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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 20, 2024 5:12:31 GMT -6
 I got my 1st ever Kansas Rio Grande gobbler yesterday afternoon @ 4:45pm. It took me a little while to figure them out. They didn't like much calling or decoys and loud calling made them nervous. So I took my Zink Wicked box call and made two soft series of putts & purrs. Three longbeards came in quick. Stopped short at 70 yds. One just laid down on the ground for some reason. Then another bird half-strutted around it in circles about 5 times. Then they went back to looking for the hen but didn't see one. They turned and started to walk away. I had two box calls on the ground beside me, so, while holding my gun with my left hand I reached down and jiggled my Lynch's Foolproof box call. They did an about-face and started coming back towards me. All 3 came in side by side & close together. Had to wait until they separated so I didn't shoot all three of them. Finally was able to throw some #8 Federal TSS at the biggest 🦃 at 50 yards. While my bird was flopping, the other 2 jumped on him to flog and spur the crap outta him. Dust & feathers was flying. LOL. I had to walk to within twenty yards of them before they gave up and flew off. It was fun to watch & a great thrill! So, next year I want to hit Florida to complete my Grand slam. I have an Uncle that lives in Fort Myers. He's already invited me down to hunt. I hope it happens.  |
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Post by bigjohn on Apr 20, 2024 5:19:11 GMT -6
Congrats Joe.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 20, 2024 5:22:51 GMT -6
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 20, 2024 5:36:50 GMT -6
I can't get a photo to work with my phone. I'll post the picture when I get home later this evening. Gobbler |
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Post by trapdog on Apr 20, 2024 6:39:48 GMT -6
Great story! Glad you got your bird.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 23, 2024 6:47:34 GMT -6
Missouri birds are giving me fits. I finally figured out how to get the photo to post. It's in my original post up above!
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Post by bigjohn on Apr 23, 2024 11:35:18 GMT -6
Funny how them turkey go to kicking butt on their fallen buddy an d they just don't want to leave lol.
I missed a bird opening day(first time in years) and was so discussed that I just went back to truck. Got to thinking about it and loaded up and went to the range. I don't know what the deal was cause at 40 yards I couldn't even put on pellet in a turkey target off the bench. The load I'd been using for years just started opening up like shot out of an open cylinder.
I bought a new choke in tighter constriction and with different shells it was good to go. I killed a bird on Wed. due to having to take wife to Dr. on Tues.
Went yesterday morning and the gobblers left with hens across a wide field with no way to cut the off. This morning heavy rain kept me at the house.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 24, 2024 4:36:07 GMT -6
Funny how them turkey go to kicking butt on their fallen buddy an d they just don't want to leave lol. I missed a bird opening day(first time in years) and was so discussed that I just went back to truck. Got to thinking about it and loaded up and went to the range. I don't know what the deal was cause at 40 yards I couldn't even put on pellet in a turkey target off the bench. The load I'd been using for years just started opening up like shot out of an open cylinder. I bought a new choke in tighter constriction and with different shells it was good to go. I killed a bird on Wed. due to having to take wife to Dr. on Tues. Went yesterday morning and the gobblers left with hens across a wide field with no way to cut the off. This morning heavy rain kept me at the house. Congrats on your bird. I shot several types of shells before the season because I was not confident with my pattern. I shot a few rounds at 10 yds with the cheapest shells I have. Used 1/2" plywood. Blew a hole completely through it about 2" in diameter. Then I zeroed my CVlite Red dot scope to the hole and I was good to go! Was still a little worried when I was actually shooting this bird at 50 yds but I dropped him in his tracks! I can't hunt again until Monday, the 29th.  |
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Post by krank on Apr 24, 2024 6:19:54 GMT -6
I was in them Saturday and watched them strut out of range. Three big gobblers and 5 hens and a couple Jakes. I wasnt really turkey hunting and all I had was a single shot 20 gauge with an oz of #6. They headed for the creek so I went straight away and circled around and they were crossing in front of me. I crawled up to 40 yards and took a hail mary at the last jake as he was closet. No cigar. Wished I had my ten gauge but oh well.
I remember years ago when we started seeing turkeys out in Kansas. We had a bee yard that was near the timber and we always kicked up turkeys driving in. Being a non resident tax paying landowner means nothing to the State so I never attempted a permit.
Good deal Joe. Sounds like you got your excitement for the season.
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Post by bigjohn on Apr 24, 2024 10:05:40 GMT -6
Tagged out this morning.
Got out a little later than I wanted and they were already gobbling on the roost. This farm was logged just before turkey season last year and is a nightmare to slip up onto the bluff that runs the length of it.Tree tops laid every which way and now the understory is knee high.
