Leo

Rio's aren't a slam dunk hunt. Neither are Axis deer on many of those Texas ranches. Big axis go nocturnal just like whitetails. In my opinion they are just as tough to hunt as whitetails. An Axis that has grown to trophy size surviving hunting pressure is a real trophy. Now that you've hunted them, you know. They are different and that makes them even more challenging. Axis are essentially completely immune to the pile of corn method used so often in Texas. In my experience, they don't eat corn unless they are starving. They actually prefer grass to corn! Baiting them though legal in Texas won't help you. Rio's are turkeys and they will go where they are going to go. Because the flocks are typically quite large you are either in the birds or you aren't. I agree with Rhino a big flock of hens without boyfriends in tow is unusual. Sounds like the gobblers were still in bachelor groups and not into breeding mode yet. This is a tough time to hunt turkeys anywhere. You're either in the birds or draw a blank. You still had a great time and a future return is already in the works, I'm sure. Success will be that much sweeter because of this hunt. The experience is worth a repeat try, I'm certain.

Good luck. I'm trying for a Rio the end of April. Wonder if our Eastern/Osceola Hybrids here count as half a grand slam?

Go here. I thought this would interest some of you. Hunters TV The little thing that looks like a TV in the bottom right changes channels. The John Sharpe one is my current favorite. The Diagonal arrows allow you to watch full screen. This is way better quality than you tube stuff. ENJOY!!!!

The Winchester HV 3 1/2" #4s get my vote in general. I always recommend them first. If your gun will pattern #4s out to 45yds then shoot #4s. The Fiocchi turkey loads are nickel plated and darn good too. A $9 a box. Worth a try. I had a Rem 870 that loved Federals 2oz 3 inch load.

Now that's cool right there! You gotta love the quickie concealment of a couple palmetto fronds stuck in the ground around you. I love that tactic. It's like they are custom made for that purpose. I hear you on the "thin bird" comment. I think it's an Osceola thing. They just don't seem to ever get heavy. Doesn't stop them from growing whopper spurs and beards though.

If you found a place where they are regularly crossing a creek that's a GOLD MINE! In my opinion, that's an all day spot right there. For them to leave that much sign of their crossing they must be using it several times a day. You can work birds through spots like that all day long. I would hunt that place for 5 and 6 hrs at a time. Roost spots are usually only good for the first hour of the day. That's a small portion of the day. I'd go for the creek crossing especially if you don't have to compete with other hunters for the roosted birds.

Thank you my friend. I certainly remember you sharing some awesome photos as well. I need to post a picture or two of the swamp bottoms these birds come out of. It's really different.

Absolutely one of the most epic memorable opening days ever. Until I get the strength to post the story, be satisfied with pictures. How awesome is this? And finally this. There is so much more to tell. Thank you God. Thank you Jesus what a day!!

From Utah I'd try and get a tag for Wyoming, then Texas or Kansas.

AWESOME!!! Their wings are really different! That photo shows it very well.

Good luck!

I did a little more research after Hardwood and I exchanged PMs. Apparently the valve cap system is on the new SA-08s not the previous SAS model. I didn't realize this valve deal was new thing for Weatherby. The SAS supposedly only shoots as light as 1 1/8oz.

Birds seem to change roost areas more often then feeding and strutting zones. Hope that helps ya.

Excellent! It's really hard to appreciate in most photos just how green Osceola's are. They have much more green than bronze in their feathers than Eastern's. I love it when you can just look at the bird and instantly know it's an Osceola. You see green and dark wings in that photo clearly. Well done. Good job! Nice Bird!

Good for you, that's great to hear. I really hope that's all it takes. Good luck to you!

Weatherby's have different valve caps for the 7/8 oz loads. The caps should have come with the gun. The owners manual (the thing no one ever reads) probably depicts exactly how to change these. If you have "misplaced" yours. You can still email Weatherby, and they may be able to email you a PDF copy of the owners manual. Hopefully, you haven't misplaced the valve caps. I can't find a copy of it on their site or I would post the link here. I remember going to a gun show one time and this guy had a booth set up selling only old firearm owners manuals. He was doing an amazingly brisk business. Nowadays you can get copys via email pretty easily but I do remember when those things were like gold. He was getting $10 a pop for something a lot of folks throw away. Besides the general maintenance and usage instructions in those manuals. They also have an exploded drawing with each part identified and numbered. When you need service on your firearm, knowing the part number of the part you need is crucial to a quick turn around. That's a good auto. It really is. The more you know about it the better you will like it.

