Covehnter

I'm gonna make you work for him this year, done decided last year was too easy. And after that swim we had to take in OK last year, yeah, it's gonna be tougher. Can't have you tying the knot and gettin' lazy.

Good deal, sounds like a legit operation. Good Luck.

He said "almost" . . . . . JkJk, i couldnt pass it up. I cant work any of them so mine usually stays the same. I may pick just one for the background.

Each subspecies offers something the others cant, thats the reason we are all intrigued by the grand slam. I've done it as of last year and wouldnt trade my experiences for any amount of money. I plan to do it again many more times, god willing. There is public land opportunities for every bird and gas $$ are down now compared to the past, so if you're wanting the slam I say load the truck. Success or not, you'll remember the ride i gaurantee. And some of you guys are sellin' short by not headin' south for the Osceola. That environment will pull you back stronger with each passing day after you leave it behind. There is not another place like in it in the world. They are not "suppose" to gobble and often will be tough to tango with but that makes that bird you smash gobblin' to the gun barrel that much sweeter. Nothing like the black muck, palmetto flats, cabbage palms, sandy roads, and not to mention the huge array of wildlife besides turkeys you'll encounter. Truly the experience of a lifetime.

I'll be there tomorrow all day. wtn, if you see a guy w/ a Cove name tag say hello.

These are the stoppers/adders I use and they have performed perfectly. Inexpensive so that you can shoot a few into targets to make sure they dont effect arrow flight. They didnt effect my setup at all, just make a little whistling noise upon release. These lil guys will keep you from watchin a mortally wounded turkey fly off. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0018891411445a&navCount=1&podId=0018891&parentId=cat600306&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat21424-cat600306&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600306&hasJS=true

Yes, you'll definately need to install a stopper behind those heads. You may want to consider trying a large cutting diameter expandable as well. . . but make sure you're comfortable with whatever you choose. When I talk about a stopper (also called grasshoppers, adder points, etc) it is a small addition that you put between your broadhead and your arrow shaft. You just slide them down the shank of your broadhead then screw the head on normally. This acts to grab the inside of the turkey upon penetration to slow the arrow and stop if from passing through. They are inexpensive and will save ALOT of heartache!! I'll not shoot at another bird without one.

Whew!! I thought I was gonna have to go searching for a phone number!! Geez bud, you had me spooked!! Sure glad to see you back around, hope things are going well at the home front. Now lets go huntin'!

First things first, let's remember that shot placement is more crucial now than ever before, turkeys have small vitals. With that said our #1 priority is to not wound a bird that will become food for the yotes. I would suggest a head that has a large cutting diameter and a stopper to prevent pass throughs, you want the arrow in the bird to make it difficult for him to take air. I shoot Rocket Hammerheads with the stopper added behind the head. Its been deadly for the last few years.

Leave it to Alabama to open up on a Monday.

Still trying to find the Truth 20.

When you kill a bird, cape the entire bird out- With him on his back, start from center and work your way out. You'll have to work around the wings and clip the wing joints but dont remove anything from the skin-feathers attached. You'll just have to feel your way through it but keep everything together from where the feathers start below his head all the way back fan included- keep it all in a single piece. Stretch this on a board feathers down and give it a day to dry, then go at what meat you have left on the cape with a scapel and wire brush. Get all you can off, borax all the exposed skin and stretch it out as far as possible and stake it down fan included. It's going to shrink but the more you stretch the better you'll be. Give all this adequate time to cure. Then its as easy as getting form, securing it to the form in the desire posture and getting a head. I used a head from a decoy. He works.

Alright, we need to assemble a search party to go find Redbeard.

Still have over a month to wait til we can start hammerin' heads in Ga but with this past beautiful week we had I couldnt help but to get out to my favorite WMA this morning before daylight. Glad I did, heard 6 different birds . . . one of which was ready for roastin'. Always nice to hear those first gobbles of the year! If i dont hurry up and get down to FL i'm gonna hurt myself.

