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The 2012 Spring turkey season has come to a close and I wanted to make one thread to share what was a very special season.
I have a lot of pictures so I will add a few with each post.
This year was focused on 4 places to hunt - TN private/public ground, then Fort Campbell along with IL and MO...
I titled this thread A Bakers Dozen! because I had thirteen total tags and I feel very lucky/fortunate to have filled them with 13 long beards and it all started on a WMA in TN.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02821-1.jpg)
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My most memorable day of the spring season was April 7th as the birds were gobbling strong all day long. I was able to take two birds on two separate set-ups that day while hunting at Fort Campbell and also took one on a piece of public ground. A special Thank You to Richard Hudson for all his help and tips on the areas and places I hunted. I had the opportunity to meet up with him at the National convention and again while at Fort Campbell.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02824-1.jpg)
Here are some more pictures from the TN trip...
The graveyard bird..
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0099.jpg)
I named this one Mr "GT" aka Golden Throat because of his course old gobble...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0113.jpg)
The call shy creek crosser...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02833-1.jpg)
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There were no motel rooms as I traveled and lived out of ol betsy (My 99 Chevy) that just turned 214,000 miles on this trip...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02830-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0101.jpg)
The Kitchen....
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0102.jpg)
I took a lot of cold spring fed creek baths on this trip and although I spent all my TN nights in the truck I must admit that I did find a bed or two in MO..
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Here is some scenery from Caney Mountain Park in MO...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0123.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0122.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0121.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0120.jpg)
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What kind of Mushroom is this?
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0108.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0106.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0107.jpg)
I know this is a black Morel...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0093.jpg)
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I used the 20 gauge through most of the season this year with no blinds or decoys.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0105.jpg)
I have read and listened to a lot of comments from a few turkey hunters in the last couple of years saying how hunting with a blind was easier and cheating. I am humbled at these comments as I hunt both open run-n-gun & bow methods. I find that all methods are rewarding in their own special way but it takes packing a blind, bow, decoys and camera equipment to appreciate a self filmed bow hunt.. Here are some pictures from a few of the bow hunts..
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0119.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0126.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC00001-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC00009-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC00004-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC00012-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC00013-1.jpg)
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wow ---- :o *up* :o
what a season---CONGRATS and thanks for sharing it with us
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Congrats on a great season and the great pictures that you shared! *up*
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A bow kill from IL...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0157.jpg)
The NAP 3" cut F.O.C. (freaking outrageous cut) head does a number on them
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0159.jpg)
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Congrats on a great season and the great pictures that you shared! *up*
*up*
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Had an encounter while working a bird in MO this year that I will never forget.
The bird was gobbling good and went silent on me so I had the gun up and ready for what seemed like forever! All of a sudden I heard a bunch of splashing and commotion of a wood duck down the hill in a small creek that runs through a pasture. As I come out of the woods I seen a coyote chasing the wood duck hen who would not leave the area as she had a bunch of little ones following her up and down the creek.
The coyote seen me a split second later than I seen him and lets just say he had a bad day.
I followed the hen woody up the creek as her little chicks caught up to her trying to get a close up pic with the iPhone. She cut up the bank one way and the chicks split up into the fescue pasture to hide. I could not resist and followed to where I took the following picture. Them little boogers are quick on the feet but hide in nothing when you get up on them.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0127.jpg)
I looked down and had one of them run right into the side of my shoe and stop like he was going to hide under the arch of my boot. I picked him up, took the picture below and quickly released him with the others as they were all now running and swimming to catch back up to mom..
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0133.jpg)
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Here is a Jake that thought he was the area stud service for the morning but that all changed about two hrs later when his grandpa showed up..
He opened a can of whoop rear end on my DSD Jake and turned gay for a little bit. He later decided to climb up on top my DSD hen :D
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0148.jpg)
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The Dirt Nap!
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0135.jpg)
Just getting ready to chill out..
