Tagged out in NY

[55dougie]

Had a great time hunting with friends this week. The three of us all took birds, 4 total...... here are my two.

Bird #1 - Bearded hen, some people might balk at taking a hen in the spring..... But, I consider a bearded hen a rare trophy. We hardly ever shoot hens on the property even in the fall. This is the second one I've taken in 40 years of turkey hunting.


Bird #2 - Gobbler


my buddy Jim (left) and I with my gobbler....


tools of the trade - Richard Hudson Hen Box (the turkey's love this call) and my own homemade Ebony Trumpet Call....

[Dcoleinpa]

Congrats! Beautiful birds! How were the birds acting for you this week?

[GR8CALLS]

Congrats! I'm with you on the bearded hen. Not many and they are nice trophies. Usually take mine in the Fall if possible...they lay just like a normal hen, in the Spring.

Bill

[Turkeybuster]

Congrats. there both nice birds nothing wrong with the bearded hen either.

Jon

[55dougie]

Congrats! Beautiful birds! How were the birds acting for you this week?

Just my observations for what they are worth.... Oddly - most of the gobblers seem to still be in small bachelor groups....... Both of the gobblers killed by my hunting partners were shot with other gobblers in tow, long beards and jakes.... One was ambushed, as the group would not respond to calling but did roost and travel the same route each morning to a field where upon entering got a load of 6's. We watched several groups in fields and saw one large group with 9 long beards in it strutting for each other and ignoring the two hens near by and they ended up wandering off with no gobblers in tow..... Today was the first day I saw or called in a lone gobbler, the one I killed..... I called in a lot of hens this week. There of course were some gobblers with hens and the hens did pull them away from me. But I think things will get much better with each passing day....the gobbler groups will break up more and they will be on the hunt for hens..... There wasn't much action after about 9-9:30am.. Usually, after 9am. is good hunting after the Tom's have done their duty and are on the prowl for more hens..... Anyway, like I said just my observations of May 1-6.....

[Mmcdonald]

Congrats! The bearded hen is an awesome trophy!!

[jmck]

congrats on BOTH trophies !!!!

[AlabamaDave]

Congrats!

[fargobox]

Only generally speaking, where are you hunting?  I live and hunt in western NY and in Stuben Allegany and Cattarugus   Co's and the birds are NOT making a sound--dangist thing I ever didn't hear!!

Great to hear you had success, and some very nice birds, ...I know it happens but this has been an odd start to the season.

[55dougie]

Only generally speaking, where are you hunting?  I live and hunt in western NY and in Stuben Allegany and Cattarugus   Co's and the birds are NOT making a sound--dangist thing I ever didn't hear!!

Great to hear you had success, and some very nice birds, ...I know it happens but this has been an odd start to the season.

Chautauqua County......

[strutnrut]

Congrad Doug. Looks like ya'll had a lot of fun. 

[Old Geezer]

Congrats on the bearded hen.

Ralph

[mikejd]

Great birds right there. Congrats.

I hunt madison and Chenango counties and just got back from a 9 day hunt. Birds were pretty much totally silent after flydown. Did not hear a gobble after 6 am all week. Makes for some tough hunting. If you can be patient and wait them out you can fill some tags.

[Silverspur]

Congrats on tagging out!

[West Augusta]

Good job.