Osage Roost

All Hunting => Spring Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: G8ORB8 on September 17, 2009, 09:41:50 AM

Title: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: G8ORB8 on September 17, 2009, 09:41:50 AM: Last year, I drove to a ranch near Burnet, TX that is about 100 miles from my home to look into a 6,500 acre lease. The rancher noticed my turkey hunting gear in the back of the truck and asked if I wanted to hunt while I was up there. He hates turkeys because they eat his feed. He gave me free reign, after showing me a map of the property and telling me where he normally sees toms. I left the camp at 2:30PM. I climbed up to a ridge top and glassed the surrounding area to target my set-up. I did some sitting and "prospecting calling" for a couple of hours with no response. I continued to walk and talk until I finally heard a bird over a 1/4 mile away behind me. I decided to run back towards the gobbling bird. In my haste, I crested a ridge to find him looking straight at me less than 30 yards away. Busted!! He ran away to the right, so I swapped to a slate call and ran in his direction but, to the left of his path. After 250 yards, I starting yelping on the slate and received a rapid-fire set of gobbles for my trouble. I shut up and readied for a shot. Nothing. I picked up the slate and did several soft calls and he almost blew my hat off! Back on the shotgun, I caught him sneaking through 4' tall grass. He looked for the hen and then turned to leave. I shot through the grass. Rolled him over with lots of flopping. When I flipped the bird over, he had an astounding 8 beards. The trophy of a lifetime even if he was only a two year old. The beards totaled 26 1/8", 18.5#, full fan and 7/8" spurs. The calls used were a Darren Dawkins mahogany and walnut box I got from him in Atlanta laast year and a Wenge/Osage slate combo that Matt Kraus put together for me in 2007. This bird currently ranks 3rd in the SCI non-typical Rio Grande turkey record book. Did I say, I love turkey hunting?!

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/G8ORB8/08dawkinskraus-1.jpg)
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: SS boSS hen on September 17, 2009, 10:02:20 AM: Excellent bird!!! Congrats!! RkLu
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: SS Custom Calls on September 17, 2009, 10:18:36 AM: Yea man, that's what I'm talkin' about!!! Congrats Preston!! *up*
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: letinmfly on September 17, 2009, 11:18:24 AM: Heck of a bird Preston. *up*

Did you lease the land after that? ;D
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: J R Hunt Camp on September 17, 2009, 12:07:00 PM: :o :o :o :o :o - congrats on an outstanding & very unique gobbler there Preston ... *cheers*
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: Bulldogmikey on September 17, 2009, 12:14:31 PM: Heck of a bird and quite a story. Memory for life!

Mike
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: G8ORB8 on September 17, 2009, 01:31:41 PM: Yes, I absolutely leased the land! And Al, I'm Preston. ;) ROTFLMBO
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: SS Custom Calls on September 17, 2009, 01:50:26 PM: Quote from: G8ORB8 on September 17, 2009, 01:31:41 PM
Yes, I absolutely leased the land! And Al, I'm Preston. ;) ROTFLMBO

Glad to meet ya Preston!!! *aah* *aah* Sorry about that, too many 8's in the user names!!! ROTFLMBO ROTFLMBO
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: AlanKrow on September 18, 2009, 03:52:13 AM: Quote from: SS boSS hen on September 17, 2009, 10:02:20 AM
Excellent bird!!! Congrats!! RkLu
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: Porter on September 18, 2009, 07:14:23 AM: Quote from: G8ORB8 on September 17, 2009, 01:31:41 PM
Yes, I absolutely leased the land! And Al, I'm Preston. ;) ROTFLMBO

First off wow what a bird Preston RkLu

I think you can blame Al's oops on inhaling too much Osage ROTFLMBO ROTFLMBO

Some 2 year old birds have been harder of a harvest than 3 year old birds for me. You never know what kind of challenge you'll have facing a Tom!
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: BigTomsCalls on September 18, 2009, 09:35:23 AM: Impressive bird Preston congrats!!
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: gatrkyhntr70 on September 19, 2009, 07:14:16 AM: awesome gobbler! *up*
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: Bulldogmikey on September 23, 2009, 09:02:35 AM: I Like that Wenge Slate Pot and Wenge Osage Striker!

Mike
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: G8ORB8 on September 23, 2009, 11:42:03 AM: Mike,

They are by Matt Kraus. I had him make me up six of those for that season. They sound great - obviously!
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: stubby458 on October 10, 2009, 03:18:40 AM: Quote from: AlanKrow on September 18, 2009, 03:52:13 AM
Quote from: SS boSS hen on September 17, 2009, 10:02:20 AM
Excellent bird!!! Congrats!! RkLu
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: BD1 on December 05, 2009, 07:10:39 PM: *up*
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: ncturkey on December 15, 2009, 12:26:22 PM: Awesome bird and calls. RkLu
Title: Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
Post by: turkey stew on December 15, 2009, 09:06:42 PM: Quote from: Bulldogmikey on September 17, 2009, 12:14:31 PM
Heck of a bird and quite a story. Memory for life!

Mike
*up*