boparks

I like a mix. Theres some posted just before me that look great. I do like a strutting bird for sure and I have a couple of flying birds (Osceola & Rio) mainly because I didn't know anyone at the time locally that I felt did great mounting a strutter. Sent the Merriam off to Calley Morris in Missouri.

Good luck in Arkansas, I was out your way last Fall trout fishing in the White River. What a beautiful place you have. You boys have hills to contend with though. Got the impression from the fishing qguide that ya'll have good turkey hunting. Bobby

Hey man, Hope you can get away early and good luck to you in Mississippi. Hope you bust some of the MS birds. I'm flying out tomorrow afternoon headed to Texas and am excited as well. Bobby

Awesome shots. Almost doesn't look real. You don't have a stage up there do you? Justy kidding of course, those are great shots. It;s interesting to see those birds strutting in those temperatures. Guess they're used to it.

Okay, maybe you have me on a technicality. Just to show that there's no hard feelings, I'll come hunt with both of you. See how understanding I am? Actually I hear great things about Kentucky. Beautiful state. I do love to huint the Merriams and I'm headed to Montana on the 17th. This will be my 7th year going there. Headed to Texas tomorrow evening to hunt there.

PS I had a lot of gear missing one time after hunting with someone from Kentucky:D

Just because I'm watching out for you I must warn you to be careful with those Kentucky boys. They just don't know how to act when they leave their state. This is based on a scientific study done at the Universty of Georgia, in which I'm sure I can find and provide documentation. If not then just trust me. Now us Georgia boys on the other hand really know how to make hunting fun and we're good luck charms. This is based on a national polling. Okay maybe I'm full of it but I'll do what it takes to have more chances at Merriams

Hey if you need a new friend / turkey hunting buddy, Please call 1-800- Imthere4u:D

I always cape em. Not that hard to do. You'll see mine in my "Photo Album". Takes a few minutes but not to diificult. I psoted a "how to" on another forum but I don't think it was this one.

PS I do know mine is Realtree camo. One is more of the older Advantage and one has the gray hardwoods look but can't remeber the official name. Also, this stuff doesn't work in Ohio, maqy be illegal.

Standard gear. Even one of my vest has leafy wear. Don't know the brand but I have 3 sets of tops and bottoms. Works great for several reasons. Mine has a netting combined with leafy flauge. You can wear it over just about any clothing, helps with bug issues as a second layer, doesn't have to be washed every time you wear it, can be used as part of a make shift blind (I carry an extra jacket part that I sometimes tie or use to conceal a spot of me), and oh yea, its good comflauge. I like the ones with the hood and 2 piece versus any jump suit type

Turkey hunting with snake boots: I wear my main pants inside and my outer loose leaf on the outside. I pull the loose leaf off to go to lunch as I like to show off my snake boots and it looks better with them in. Deer hunting with rubber boots: Always inside.

You'll just have to get a bigger house. You'll be in your prime earnings years when you're in your mid 30 s which is when your walls will busting out at the seams. It's just the price you pay for success. Alway thought the money was alot easier to come up with than the trophy that you take to the taxidermist. NICE LOOKING WALLS.

If you really start looking into it you could own a lot of boxes. Theres alot of good ones especially with custom makers. Albert Paul from "Pauls Calls" has made me a couple The old reliable Lynch Foolproof is a good affordable call that won't break the bank and works well on Easterns. I kill alot of birds with a Redhead box especiaily in Texas and with Merriams out west. Every turkey hunter should own a Lynchbox though. PS: Aside from a custom call, never buy one that you have not tried first. Don't be afraid to take it out of the box in the store and check it out. They're not all the same. Bobby

Thanks Michigan, Minnoesota, and Montana. Hey I'm flying into Billings MT in about 3 weeks and will be turkey hunting in your absolutely wonderful state. I've been coming out there for 6 years. Greatest state in the union as far as I'm concerned. No offense to the other 49. Your a lucky dude! Bobby