Yep it's an ignorant lie. If Pacelle was ever forced to publish what HSUS actually spends from annual donations on their supposed agenda versus what they spend on themselves their supporters would abandon them. The math of what goes into to the organization versus what they spend on what they say they are trying to do doesn't add up. But they continue to survive because of their: H-onestly S-tupid U-nsuspecting S-upporters They thrive on misinformation leading folks to believe they have something to do with the local shelters. THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO AFFILIATION WITH LOCAL SHELTERS. What's one more lie??? They don't care about anything but themselves.

Most states limit you to no bigger than #4 shot. On a per pellet energy basis the 12ga has very little advantage over the 20ga. The advantage the 12 has is number of pellets. Bottomline it only takes one #4 in the right place to permanently down a gobbler at 50 yards. Shotguns throw a pattern at the bird and not a single precisely aimed pellet. Therefore your best bet, to score a critical hit is the gun that's throwing the most pellets in the densest pattern downrange. Can you find the right choke and load combination to routinely dump birds at 50 yards with a 20ga? Yes, you can. Don't kid yourself though, it takes a heap more trial and error to pull this off with a 20ga than a 12ga. Personally, I'll stick with the 3 1/2" 12ga and not feel guilty in the slightest. I know it will get the job done every time at 50 yards. The purpose of patterning in my mind is eliminating any doubt as to when you can ethically pull the trigger. The old adage, "Nothing walks away from too much gun!" comes to mind. Wounding something because you didn't have enough gun is way worse, than overkill any day of the week. The 20ga is enough but is the 12ga overkill? No way no how. You are still limited to #4s with a 10ga and the velocity is the same. If you gain any range using the 10ga vs the 3 1/2" 12ga I personally have never seen it. It's not over the top either in my honest opinion.

Actually some after market chokes do better with lead loads than the factory chokes. Better patterns with Hevi-shot is probably the primary reason folks buy after market chokes now a days. But it is not the ONLY reason. Some chokes actually are designed to pattern steel better. Waterfowl chokes for big pellet steel are the next big thing. Not all lead, Heavys or steel loads are created equal. Some Heavy loads really like to be squeezed and some perform terribly if you do that. Likewise some lead loads like to get squeezed really hard too BUT only in specific shotguns. Most factory chokes aren't designed to handle squeezing steel. Some of the new aftermarket chokes can. In short, what the Winchester note means is you can use that stuff with any choke that came with your shotgun. But trust me, the right after market choke and load combination can make a huge difference in how dense a pattern your gun throws. It's not just Heavys.

YES! The truth is a gobblers roost is only where he is first thing in the morning. That's important to know but knowing where they spend the majority of the day is your best odds after they fly down. If you find one roosting in the morning get between where he is roosting and where they spend most of the day. If you can't find a roost spot stick to where they'll most likely show up later in the morning.

You are a wise man! Just above the beard is actually still in front of the breast and will hammer a turkey at close range. The closest I ever shot one it looked like I'd hit the bird with a slug. I absolutely agree. You do need to know where the pellets hit and how tight the pattern is at close range. Personally I like to shoot them before they get inside 25yds if I can.

My personal experience with Primos is hot and cold. Some of their calls I've had have been fabulous. Others have, honestly been duds. Their "Deadly Double" is a classic, hard to use but effective. Now I haven't tried it but I think the Signature series WP-1 just might be their next hotty. The "Batman" style cut is definitely getting some attention from all the call makers. If that one is as good as Primos can make calls, I expect they'll be making it a long long time.

Yes that will certainly crack a gobbler's gourd at 30yds. Perhaps I'm wrong but I'm suspicious the densest part of the pattern may have gone over the paper. In a 12ga the Winchester High Velocity stuff likes to be squeezed tight.

The crisp clear mornings 5-10mph winds are the most fun to hunt. But if the sun is up. So are the turkeys and you can't kill them from the couch. Hunt rain, windy, cold, hot... you can get birds on the "impossible" days. If you can take what mother nature is dishing out. The birds will be there.

Very very nice Osceola!!! That is a WHOPPER!