Osage Roost
All Hunting => The Ol' Skinnin' Shack => Topic started by: Hobie on June 01, 2010, 09:17:15 AM
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This story starts on Saturday 5/29/10 with a hunt with Earl Seacreast. We went to my brothers land to hunt first thing in the morning at dark thirty we walked a few 100 yards to a planted pine strip. We had a hen do some tree talk and another hen do some talking but no gobblers answered our calls. We were going to hunt my friends place a few miles away but when we get there there are two guys getting into their truck. I told him lets go to my lease land that I did not hunt once this year due to work and other guys going to be in certain areas I like to hunt.We get there and I tell Earl that we will work our way out to the field near the dam. We set and called at two spots before with no answers. We get about 75 yards from the field and Earl hits the Cox box call and a bird answered but I was coughing ( had a cough all morning not sure why but could not stop coughing) and did not hear it.Earl says there is a bird closed.Not that I did not believe him I just wanted to make sure. So I ask Earl to hit the Cox box and again and the bird hammers back. We move about 45 yards closer and want to move another 25 but it was too open and we felt the bird would see us.
Earl hit the Cox box again and the bird answers.I tell him this is your bird kill it.I will soon learn that may have been me jinxing myself.Earl gets this bird to come from about 150 yards to 20 yards in no time with some great trumpet playing and soft calling on a XT Havoc call.The bird gets about 20 yards and it is on my side but there is high grass and brush in front of me and I am in a dip and I can not see much. Earl then whispers turn to your left the bird is going to come out on that side of the brush.Well I turn as far to my left and hold the gun instead of on with my hand on my knee like I always due I hold it with my elbow on my leg.I soon will learn that after a few minutes holding a gun turned at the angle I was will tire your arm out.The bird finally comes out not sure how long he was behind the brush but I figure 10 or 15 minutes.There he is 30 yard I squeeze the trigger and flat out miss the bird.the bird runs about 20 yards stops and just looks back.I am like WTH. During Earl calling two other birds were gobblin good so we moved a few 100 yards and tried to call them but only had about 30 minutes to do it due to having to quit at 12pm.We never got an answer on the other birds.For the record Earl lent me the shell that I shot at the bird and I think he gave me a shell with no shot in it :D.
On to Sunday 5/30/10 I usually do not go out and listen for birds but I was pissed at myself for missing.I got up at 4am and was at the spot were I missed the bird but sat on the other side of the dam to listen and not be to close but still be able hear the bird.I heard 4 to 5 gobblers with one bird just hammer.I have never heard a bird this late in the year gobble that much
I made my mind up to call the guy who relieves me and get him to come in at 4am for me because he owed me a few hours for me working for him the other week for a family matter.
On 5/31/10 Memorial Day Mike relieves me at 4 am I get changed in the locker room into my hunting gear and off to the spot.Instead of walking the 3/4 to 1 mile out the logging road my father in law told me to cross the bridge at the end of the dam that will take a lot of time off the walk.So I get there walk up to the second bench and get in what I figure is the middle of the dam that is where that bird the day before was hammering. I did not have a watch or my cell phone so not sure what time it was but a bird to my left looking down the mountain lets out a gobble and it was still a little dark.Then a few minutes later a bird to my right goes off and a bird on the other side of the dam right near my truck start to gobble.Then the bird on my left gobbles again and I figured he is the closet so I let a soft tree yelp out with my Cox trumpet and he gobbles back.I then double time it about 50 yards closer and wait a few minutes to make sure it is after flydown time and take my hat and do a flydown and then yelp pretty aggressively on the Cox trumpet and the bird doubles and tripled gobbled.I move about 10 more yards and set up in a small opening.I hear the bird flydown and he gobbles about 75 yards away and I make a few soft clucks and yelps on the Cox call again he hammers back.I then see him about 45 yards away walking out the bench right to me I just let him come at about 35 yards he hung up and i could not shoot due to a few trees in the way.I had a XT Kee Kee call in so I purred and clucked on it and that is all it took he came about 5 yards closer and no brush in the way.I make sure I am on him because there is no way I want to miss him.I squeeze the trigger and I load of 7's knocks him down.I look to the sky and thank the Lord for an awesome hunt and a great year I had.I get back to the truck take a few pictures of the turkey
What a great season I had started out on April 17 with a kill at 6:45 am in KY.Ended in PA with a kill on the last day May 31 with a bird down around 6:10 am ( not sure the exact time due to no watch or phone on me).I hunted all but 5 days of the PA season and hunted 3 days in NY and 4 days in KY.Now the hard part the wait until October 1st when the fall season in NY opens
Bird stats
19 pounds
9 3/4 inch beard
7/8 inch right 1 inch left spur
Here is a picture of the bird with the Cox trumpet
(http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/Hobie8/PABird2023.jpg)
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Good bird! Good story! Congrats!
Mike
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Way to go Job!! Congrats on a great ending to your season buddy! *up*
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Congrats on the last day bird. Way to stay after them.
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*up* *up*
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Congrats on a great season buddy!! *up*
Al
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Way to go Job!!! *up*
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Congrats Job. *up*
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A WHOLE LOTTA COX!
nice bird Job
sounds like he loved the cox almost as much as you!
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Congrats! *up*
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Way to go and what a year of hunting you had! *up*
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Congrats Job. *up*
RkLu RkLu
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No lack for excitement and action man. Congrats on a well earned bird!
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... congrats on the great hunt & the mighty fine gobbler there Job - great way to finish up Spring 2010 ... 8) 8)
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Congrats on a great bird!!! *up*
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A WHOLE LOTTA COX!
nice bird Job
sounds like he loved the cox almost as much as you!
:o *bannana* :o Congratulations on your harvestes.
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Congrats. Job on a fine last day bird ya gotta keep your eye on Earl next time shake the shell before ya load it.
Jon PS. Tell Earl I said HEY!
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Nice looking bird. Awesome Cox trumpet. Thanks for sharing, Mike