Careful with strutting birds For a flying bird that sounds about right. Be careful who you choose to mount a strutting bird. Many can do flying birds but fewer can do a truely good job on a strutting bird. Go to Hazel Creek Taxidermy / Calley Morris in Missouri and you 'll get an idea of what they can look like. He's done alot in the past for NTWF. Do your reserach and don't just trust or settle. Speaking from experience. Bobby

The addiction to turkey hunting is the combination created by the hunter calling, and the turkey gobbling and strutting. Once this happens to you, and you've experienced "the show" you're done. This in my opinion is what it's all about and why I love to chase these birds. That said, theres a wide range of scenerious that I consider part of turkey hunting and what it takes to be consistently successful. I'll kill 90% of my turkeys coming to a call but I'll take the occasional stalk / bushwhack kill as well. Honestly one of most exciting hunts was chasinga bird that gobbled his head off and then left with a hen. I kept following them using the terrain thinking that there's no way this'll happen but I had no better options at the time. He gobbled enough that I could keep up with him and after about 30-45 minutes I was able to crawl up over a levy, peak over and see him and killed the turkey. I was as proud of pulling that off as any bird I ever took. Think about it; How easy do you think it is to sneak up on a group of turkeys? We all have our styles and beliefs and I certainly respect the person that says they'll only take a turkey that gobbles and comes to the gun. Some abide by that and some claim that but will bust a bird first chance they get if they're having a tough year. For me turkey allows for a wider range of options which includes and incorporates good woodsmanship and an occasional set up that results in what many consider a "bushwhack". I've had a few cases thru the years where the birds just weren't gonna come to me and I was able to use the terrain or manuever into a position to take the turkey. The reality is that it's not the easiest thing in the world to do and if you can do it as far as I'm concerned you've accomplished something. As far as patterning turkeys there are instances where you can and other areas it's tough. When I'm in Texas I can pattern birds to a limited extent and can set up where they're going to head to. The reality is in Texas it doesn't matter because they gobble and come to a gun so well there's just no need. In Georgia I've had ionstances where I was hunting an old bird that would leave the roost and go with hens in a certain direction and after a couple of mornings of being flipped off by the bird, I set up where I thought they would go and popped him. To me it's turkey hunting. At the risk of sounding crude, I'm a turkey hunter and a turkey killer. I'll only hunt in what I consider an ehtical manner but I have a wider range of hunting techniques than others , possibly? On a differnt topic I'd tell you I won't shoot 2 turkeys out of a group or 2 with one shot. I've done both but won't do it again because I don't won't to limit out to quickly. Sorry for the long answer. Bobby

Not alot to be added to the above. This advice obvioulsy comes from experience. It's very hard not to call but more times than not you're shooting yourself in the foot if there's hens around. The Mississippi boys obviously know what they're doing.

Kentuckyturkey. It will happen man. Mature birds will come in to the B Mobile faster than you're used to seeing one react to a decoy. I mean instead of hanging back and strutting and taking all day to come into range like they do with hen decoys, theses boys will stun you. They'll walk or run right paqst the hen decoy It will probably turn /scare some of the younger birds away and as far as I'm concerned thats good. Seriously after seeing it happen 2 hunts in a row I started wondering if they should be legal and that they were going to lead to a decline in the bird population. They're especailly good for afternoon set ups or on days the birds are not gobbling. You live in a great state. I envy ya. Bobby

March 21st here in Georgia. I think I have enough tranqualizers to keep me calmed down for one more week?

Oneida Man, Not only are those great looking birds but great photos as well. It'll be easy to have the right attitude when you hunt that spot. I assume this is Wisconsin? Bobby

Good point. I take very few birds off the roost and most between 9:00 and 12:00 noon. Birds off the roost will fire you up because they gobble but hens will likely take them away from you 80% of the time. For me at least. "Persistence" should be added to the recipe. Bobby

Good answer. And it doesn't weigh alot.

Thanks, They were taken with a gun. Never quite put it together on a big deer with a bow.

Thanls for the welcome RTF. Glad to be here. Bobby