I got to the top and heard some gobbling to the east so I headed that way. Got within a hundred yards of the birds and sat down as they started flying down. Had 2 birds hammering in front of me and the rest flew to the bottoms below me. I was about 100 yards from where I missed the bird on opening morning. About 7:30 the gobbling stopped so I got up and moved towards the last place I heard gobbling and ended up at the same tree I missed the bird before.
I gave a soft series of yelps and a gobbler answered from the right so I sat down and waited a couple minutes. Gave another series and he gobbled closer but more infront. I waiting what seemed like 5 minutes in the silence and gave a couple soft clucks and he gobbled to the right of me in full strut about 35 yards to my right. For the next 5 minutes he gobbled, drummed, and spit in place. I had no shot because of the brush so I just watched. After a bit he dropped out of a strut and started to my left. First opening he came to I dumped him at about 25 yards.
This year I've heard more gobbling on this farm than I had in several years. Maybe all those downed tree tops are allowing the hens to nest successfully.
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Post by segsarge on Apr 24, 2024 10:28:43 GMT -6
Turkey season has been a bust for me. Birds either aren't there or just aren't gobbling. The spot I hunted the first week had several birds last year. This year I heard one. It would gobble about 5-6 times then shut up. There are some hens in the area so I guess they got there before I could. Went to another spot this past Thursday. Hadn't hunted it before. It's NF and has a locked gate so it's walk in only. Didn't hear a thing all morning although I did spook a tom while walking to a different ridge. Finally about 11:15 I had one gobble about 200 yards away. Same deal as the first spot. Bird gobbled about four times and I heard the hens running to him. He shut up and was gone.
Didn't go out this morning and the weather doesn't look good for the next few days. Everyone in the area is having the same problem.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 25, 2024 6:14:05 GMT -6
Sounds about the same as the birds I've hunted. I believe the key is patience and really soft occasional calling. I used soft putts and purrs. A lot of people are saying their Toms came in silent. I wish you luck.
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Post by krank on Apr 25, 2024 6:17:39 GMT -6
The hardest hunting turkey hunter I know told me the numbers are down worse than he has ever seen. This guy hunts all season and takes his sons and grandchildren out one by one.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 25, 2024 6:27:45 GMT -6
The hardest hunting turkey hunter I know told me the numbers are down worse than he has ever seen. This guy hunts all season and takes his sons and grandchildren out one by one. Kansas cut the limit in half because of "low numbers". That was not the case where I was. There were way more birds than years past. Friday & Saturday there were at least 8 different gobblers verified by sight and sound on one small farm. Last year it was much less. |
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Post by segsarge on Apr 25, 2024 6:51:05 GMT -6
Got a question for everyone. And it sounds silly,but when the toms aren't gobbling so you can locate them, what makes a good spot to set up in? I can't travel as much distance walking as I did 20 years ago. This year I've been hunting around places where there's turkey scratching. It's not working real well. I figured that if there's hens scratching looking for food the gobblers will be there too. But so far it hasn't paid off.
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Post by bigjohn on Apr 25, 2024 11:14:55 GMT -6
Don't know your terrain or habitat but for me it's scouting before season looking for strutting areas. Most places will be good for several years unless things change it. Here we have large open fields and most bottom grounds will be used by gobblers as strutting areas. Green fields seem to draw them as well as last years old corn fields.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Apr 25, 2024 13:35:28 GMT -6
I'm sure your toms are around. Try calling very little. When you do, don't overdo it and call softly. Have patience. Their hearing is phenomenal!
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Post by segsarge on Apr 25, 2024 13:35:56 GMT -6
It's NF so all timber with no fields, just steep hills and ravines. Didn't get to scout this year but nothing changed as far as terrain or habitat.
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Post by bigjohn on Apr 25, 2024 14:31:26 GMT -6
It's NF so all timber with no fields, just steep hills and ravines. Didn't get to scout this year but nothing changed as far as terrain or habitat. That kind of terrain you have to walk the ridges,listen and try to shock them into gobbling. |
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Post by krank on Apr 25, 2024 17:15:55 GMT -6
The hardest hunting turkey hunter I know told me the numbers are down worse than he has ever seen. This guy hunts all season and takes his sons and grandchildren out one by one. Kansas cut the limit in half because of "low numbers". That was not the case where I was. There were way more birds than years past. Friday & Saturday there were at least 8 different gobblers verified by sight and sound on one small farm. Last year it was much less. My brother lived south of KC and he had a place where you saw turkeys all the time. He used to shoot them pecking in his trash can. No sport at all. |
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Goodbye 2020