LET EM GROW

Nice rig sir! What engine do they come with nowadays? Be nice to see one with the Hemi in it someday..

Thank you guys. I would have been just as happy letting him take 1 bird, and just watching.. Thats what its all about.

Out for the first time with my stepson Cole, in about 5 or 6 years when he tagged along once.. In all reality, it was a quiet and quite slow morning. Nothing was talking. It was breezy, so we got down on a hillside out of the wind before daybreak to try and listen. Coyote pups lit up the woods around 6am, i believe answering the sound of hen yelps and cuts coming from the crystal pot call.. They loved it lol.. They were going nuts down where I was anticipating some quiet birds to be roosted.. It was fun to listen to.. A hen came out of that roost site but nothing else, we gave it time and talked back and forth(which Cole loved hearing). We got up after she slipped out of view, went and checked a plowed field about 1/4mi away where I had high hopes they would be. Got there, called nothing, checked, nothing, Waited a bit and listened, nothing.. Waited longer for the sun to rise up and shine on the field, Nothing. I couldn't believe it. 3rd or 4th time out and its been dead all around this area.. Im beginning to think redhead numbers are low .. Around 730am We decide to go back and get in the car and go try the property I hunted Sunday, On our way there, I break out of our Seasonal rd to the maintained dirt rd and instantly notice the field off in the distance is plowed and we can hunt it.. I knew instantly it would attract some Turks.. And its on the opposite side of a well known roost site on a neighboring property. So we drove around it and Walah.. Almost all the way on the furthest side from any woods, are 3 red heads and 4 hens.. We pass them a few times to check their moods and direction.. They didnt move a step or even stick their heads up.. So we drive around them and park to get setup on them.. I've Seen them do this time and time again on where they go in this area.. We get setup perfectly and a vehicle drives by and stops and watches and turns around, sending them across the rd. I hit the call once, and one bird gobbled, at this point i figure they may have busted up slightly. I hit it once more and nothing.. We tried to see where they were in the field across the rd but couldn't see. I told Cole, that they will be back right here to this exact spot sooner or later that morning, and that it'd be a good idea to stay here. He didn't believe me, plus he was hungry and had eaten all his snacks already lol. So he wanted food and that's where we were heading, to the gas station. We get back to the car, and drive the long way out to see if we can find these birds.. No luck. As w edrive down the hill I said to him, I bet they crossed the rd back over already or are close to the rd in the thick stuff ready to cross.. We did a u turn a little further down and drove back around.. BOOM, there they are, right where I had last called.. All we can see is the 2 Toms.. I looked at him and said I told ya lol, He quickly responded back, my stomach can wait, lets go after them. Lol. Music to my ears!! YES! He melted my heart with those words lol.. So we drive down to get around them.. Get setup actually got them to answer only a few times but they were right where we last saw them.. but closer to a field corner. With the winds beginning to pick up, we got up and re set up closer this time.. made a call nothing, made another, nothing and one last one before my silence.. we waited maybe 20 minutes or so.. nothing. I told him I didn't like the setup lets move again, Then it hit me, they arent going to leave the dirt field.. its too windy to be around trees and cover.. plus there fresh dirt. So we go to check the field to try and find them.. we carefully bump a hen in the most perfect direction and no other birds, all I could think was this could be perfect. We slowly crept to a knoll in the field and BAM there is 3 red heads less than 100 yards. We get down belly crawl back and tuck are legs under the brush.. drop our vests and wait a moment, I let out some soft yelps and clucks like a hen poking around.. they barely even turn to look, no interest, I scratched the leaves, continue on occasion a soft yelp with some clucks etc.. they end up getting to about 50yrds following the 4 hens that were with them that we weren't aware of.. but not coming any closer.. With shots straight into the strong wind I wouldn't do it, or let him attempt. He was a little bummed, I looked to him and said it aint over yet.. Around 11am the wind really picked up which we used to our advantage, Around 1130am The birds started slowly drifting away from the 50 yard position they were holding to a corner, I said its now or never the wind is perfect lets try and cut them off and wait them out.. We did, dropped back, circles around them in came in, got right into a corner and patiently waited in the prone positions, I scratched the leaves under the brush instead of calling. The hens worked across the corner at an angle, just about at the guns limit.. but the toms came right to the corner, they get to about 35 yards and stop and begin to strut(can actually only see one at this time). I'm guessing they heard the leaves scratching since the wind was in there favor at this point.. I told him I couldn't see the 2nd LB, just the one, neither could he.. I had him slide over to the left and peek to try and find #2.. nothing. I then looked at the phone, it was 1145am.. I said slide back over here and drop the hammer on this bird(the grass was perfect height for belly crawls today.. he slides back to me and begins to take the safety off and says there's the 2nd one.. They were strutting in the most perfect line side by side, he was hidden completely behind the first. I looked at him and said lets do this, off with both safety's, I gave them an ugly sounding cut, and another worse sounding cut, followed by a 3rd, eventually after what seemed like forever, they finally turned to where both heads were visible. Counted to 3 and hammers were dropped simultaneously.. Birds hit the ground and never even flopped. That Tungsten hits like a brick! And the cerebration began.. To say I was happy is an understatement, I'm still grinning today from the joys and memories made yesterday. And so was he, What an incredible day.. Besides my first bird with my Dad, this hunt was top of the all time favorite list.. Both had a 10" rope and 1" pointy curved spurs .. 1 bird had a club foot with half a toe Sorry for the long drawn out story.. It was a day I had been waiting for, for a very long time! I also believe these are the 2 birds I missed 2 weeks ago, since they had the same amount of hens with them and the 1 lone Jake.. both days

