbor. Village of Lancaster here myself.

did you politely throw them out ?! That sucks.

Sent you a link via PM

Brother text , birds he had going other day haven't gobbled at all. Songbirds are still going nuts at my house. Surprised it's quiet out there today

I'll fess up. Clean miss years ago. Bird was close and pattern tight. Right over his head it went. I aim head and not waddles Gun sighted in to have bottom of pattern throttle him. I looked for 2 hours in Mayapples just in case I rattled him with a few. He took to wing very nicely after shot. Pretty sure I killed him 1.5 weeks later from same set up. Came in silent Last year I pulled the trigger at 30 yards and bird flinched a bit , ran 6-8' and buried him with second shot. Daughter then found wadding right in between where we were sitting. 2nd wadding feet from dead bird. Defective Heavi Magblend I'm assuming. Didn't hold pattern ? Not sure but creamed him with 2nd. Few pellets in body and guessing first came out like blunderbust and open pattern. Misses happen so fess up. Side note : I'm afraid to stuff these XR's in my gun as they are scary tight. Gotta aim small and miss small

Deerpassion , way to get it done. You've been at it hard and it paid off. Nice looking bird. Congrats ! Dig up some of those leeks in the pic for leek and potato soup now lol

Just got this text from brother "STILL GOT IT.5O00 TREES IN THIS WOODS AND I PICK THE ONE WITH THE GOBBLER IN IT. THAT DONT WORK" Oops! Been there , done that

you need to buy a camo umbrella that straps around your tree. Best $15 I've ever spect. I use it in my treestand too.

I'll drink to that

I've been seriously neglecting this thread. No beer lately to post. I should be ashamed

fill it with beer and bring it over. I'll help you in testing

Breakfast ! Smoked a pork shoulder yesterday rubbed in honey mustard and coffee rub. Then threw in crockpot overnight. Couldn't wait to try it. Some homemade slaw and Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce.

Pork butt glazed with honey mustard and coffee dry rub on as we speak

Nice limb hanger. Congrats on a great hunt. Bet that hen heard your heart pumping.

dang. I would have bet the house you would have knocked one down first day or two with your pics leading up til season. Side note re: pics. Any fox pups on cams yet ?