Turkeygirl

Songbirds are illegal to kill in NY. I have seen them but not in a few years.

Well I finally got on a bird. I went up behind my house to the old gravel pit and sure enough a gobbler roosted on the ridge there...in fact I'd almost bet it's the same gobbler I've missed the last 2 years that has roosted on that same ridge in almost the same trees! I got in this morning, set up 2 hens and a jake decoy. started to get light, he gobbled to crows, woodpeckers, etc...Eventually I saw 1 hen pitch out of a tree and land on the ridge above me (I was set up on a smaller ridge below that). Well of course he flies right down to where she went and she dragged him out into a field first thing, he gobbled. I tried to circle around to a field I thought they were going to, no luck. I heard him gobbler a few more times but couldn't pinpoint exactly where he was headed, that hen was dragging him all over!!:nono: I never did lay eyes on them. So tonight I'm going to go back up and see if he roosts on that same ridge. I'm thinking if he is, I will then set-up in the AM where he flew down today in hopes he flies down in the same spot. What do the rest of you think? How much calling should I do? I didn't even call until they were off the roost this AM. If this is the same bird, 2 years ago I put on a jake and hen and he flew down and came running right into the jake. so my hopes is he being a dominant bird, that jake is going ot make him mad again.

Yeah, I'm not getting them to shock gobble in the day or even shock gobble in the evenings from the roost...Not sure what is going on. I went over to the state land at 10am, saw a lone hen walking up a dirt road. Walked for about an hour trying to get something to respond, no luck. Sure was hot out! But had I not gone, I would not have seen the black bear and 2 cubs that ran out in front of me...the first wild black bear I've seen in person!

Seems everyone is putting birds on the ground but me. Yesterday I went on state land and heard nothing until 7/7:30 when 1 gobbled a few times but he was so far off I don't know which direction he was so when I went towards him, I think I went the wrong way, eventually he stopped. I slept in this AM, just too exhausted but thinking I may get my gear and go out for a late AM hunt...going to be a warm one. Might hit the same state land, different ridge (and hope no one else is there) or go try another state land where I found a bunch of gobbler sign back when shed hunting. Haven't even heard a gobble on the land behind my house.

Went up into the state land today. Didn't hear anything except for 2 gun shots way off in the distance until about 7am I heard a bird gobble. He was deep in the woods somewhere, I started making a move to get closer and eventually either he quit gobbling or I went the wrong way because I didn't hear him again....and there's alot of gullies/ravines/ridges.

I saw one once in a tree....and have a trail cam pic of one that climbed up on a big log...

I'll spoil it for ya....Timmy got his own cooking show! LOL

Well considering you've gotten 3 already...no need to be greedy about it. Go out and enjoy the hunt....it's not all about putting a tag on the bird.I haven't gotten a bird for 2 years...

So came in early...cool and rainy all morning, didn't hear anything, weather shut em' down today. I was hunting a field on the property I got permission to hunt. I think some other family members of the lady I got the permission from were hunting the other side of the road. I found some boot tracks on the side I was hunting, was afraid I was intruding on their hunt but didn't see anybody.Tonight think I'll go sit up on the old gravel pit behind the house and listen. My hunt the old stomping grounds in the AM - apparently they haven't been taken over yet by the new farm so might as well enjoy while I can! If I don't hear anything tonight, then I may hit state land in the AM.

Well guys and gals, I am hitting the woods in the AM with the 20 ga, it's May tomorrow!Suppose to rain tonight into the early morning hours so my plan is to go set up on a field that I set my trail cam up by today. I found good size turkey tracks there about a week ago on an old trail from the woods leading into the field. I went there today to move my cam and found fresh tracks on the same road, same direction. Actually saw a bird scoot into the woods this AM. So my hopes are with the rain, the birds come have a peck around in the field. Haven't had alot of scouting time but have a few spots in mind where birds where last year. Been 2 years without a spring turkey, time to break the ice!Good luck to everyone else!

Forgot to mention that i learned today it's way easier to pattern with a good solid rest for the gun, makes a world of difference

Is it ok to clean the gun barrel after patterning? I've heard both ways - don't clean and do clean. I just put some Winchester Double X through my 20 ga. with the Undertaker and think I've got the pattern pretty decent, If anything the pattern could be a tad higher but the turkeys on my target were more than dead at 30 yards. I'll post some pics later.Let me know about the cleaning, thanks!

Hoping to hear ya got your staples out come tomorrow! I'm with ya...I'm not a pill taker, and at work some patient seem to have TONS but certain ones are necessary. If you are hurting, take a pain pill. You can't relax and let your body heal if your fighting pain....of course alot of pain meds can cause constipation and I don't think you want that LOL:-p

I cleaned my gun and put my Undertaker back in...looks fine. Going to shoot it tomorrow with some Winchester Double X through it.

Thanks for the pics.... I re-shot my Mossberg today with the x-full choke in it and Federal Mag Shok #5s...shoots great out to 25 then by 30/35 yards the patterns opens up and seems to hang to the left slightly. Ordered some Rem. Nitros and Winch. Hi Velocity from Cabelas to try soem time during the week since I can only turkey hunt till noon. when season starts Tuesday. Hate being last minute but want to see what pattern I can get out of my gun the best.

Never been to the ocean...never seen it...but some day

Choke came out fine....didn't notice any damage to anything. I did give the barrel a good cleaning and put in the super full factory choke that came with the gun....Going to shoot it tomorrow and see how it patterns in comparison to the Undertaker...if I have a decent pattern, I'll just use that for the season.

Went out to pattern my gun with the new sights. I grabbed some of my small game shells to use first to get the sight close. Well I didn't realize until several shots later that the small game shells I grabbed were steel, and I was shooting those through my Undertaker choke that says lead only....NOW WHAT? Do you think the choke is ok or should I get a new one? I'm wondering now if that is why the shots were hitting left despite adjusting my sight.... Any help ASAP would be appreciated!

Couple years ago picked up a Cabela's turkey vest, don't remember if it was a tactical tat'r and super tat'r or whatever it was called but got it for $30 in the bargain cave!

I just have the regular Undertaker. I actually have found in the years Federal Mag Shok #5 seem to shoot well, was just wondering if any of those shells were better. I need to pattern with my new sights so today might take it out and pattern it first with some small game shells to get the sight adjusted then through in the turkey shells.

I was shopping on Cabelas and saw they have some turkey ammo on sale in 20 ga. which is hard to find in stores here. I have a H.S. Undertaker choke that is .572 ... First question is that bigger or smaller than a .665 choke? Cabelas has Federal Flight control on sale but it's recommended to use through a .665 or larger choke. Cabelas also has Heavy Metal turkey loads on sale....Would I be able to shoot those through my current choke you think?

Great work as always Ross!

Tell those nurses to give you a clean pillow!! lol...seriously though... Praying for your recovery, rest up buddy!

Well I ordered 2 off ebay...one is a brown deer print, the other is purple with a swivel belt clip... Purple for work, the brown deer for while out hunting,lol

Thanks everyone! Actually if I can get my first turkey tag with my gun, I'm going to try and fill my second tag via my bow...