Not live but.. this morning i doubled up on 2 longbeards with my step son!! A hunt i will never forget.. one of my favorites for the memory books.. ill have the story tomorrow when i have time.. what a day! Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

That is what I originally bought and it worked well. How bout I make you one or 2 and send it to you? You hooked me up, I can return a favor.

How do you believe him to be an 8 last year? a characteristic on him?

Still available?

Not sure how i missed this thread! this is great! Thanks for starting it.. My step son has been playing his whole life.. Just as I did. I love watching him and coaching him off the field.. This year is modified.. I will say when he started out in the minors and early majors, he did so with a little less interest in the sport.. But this season and last he has grabbed a hold of the game and really kicked a$$. He is top 3 on the team now, easily. Plays every position on the field.. including pitcher and catcher.. He holds 3rd base and pitcher mostly.. He holds the most rbi's on the team more than double the amount of rbi's as the 2nd guy in rank and a batting average of over .700 currently with zero strike outs Just have to say im glad he chose baseball..

My data decided to stop working for a few days now so I couldn't update here.. Got out for the 3rd time this season yesterday.. Put over 3 miles on the boots trying to find a bird, We listened from a good vantage spot before flydown.. but the woods were dead, zero gobbling anywheres, no wildlife about at all.. Only had til 7-730am to enjoy.. Never heard or seen a bird on a big property that hold birds.. It was a great hunt still, Finally got to hunt and reminisce with my brother, who hit a real low when my father passed in 2016. I have tomorrow off since my stepson has a half day of school, I have a good feeling he will get sick tonight so we are going to hit the woods early. Ive only been able to take him out once before and that was about 5 years ago.. Im excited to say the least! He is with his dad every weekend so we really never get to do anything during the week when life takes over..

Congrats Dan! Need a hunting partner!? lol. Heck of a weekend for you!

I typically dont use them.. But they still are pretty to use. You could try it and if you don tlike it. remove them ?

Not sure about Webster, but Custom Gun in Walworth is near by. Been quite awhile since i frequented Webster lol

Fairly simple.. Not sure about the pendant holding the sprus.. but the idea i like alot for a tail fan mount

Works great we put 2 on our deck when were outside enjoying the summer evenings

Yes sir. Agreed. You nailed it, ive said that for years. lol

The shot is on average around $50/lb. Some recipes are simple, some are more intricate.. it all depends on the recipe.. I dont want to give out anymore info since everything is confidential. Its not cheap lets just put it that way... id stick with 5$ shells if its about spending money

Let me take a picture of mine later. I like the way Sam Lansing did the spurs for me years ago.

That is awesome, Hopefully Squatchy leaves those birds alone for you. I hope you snap some pictures and can show us some of the memories you make while your there! Safe travels and enjoy sir!

If i didnt have to take friday off for my son, Id have taken today off.. Its a beautiful morning to chase birds.. and people who did hunt today are proving that on social media lol.

It is interesting, and fun to play around with for sure! I dont really believe much of those pattern tests at ranges beyond 40yards. Even though they say they are based off actual real life testing. Before i made my own handloads with tungsten.. i swore by winchester loads, specifically the Longbead XR, The Winchester high velocity, and the ole Extended Range shells, never liked double x shells. These 3 shot well out of many 12ga guns we shot with several different chokes. Tight to more open constriction. That Pattern board is calling out some insane pellet strike numbers. I have a few pics I could show from my Winchester loads throughout the years, that do not come close to matching these. Here is a 12ga 3" 2oz handload of 8s that shot pretty well, 285 for 1 choke, 300 for the other choke. And i could even make them better if i played around with it more.. It shoots within a dozen hits as the 20 gauge does more or less.. @ 40 yards. BUT the 20 ga load is only a 1-5/8oz where the 12 gauge is a 2oz load. Not starting argument just showing real life results through my trials and errors lol. You are completely right though, its up the hunters comfort, and hope that they have a respectable range they will not shoot past..

I build my own turkey loads.. My 20 patterns better than my 3.5" 12ga and that thing patterns well too. Heres my pattern board at 40 from one of my 20ga thats a 10" (partial)circle lol

gushh. not sure how many times i just watched that video

Good Luck Dan, You chasing Bigfoots Bears Or turkeys? lol

Were you in Avoca? lol. jk. Its nice to see them in May.. brings on some excitement for the fall!

Finally found it.. heres a pic of one of our very mature shooters from a few years ago for reference.. Not this year but it just shows where a good buck will be on average this time of year..