Osage Roost
All Hunting => The Ol' Skinnin' Shack => Topic started by: Shadetree Callers on May 10, 2012, 08:43:47 PM
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After a few months of planning , my friend Scott Witter came down from New York for a one-day hunt with me. Talk about putting a guy under pressure ! We had about 6 hours of woods time to get it done today . The day started off nice and we heard gobblers sound off as we were walking in . The plan was to spend the morning in a blind on the edge of a newly planted corn field and I told Scott that the birds would most likely show up late in the morning . At 9:45 a.m. we heard a loud noise on a neighboring farm and it drew a shock-gobble out of a tom who was close to us. Scott and I shared turns at the call this morning . I brought a boat-paddle call I made from butternut and walnut , along with my copper pot from my good buddies , Brent Stoner and Frank Kruer along with a striker by Brian Aliff. Scott was using a walnut/poplar call that he built for nationals . It took nearly an hour of occasional soft-calling to coax them into the field . When the first tom stepped into the field , I woke Scott from his slumber and told him we had a gobbler coming . Within seconds , 3 more toms stepped out into the field at about 100 yds . A few soft purrs and clucks later and they all came in closer . The biggest of the 4 gobblers was twice the size of the others and had a beard that may have been the largest Ive ever seen . When the lead bird came in at 30 steps I told Scott to shoot him . He said " I want the big one." I told him that this bird was in range and we shouldn't pass him up . So he reluctantly shot the lead bird , not knowing how big it really was yet . After the shot I told Scott I had him shoot the lead bird so that I could kill the big one tomorrow ! LOL !!! Turns out , his bird weighed in at 22 lbs , sported a 10 " beard and spurs were 1 1/8" long . A nice 3 yr old Ohio Tom . The big one had a 12" plus beard and was alot bigger than this one . Sorry Scott I had to save that one for later !
This is the fifth gobbler I have watched the hammer fall on so far and it is by far my favorite one this year ! We had a great hunt even though it was a short one ! Congrats buddy, let's do it again !!
Bob
(http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz308/shadetreecallers/shadetree%20callers%203/witter10.jpg)
(http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz308/shadetreecallers/shadetree%20callers%203/witter7.jpg)
(http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz308/shadetreecallers/shadetree%20callers%203/witter1.jpg)
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Congrats Scott! You guys got it done!
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Congrats Scott. WTG Bob for helping out a friend.
TRKYHTR
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nice!! congrats!! *up* *up*
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Congrats Scott on a fine gobbler. Bob you brought some fine calls to the showdown. Way to get-r-done! A Popcorn celebration is coming for sure *up*
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Congrats Guy's on some fine time afield !! *cheers* That's a great bird Scott *bannana* !! Way to save that seed Bob!! I got a feeling we will see that "Big" Bird soon!! *ride* Best of luck getting that monster!!
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Congratulations to both of you!!!!! Scott, Bob was just saving that bird for the Shade of the Tree. *aah* Love the Story Bob!!!! Great Bird.
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Congrats!...Great picture!
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Great Job Scott!!!! Bob I thought the guest always got choice.... *peep*
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Congrats to the both of you.. *up*
Fine gobbler.. *gobble*
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Congratulations!
Sounds like a nice trip
*cheers*
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Well, I am just back about 1 hr ago. After my hunt with Bob, I traveled onward to Worthington Indiana for a 2 day hunt with a cousin who used to live in NY. We did get on some good birds, but the breeding season is definitely over there and they didn't want to work much. Came ever so close to getting in position yesterday am and found 3 toms and 4 jakes running together (evidence that breeding is over), but despite all we could do they had little interest.
The hunt with ole Bob was as good as it gets for sure. I was treated to his honey-hole and I felt priveliged. We had 4-5 hammering on our way to the blind, but after they hit the ground they went silent as many do. Bob was quick to point out that his experince proved that these gobblers love this particualr field, but not till late morning so patience would indeed prevail. We had a hen break the field early but she had no interest in our set up and thankfully so. I was exhausted from my long drive and 2 days of hunting leading up to my 7 drive to Bob's so I settled in for a bit of a nap. Suddenly after losing track of time, my trusty guide Bob Fulcher shook me awake and looie yonder...and precisely where he said they like to enter the field we had a red periscope rising from the edge at +- 150 yds. With the bino's I could confirm a young gobbler...seconds later a 2nd, then a 3rd AND THEN THE KING I believe the eyeballs on both hunters bust open wide..this ole Tom has without a dout the longest beard I have ever seen swaggering and he easily has 10 lbs on the other 3. Nonetheless, Bob and I were treated to a fabulous 20-30 minute show with front row seats of strutin & spinnin!! He is clearing the king with the other 3 his court. With some soft clucks, purrs and feeding sounds Bob and I managed to coax to gang ever closer until finally they committed...well at least one did. Seeing as I was excited I didn't argue with the guide who cleverly convinced me to take the lead bird when all the time both of us couldn't take our eyes off the bull strutter. Well as you can see all went well and that hog will roam again for Ole Bob another day. The short time spent with my friend was special, two callmakers and passionate hunters after the ultimate quarry. Memories forever and pictures to refresh.
Thanks Bob, surely looking forward to our next hunt.
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Congrats Scott and Bob on a fine gobbler.
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Congrats to both of ya on the great hunt---love both rendations of the story----who wouldnt like to have been there.
Way to close the show "POPCORN" !!!!!!!
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Congrats Scott and Bob on a fine gobbler.
X2 Gary Some fine looking calls, too!!! *up* *up*
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Congrats to both of you ....good pictures and write up on a fine hunting experience
*cheers*
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Great bird and you got the job done. Congrats on a beautiful bird. *cheers*