letinmfly

Congrats!!

Private land does have its advantages, such as controlling who is on it. If someone doesn't belong there they trespassed and you work around it. On state land there is no trespassing...just unethical hunters. Case in point.... Last Saturday my friend and I split up and hunted two different areas of state land. When we met up later that morning he told me of his encounter earlier that morning. He was set up and started to with some soft tree talk. After a little while he repeated his sequence and hears a hunter calling back, with a mouth call, from behind him. A few minutes later he hears someone whistling so my friend answers to him and asks, "are you looking for me?" The guys answers back, " yeah I wanted to know where you were so I wouldn't hunt to close to you." REALLY? My friend asks him where he is from and they guy answers Staten Island...so with that my buddy responds " that figures " and gets up and leaves. Turns out it was two people hunting with bows for turkeys. When he gets out to his car he sees that they even parked right behind him on his bumper. Why would you hunt in the same spot when someone else is already there? Some people have no consideration nor common sense not to I guess. When I get to a spot and someone else is already there I move on...even if it means not hunting that day. With that being said, I've killed 5 longbeards in the last three years on state land. I hope to make it 6 on the last day of the season!!

Mike can you post the link to where these numbers are posted please? I did see where it was almost 1,900 birds in 2012 for the youth hunt.

Joe I do mine similar but I cut the hull off and just use the brass. It looks netter. IMO Oh yeah and no tag for me either!! LOL The two on the left are last year's birds. The one on the right is this year's.

You don't add wine to your stew as it's cooking? You don't know what your missing.

Where on LI are you? Maybe I can make it in time for dinner.

It has been a very weird season thus far. I hunted the first two days of the season and the birds were gobbling pretty good. I've spoken to a few friends that have hunted since and are still hunting and they all say that the birds have lock jaw. I'm going to head up this weekend and give it another try.

Congrats!! I hope to fill my second tag next weekend.

Luke I'm glad you liked the call. The smile on your face is reason enough for me to do this contest again next year.

If you like mint... http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2012/03/new-mint-flavored-turkey-calls-knight-hale

Last year I didn't see a single jake. This year I've seen at least four which is good. Next year's crop of two year olds is looking good!!

So sad!!

Just as a clarification...the spring season is not limited to toms only. The DEC lists that you are allowed to harvest "two bearded birds" which includes bearded hens. Joe I agree that you should be able to identify your target before shooting...especially at 30 yards!!

Congrats!!

A few weeks ago I asked a local taxidermist how he charges for a full turkey mount. His price is now $850. How much are taxidermists in your area charging for the same service?

Thanks guys!! Good luck to all this season.

Congrats!!

Congrats guys!!

They may not be shooting at turkeys. Or at anything in particular for that matter!!

It was a short but fun hunt this morning. Big Tom and I were walking up the power line when we stopped and Tom owl hooted. A gobbler responded immediately about 75 yards away. We quickly set out a decoy and set up. Tom owl hooted again and he gobbled again. We then had an owl start hooting and this tom responded to every hoot. We started with some soft tree talk and he became unglued with a series of gobbles the likes of which I have personally never heard. He sounded like he was trying to double and triple gobble all in one gobble. Almost sounded like he was gagging!! *lol* At about 5:25 we decided to do a fly down cackle...at 5:30 he flew off the roost and I could see him land in another tree...immediately after that I heard wings flap as he hit the ground...at 5:35 he was dead. Nice two year old bird weighing 17lbs with 7/8" spurs and a 9" beard. We used one of Tom's boxcalls and a prototype potcall that Tom made a few years back.

I heard more shots the second day of the season compared to opening day. Fortunately for me one of those shots rang out from my Mossberg.

You're more than welcome and congrats!!

My Thermacell could possibly the best item I've bought for turkey hunting.

Keep an eye and an ear out for those dang Timber Rattlers!!!

I'll be out the first two days of the season!! The weather, so far, looks like it's going to be ideal!! Looking forward to another good season. Good luck everyone and be safe!!!