Osage Roost

All Hunting => The Ol' Skinnin' Shack => Topic started by: hunter22 on April 10, 2011, 10:11:57 AM

Title: God Bless Texas
Post by: hunter22 on April 10, 2011, 10:11:57 AM
I just got back from the great state of Texas last night from a 4 day hunt. Never hunted anything quite like it. It may be the ugliest place I have ever hunted. There is a record drought going on down there and everything is brown and looks dead. The wheat fields are green but unfortunately there are none on our lease where I was hunting. The temps were in the 95 to 98 degree range mid-day with the wind blowing 30 mph. There was also a wildfire in the area I was hunting and it looks like it may burn half of north Texas. There was no way they could do anything with it because of the dry conditions and high winds. Again, nothing like anything I have hunted before. I hunted these four days alone and that also makes for some long days when there is nobody to talk to.

I saw several turkeys while there. I saw flocks of hens that had as many as 15 birds. I saw one flock of birds that had probably 20 hens, 3 gobblers, and about 5 jakes. It appeared the birds had not busted up yet. I only saw 4 gobblers during my hunt and was able to kill two of them. I had my Burris FF2 on another gobbler's head at about 40 yds but did not kill him. I was on our lease and he was just across the fence on another man's property. I just could not get him to cross the fence like an earlier gobbler had done. He was lucky that day.

First bird I killed left his flock and came to my Lonnie Sneed Hot Hen slate being run with a Steve Torman dogwood striker. He put on a show strutting, drumming, spitting, and spinning around my decoys. The second bird was taken on a mesquite flat and also came to my decoys after hearing Ole Jane from Chuck Anderson. He strutted in and gobbled at every call I made. I also called in several Jakes on the hunt cutting on a Steve Mann long box.

Again, different than anything I have ever hunted. I also saw bunches of wild hogs. I had one 300+ pound boar lay down within 10 yds of me by a brush pile I weas set up beside. He laid there a minute and smelled me and jumped up and took a couple steps toward me. I had my safety off and was about to pull the trigger when he finally turned and went off the hill like a deer. 

Both birds looked like very similar. They both had little scraggly, thin bears. One beard was barely 6 inches long and one had some strands 8 inches long. I guess the cuckle burrs keeps the beards pulled off. They both had decent spurs. One was about 1 1/8" and the other one about an inch.

Excuse the poor pictures. Hard to do much by yourself. At least I had my camera with me both days.

(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture001-100.jpg)

(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture003-79.jpg)

(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture007-14.jpg)

(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture008-17.jpg)

Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Shadetree Callers on April 10, 2011, 10:32:49 AM
Congrats on that awesome hunt Rickey . Looks like you made the best of it !! *up*
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: letinmfly on April 10, 2011, 10:33:15 AM
Awesome Rickey!!  *up*
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: augiedog55 on April 10, 2011, 10:42:05 AM
Looks like you had a great hunt man. Wish I could have made it done with you *cry* Maybe next yr.  We'll just get after them on the 18th *peep* RkLu
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Porter on April 10, 2011, 10:46:43 AM
Man that sounds like some terrible conditions, but you made the most out of it  *up*

Two great birds there Rickey and congrats on your hunt.  Sounds like you had a great time!
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: West Augusta on April 10, 2011, 10:47:18 AM
Way to get it done Rickey. Two more nice birds.
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Bulldogmikey on April 10, 2011, 10:48:22 AM
Two very nice Birds Rickey! Congratulations!

Mike
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Blackfalcon on April 10, 2011, 11:01:51 AM
Congrats Rickey!!
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: superstrutter on April 10, 2011, 11:45:21 AM
CONGRATS! *up*
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: glenm on April 10, 2011, 11:46:41 AM
Way to make the most of it Rickey! Congrats!
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: SS Custom Calls on April 10, 2011, 12:17:46 PM
Congrats Rickey!! You made the best of a less than perfect situation!  *cheers*
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Dcoleinpa on April 10, 2011, 01:15:54 PM
Got em.
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: turkey stew on April 10, 2011, 02:03:33 PM
Congrats on a couple nice birds!
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: callmakerman on April 10, 2011, 02:55:09 PM
Congrats Rickey
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: strutnrut on April 10, 2011, 09:50:44 PM
An the say God Blessed Texas. Maybe with Turkeys. Congrat on two fine birds.
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Zumer on April 11, 2011, 07:48:58 AM
CONGRATS!  *cheers*

   Good job, Rickey.... RkLu

Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Morgan on April 11, 2011, 09:29:18 AM
Glad you had a good and safe trip.....
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: ncturkey on April 12, 2011, 03:12:47 PM
Look like two good Texas Turks.
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: Ghost Maker Calls on April 12, 2011, 05:45:54 PM
Congrats Rickey!
Title: Re: God Bless Texas
Post by: J R Hunt Camp on April 13, 2011, 04:26:10 AM

Congrats Rickey !!!
... fine pair of TX Rio gobblers under some uncertain conditions - way to make the best of it ... *cheers*

... guess the grass isn't always greener - we'll sure see ... ;)  ---   ROTFLMBO