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Author Topic: It was a hard, long winter in PA....  (Read 2251 times)

Offline PA Boxcall

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It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« on: May 05, 2011, 02:06:43 PM »
What a cool hunt.  Struck this old gobbler around 6:20am in the morning (only heard one on the roost Monday, and he was way off in the distance).  They sure woke up quiet with the overcast skies.  We were trying to get into position as I was going to pull this bird past a buddy, but the woods are so open in PA right now, we ended up bumping him.  He flew down into the hollow, so we decided to quietly move to the ridge he was roosted on, sit and wait while things cool down.

We moved down into the hollow bench by bench, calling every now and then.  I gobbler fired toward the head of the hollow around 8:20, and this bird still below us, well he jumped in with a big gobble, cutting off the first gobble.  We set up between them, and got them wound up with my Shadetree Caller scratch box, then to a Rohm box and mouth call.  I went quiet and so did they for about ten minutes.  I called again and this bird was making his way up the next ridge.

We jumped up, and cruised to the bottom, crossed the creek, and got around the next point.  Too much water to hear the bird above, so we crossed the water again, and got up in elevation.  This bird was gobbling on his own by now, I think he heard us moving through the leaves.  We moved another 100 yards upward to the nose and as we approached, this bird roared letting us know he was right above us.

A quick set up, and a quick cutt and a few yelps, a responding gobble that blew our hats off it was so close, then I gave him about three to five minutes of quiet time.  Spitting, drumming and in he came, but couldn't see him.  The drumming drifted off, so I clucked twice, and in he came on my side of the small nose. 

 *dance*  My biggest bird:

Weight:  21.6 lbs.
Spurs:  1 3/16" and 1 3/16"
Beard:  1 7/8"

Beard was discolored and broken off clean, just like a straight razor went through it.  Guess ice over the winter must have sheared it off, it was a tough winter this year.  Oh well, he did have awesome hooks, especially for this part of PA where the spurs are typically rounded off because of the rocky terrain.

Excellent hunt though!





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Offline gbblr-killer

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2011, 03:50:09 PM »
so with spurs like that it should mean an automatic 11" beard minimum right??????

there should be some considerations!!!

 way to go dude..
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Offline Bulldogmikey

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2011, 03:54:52 PM »
Great bird! Too bad about the beard! Congrats!

Mike
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Offline Turkeybuster

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2011, 06:17:05 PM »
You got yourself a good one Congrats. the hooks are really nice and the beard is typical for a Pa. bird after the winter we had. He has good weight to him too. I have been chasing one the past few days he is giving me a fit.

Jon   *cheers*
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Dcoleinpa

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2011, 06:38:06 PM »
congrats
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Offline firedup

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2011, 07:21:29 PM »
Some day s ya get the beard....some day the beard gets you ::) Nice bird! Congrats. ;D
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Offline AlanKrow

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2011, 08:20:53 PM »
Nice Bird.. Congrats.... RkLu
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Offline B-Ready

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2011, 09:03:07 PM »
Man those hooks will score good.... It's a shame about his beard... Congrats on a good bird John !!!
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Offline turkey stew

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2011, 10:37:51 PM »
Congrats on a fine bird!
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Offline Zumer

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2011, 05:33:42 AM »
Congrats, John, *up*

     
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JOBUGG

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2011, 06:31:32 AM »
Congrats!
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Offline Ghost Maker Calls

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2011, 07:31:41 AM »
Congrats!
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Offline Shadetree Callers

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2011, 11:15:44 AM »
Congrats on a great bird John !!  *up*
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Silverspur

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2011, 08:05:03 PM »
Congrats! *up*
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Offline J R Hunt Camp

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Re: It was a hard, long winter in PA....
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2011, 09:55:52 AM »
Congrats on the fine gobbler - to bad 'bout the beard, but the spurs tell the story on that ol' tom ... *cheers*

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