Yeah but i thought it was the 16th this year in AL? I hope i'm wrong b/c that'd make it a sunday instead of a Monday. Yeah we're headed to South Florida to join the crowds for the opener. Planning on hunting Sat thru Wed before we return this time. Also on a lease on your side of the line this year. Suppose to be around Anniston i think. Never laid eyes on it but reliable sources said it has alot of birds. Tryin' to go have a look maybe the weekend after the national convention and before the FL trip. We'll see.

The brand of decoy is all personal preference, there are lots to choose from . . . . Flambeau, Carrylite, Sceery, Feather Flex, etc. etc. I myself use a Sceery which are the "blow up" style. I like it (i carry one hen) b/c when deflated it is so compact and takes up no room in my vest. If you plan on setting up decoys everytime you work a bird and will be setting up in a haste these may not be the answer for you b/c you do have to blow them up which takes a minute or so. But when i use a decoys it's often when i'm going to sit it out a spell so i'm in no hurry, thats why the particular brand works for me. In the past i've used Flambeau (which had material issues, think they've fixed that now) and feather flex, both served their purpose. I also like the feeding position versus the upright style, more relaxed feel for the hen. As for the setup, i would not advise setting up your decoys any further than 20-25 yards. This is optimal shooting range and also gives you a little buffer zone in case the bird decides to hang back a little which they will sometimes do. . . this still puts him at 35 yards give or take. Thats head dancin' distance. And a reminder. . . a hot headed tom with want to come face to face with the jake decoy.

Check their website.

My suggestion would be to use the Rage because it is a big expandable, you're looking for cutting diameter NOT penetration which you will get with the slick trick. And still, even with the Rage I'd urge you to use the stopper. . . . I myself used the already mentioned Rocket Hammerheads with a stopper, good- real good. Do not worry about messing the turkey up just yet, worry about cutting him up and watching him fly off for coyote food. This is what we must avoid at ALL costs. Speaking from tough to swallow experience, it's the pits. You can practice practice practice but we all know the adrenline rush of a struttin' drummin' gobblin' turkey at 5-8 steps can not be duplicated nor fully prepared for. . . so make sure you're equipment can help you just in case it's needed. Stopper, large cutting diameter heads, and good close shots.

And another thing, gobblers will always make their way around to face the intruding male decoy face to face. So make sure that you have a open shot to all sides of the decoy. Our magic distance is 8 yards, that's where we place the decoys. The blind can be brushed in but I am completely convinced that it doesnt matter for turkeys. We have been poppin the blinds up in the middle of the wide open with nothing more than 2" grass and they pay it no attention. And although you can definately kill without a stopper behind your broadhead I would strongly suggest it.They are inexpensive and don't effect arrow flight. A pass through on a turkey is bad news sometimes with even a lethal shot.

Aint heard a cluck from either of these two guys so far this year. Where yall boys hidin'? Alabama season opens in just over a month and Redbeard never quits thinkin' about longbeards, i know better. So where yall boys at? Yelp Yelp Yelp

You gotta be real real careful up tight. I wish i could figure out how to get our videos from last year up. I have a toad at 8 yards catching the center of my 3.5" #6's. Its something to watchin in slow motion.

I would definately consider a good hub style blind, its almost a must. Its also good to use decoys to bring the ole boys attention away from you. We have used a struttin diy gobbler for the last 2 years with incredible success. Make certain you can make the shot even under not so perfect conditions, you must be confident in your equipment. Also make sure to use a head that will get the job done and with most a stopper is a must to prevent pass throughs. That's all I got for now.

The videoing will definately become addicting. We were able to get 6 kills on film last year and a ton of turkeys just doing their thing which is always fun to watch.

If anything kills turkeys year after year it's persistance. Looks like you're another testament. Congrats on the birds!

Tagged Out And Breakfast