fly

Nice!

Right - don't eat cow pie shrooms! LOL I have never hunted LBL but have drove through there while deer hunting in KY last year. Looked like a great place to hunt - considering giving it a try for deer in the near future. I currently hunt private ground in KY that's only 20 minutes from LBL. Would be nice to have another KY permit as once a tag is filled that's it (unless you have a LBL tag).

Placed mine about 3 weeks ago - checked status yesterday - message said waiting to fill order.

William, do you not have public land to hunt turkey any where close to you? My days of hunting small-medium farms for turkeys are over. One never knows which ridge they will be on and when you have less than 300 acres to hunt the birds might be a ridge over for the week you have to hunt them. I do have to deal with other hunters on public ground, but prefer the nobility options that hunting 2000+ acres of land allows.

Congratulations! What did he weigh?

Awesome! That's a heavy one.

Did you just get this turkey Martin?

Awesome Gobbler! I just finished my season today. Had a gobbler answering my call at sun up and another one at 8am but neither would come in. What's your new recipe?

Congratulations! Would love to have a 10 minute show before taking one out. All of mine have been shot within a minute or two from the time I saw them.

Turkey hunting can be so frustrating Tim. Almost didn't go Friday. I think the key was that brief storm cloud that let me get in close.

See my story and pics in the Turkey room Tim. My biggest gobbler yet.

Actually the first season was Monday - Friday (I finally connected on Friday). I also got a second season permit (hunt is for Monday-Thursday). I shot at one Monday at 50-60 yards but didn't put it down. Can't hunt tomorrow but will try Thursday to fill my second permit. Al, the weather couldn't have been better. What fun it's been chasing these darn birds. Haven't heard a gobble after 8am and nothing in the fields. All the activity is in the woods. Public ground hunting I suppose. The first week there were a lot of guys hunting (6-8 others) in about 2000 acres of mostly mature hardwood ridges. However, I have never ran into another hunter calling or hunting after 7 mornings of hunting. This second season there has only been 2-3 other hunters in the area. The birds have certainly moved away from the easy to reach ares.

See my thread titled Public Ground Thunder chicken for the pics!

Great pics! Congratulations

Hope things improve soon

Thanks Bob - I'm sure William could get you fixed up.

Thanks William - He's my biggest. Had several more gobbling this AM. Called a gobbler and 2 jakes in to 50-60 yards. Hens saw me and ran taking the toms with them. I fired at the gobbler but couldn't take him down at 50-60 yards.

Maybe - I'm just not sure why it stayed red - all the way until I cleaned it hours later.

I have a question for you all - in the pic above you'll notice the waddles are more white right after the shot. This one is about 15 minutes later - the waddles are more red. Anyone know why?

Got this Tom this AM hunting public ground in IL. Today was the last day of the 5 day first season permit I had. Was afraid I was going to have tag soup. Arrived at 6am and started down a ridge I have never been on before. Heard a gobble and headed for it in the noisy dry leaves. I got to within 100 yards and called. He Gobbled! A God sent storm cloud blew in with light rain allowing me to set up at 60 yards away behind a large tree. No sooner than I got my slate call back out GOBBLE! GOBBLE! at 20 yards! I peaked around the tree and there he was! I stood up from behind the tree and lowered my Remington 1100. BANG! 3 or 4 year old bird with 1.25 inch spurs. 9.5 inch beard, and weighed 21 pounds. I'm tickled!

Been out turkey hunting and so far not one morel yet. Did see a hen and was calling to 3 different gobblers this AM. The gobblers simply would not come in. Gobbled 20+ times 100 yards away for about 20 minutes.

Awesome! No luck for opening day here in IL. Had one gobbling on roost - flew down and gobbled 20 minutes but never came in close enough. Will try again in AM.

Found the first morels of the season today - seven grey's. Looked same area two days ago and there were none.

Thanks everyone - I'm not sure when I'll find out but I'll let you know.

Not sure how many of you get the NRA publication American Hunter but I find it has some interesting articles. After winning the Best Story contest this year in the RT forums I figured I'd submit a pic and short write up for the American Hunter's summer Members Best issue. They emailed me a few days ago requesting additional information and informed me it is being considered for their summer issue. As a professor I'm published in several journals but I've never been in a hunting related one. How cool would that be! Anyway, as I rise to celebrity status I want you all to know I'll never forget the RT people that helped me get here. LOL