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/IMG_0096.jpg)
Although I used several different calls I think Herb Hornstra's trumpet may have been one of my favorites for the season...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02849-1.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02846-2.jpg)
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The season of tags...
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02865-1.jpg)
Had some beard rot on a couple of different birds this year
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02862-1.jpg)
Saved up all my legs until the end of the season for cleaning
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02858-1.jpg)
I cut them off with a cordless grinder set up with a cut off wheel, de-skin and boil, then take the caps off the spur, scrape again, peroxide and borax them, rinse/dry and hot glue the caps back on and finally put 2 coats of boiled linseed oil on them before they are ready for display.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/DSC02864-1.jpg)
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Man, what a season! Congrats! *up*
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Congrats on a Fine Season Dave!!!!! Got some Great Birds!!!!!!!! Looks like turkey dinner for a year!!!!
God Bless,
Mark
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wow ---- :o *up* :o
what a season---CONGRATS and thanks for sharing it with us
for sure, congrats! that Mushroom isnt an Elephants ear is it?
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Thats on heck of a road trip. Congrats
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I think that everybody here would like a spring hunting trip like that. Congrats John.
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WOW! What a spring! Congratulations! ;D
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Great Post, nice pictures and good stories.
Congratulations on a nice spring.
*cheers*
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Congrats on a great season..
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I'd say that was a pretty good Spring *ride* A big congratulations on the fantastic hunting trip and the great write up with the pictures *up* *up*
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Congrats on a great season and the great pictures that you shared! *up*
RkLu
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Congrats! A very memorable experience! *up*
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Congrats on a GREAT season. What load you shootin in that 20?
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Congrats on a successful season ! You can really appreciate a soft bed after a few nights in a vehicle .
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You Da Man *up*
Now that is stacking um *dance*
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I used the 20 gauge through most of the season this year with no blinds or decoys.
I have read and listened to a lot of comments from a few turkey hunters in the last couple of years saying how hunting with a blind was easier and cheating.
Sometimes my belt buckle has dirt in it........ *up*
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Congrats on a successful season ! You can really appreciate a soft bed after a few nights in a vehicle .
I had a blow up mattress for most of the trip and even stretched out across the front seat on a few nights depending on where I was at.
None of that bothered me as much as those cold bathes in the creek. While I was camped in the hay shed that I showed a picture of I had the use of a fancy concrete pad next to the grain bins for a shower stall and there was a 3' bury outside hydrant from a deep well with about 10' of hose.
Gheez that was cold, made the ol grapes feel like raisins if you know what I mean.. *peep*
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Congrats on a GREAT season. What load you shootin in that 20?
I have been using an Indian creek .555 tube and shooting 3" Hevi shot #6 with 1 1/4 oz loads with good results. It will most likely be a long time before I switch as I bought a boat load of them while they were still available in boxes of 10. I think I paid less than what a box of 5 sells for now. I have patterned the Federal Heavyweight #7s and although they do better and seem to hit harder at both ends I am going to stick with what I have as it has worked well for me and the youth that I take out.
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I used the 20 gauge through most of the season this year with no blinds or decoys.
I have read and listened to a lot of comments from a few turkey hunters in the last couple of years saying how hunting with a blind was easier and cheating. I am humbled at these comments as I hunt both open run-n-gun & bow methods. I find that all methods are rewarding in their own special way but it takes packing a blind, bow, decoys and camera equipment to appreciate a self filmed bow hunt..
Sometimes my belt buckle has dirt in it........ *up*
I know where your coming from my friend as I have left a slithering path like a snake across everything from wet pastures to a fresh stand of may apples and everything in between. lol :)
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Impressive spring GSLAM95, that is about as good as it gets right there. If I may ask, how many days did you hunt and what would an excursion like this cost a man these days (out of state tags, gas ,food, etc)? I see you did it the most budget friendly way you could (sleeping in truck, etc), but was wondering a round about ball park figure if you are at liberty to share. If you are not, I completely understand. Congrats on a fine spring turkey season, one not soon forgotten I am sure.
Andy S.