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Author Topic: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008  (Read 4039 times)

Offline G8ORB8

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8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« 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?!

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SS boSS hen

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2009, 10:02:20 AM »
Excellent bird!!! Congrats!! RkLu
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SS Custom Calls

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2009, 10:18:36 AM »
Yea man, that's what I'm talkin' about!!! Congrats Preston!!  *up*
« Last Edit: September 17, 2009, 01:49:09 PM by SS Custom Calls »
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letinmfly

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2009, 11:18:24 AM »
Heck of a bird Preston. *up*

Did you lease the land after that? ;D
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Offline J R Hunt Camp

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2009, 12:07:00 PM »

 :o :o :o :o :o - congrats on an outstanding & very unique gobbler there Preston ...  *cheers*

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"would sure hate to hav' to pick between the two of 'em"                                                                                     TFM 101 ... ::)

Offline Bulldogmikey

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2009, 12:14:31 PM »
Heck of a bird and quite a story. Memory for life!

Mike
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Offline G8ORB8

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2009, 01:31:41 PM »
Yes, I absolutely leased the land! And Al, I'm Preston.  ;) ROTFLMBO
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SS Custom Calls

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #7 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
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Offline AlanKrow

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2009, 03:52:13 AM »
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Offline Porter

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #9 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!
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BigTomsCalls

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2009, 09:35:23 AM »
Impressive bird Preston congrats!!
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Offline gatrkyhntr70

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2009, 07:14:16 AM »
awesome gobbler! *up*
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Offline Bulldogmikey

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2009, 09:02:35 AM »
I Like that Wenge Slate Pot and Wenge Osage Striker!

Mike
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Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Offline G8ORB8

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #13 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!
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Offline stubby458

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Re: 8-Bearded Trophy of 2008
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2009, 03:18:40 AM »
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"Whoso walketh in solitude, and inhabiteth the wood, choosing light, wave, rock, and bird, before the money loving herd, into that forester shall pass, from these companions, power and grace."  Emerson
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