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Good Start to Season
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King of Spring
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:08 pm Posts: 604 Location: Christiansburg, VA 
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 I teamed up with my nephew again for opening day. My sister and her family just moved to a farm in Botetourt County, so I headed down Friday night and got to sleep in for a change. At dawn, my nephew and I were positioned in a ground blind on a pasture/wood edge - decoys out. After an hour and a half past shooting we decided to take a walk since we had not heard the first gobble. We walked through some pretty good woods and found some spotty sign. On the backside of the property we came across some very fresh scratchings. I thought I heard some scratching just over the next rise so we decided to sit down and call. I clucked out a few notes on the power crystal. A hen immediately answered just over that rise. A few more calls produced more hen talk and some jakes joined in clucking like crazy. I cut hard and HE answered back! The first gobble of the season was definitely worth waiting for. My nephew had his 20 gauge but was still unsure about pulling the trigger. I told him that he might have to make a decision pretty quick as I felt something was going to happen. Not long after the gobble, a head popped up over the rise, then another, then another. Three jakes came in clucking and purring looking for the hen. I asked him if he wanted one and he decided to pass so we watched them do their thing right in front of us for several minutes before they drifted back to the flock. After they left we were busy high-fiving and seeing who was shaking more when I catch movement below us. I tell him to freeze. The gobbler showed up at 50 yards in full strut - spitting, drumming, spinning and getting closer. My nephew says "you shoot him Uncle Dave" so I shifted my position when the bird went behind a tree and took the next open shot. After that the high-fivin' really kicked in. We talked a little more about him hunting and decided that we will get back down to the range and work through some recoil anxiety and see where the rest of the season leads us. Either way, we both had a great time and will try after another one soon.
stats 22.4 lbs - heaviest to date! 10.13 in beard 1 in and 15/16 in spurs.  Last edited by Big Bird on Mon Apr 11, 2005 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total. |
| Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:17 pm |
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Co-Owner/Dog Feeder
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:20 am Posts: 3802
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way to go Mega Bird
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| Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:20 pm |
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Longbeard
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 9:03 am Posts: 285 Location: Alleghany County
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Congrats, very nice bird!
Keep em Gobblin! Struttinbird _________________ May he step to the music he hears however measured or far away. Thoreau |
| Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:02 pm |
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Longbeard
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 7:23 pm Posts: 165 Location: Hillsville, Va
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Congrats on a nice longbeard Great Picture!!!!!!!!!!
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| Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:05 pm |
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Longbeard
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:21 pm Posts: 275
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Congrats Big Bird to you and your nephew on a really nice bird. Good story too. Good luck on your next hunt.
GS... |
| Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:22 pm |
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King of Spring  Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:09 pm Posts: 2070 Location: Buena Vista, Va.
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great pic
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| Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:52 pm |
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Boss Gobbler  Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:08 pm Posts: 1565 Location: Central VA
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Great job, pretty pic too.
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| Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:50 pm |
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Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:59 pm Posts: 2851 Location: Roanoke
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Congrat's again David!!!
That is a very pretty picture! _________________ "What gets us jangly is the suddenness of everything. We hunt turkeys because we want to hear them gobble, watch them strut and all that, and we hunt them with shotguns because we want to be close to them when those things occur." - Jim Spencer |
| Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:03 pm |
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King of Spring
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:25 pm Posts: 2092
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Nice bird. Great job
Doug |
| Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:31 pm |
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King of Spring  Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:55 am Posts: 365 Location: Central WV
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Another fine success story
 _________________ "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead |
| Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:03 am |
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King of Spring
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:46 am Posts: 832 Location: SC by way of WV
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Great shot! loved the story.
_________________ "A man who insists on adherence to the facts when it comes to his hunting exploits, size of fish...abilities of his bird dog...is an untrustworthy fellow. A fine sporting liar is a gentleman & someone whose acquaintance should be cherished" R. Ruark. |
| Sun Apr 10, 2005 11:03 am |
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King of Spring  Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:40 pm Posts: 1485 Location: Middlebrook VA
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CONGRADSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!.... Good Job!
_________________ "Son You've Got Three Choices in Life, Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way!" -Joe Rowe- http://www.jkttv.com Max |
| Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:08 pm |
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King of Spring  Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:15 am Posts: 2632 Location: Campbell Co., VA
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Gorgeous!!
That's a big turkey!! . . . . or maybe a small guy? |
| Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:22 pm |
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King of Spring
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:50 pm Posts: 2649 Location: central Va
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Sounds like a good time aws had by all! Congrats!
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| Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:13 pm |
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King of Spring  Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2004 9:27 am Posts: 1907 Location: Roanoke, VA
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You nephew will be hooked now! Great story. Congrats on a fine bird and for taking the nephew along.
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| Mon Apr 11, 2005 8:46 am |
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