Opening Day Success!


Rhino

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It was COLD and a bit on the breezy side opening day of the MS spring season…the birds didn’t like it.  I didn’t hear a bird gobble until 10:10 and he only gobbled 3 times…once at my calling.  I never had a chance to even get close enough to him to work him.  I did call in 3 jakes around 8:00 that came in silent.  Jakes aren't legal birds for adult hunters in MS.  They put on a show hanging around for 50 minutes.  At least I had some entertainment.  I threw in the towel ~11:30.   Went back out ~2:30.  Never got a bird to gobble that afternoon.  While I was sitting at a spot ~4:20, I decided to try a different striker on my new Madhatter Nigerian Ebony 5 track slate call…the striker in the picture.  I basically worked with it about a minute or so just checking to see how loud and soft it would work on the call clucking and purring.  I prefer softer purring when it’s not too windy.  Anyway…at 4:30 a gobbler suddenly appears to my left in full strut…he never made a sound.  It was if Scotty had beamed him in that way.  When he raised his head enough to expose his neck for a bigger target…still in full strut I turned the Nitro load loose at 29 yards.  My 1st bird of this spring season has spurs measuring 1 1/16" and 1" and his beard has beard rot shortening it to 7 1/8".

58cbf1fdede24_1st2017Gobbler.jpg.bff29ba27c8500e916efc21c24b6c856.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks everyone.  We seem to be covered up in Jakes this year.  Pulled a trail cam today.  One cam had 5 jakes in a pic.  Called in 5 Jakes so far too and they weren't anywhere close to the spot where I got the pic of the 5 Jakes.  Next year should be a banner gobbling season.  Till then...going after what we have right now.

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On 3/31/2017 at 4:06 AM, RTF said:

Cant believe you guys can hunt past 12 in the spring.

Most states allow spring turkey hunting in the afternoon.  The only state I've ever hunted that didn't is Missouri where hunting hours closes at 1:00.  The 4 times I've hunted Rios in Texas, the birds seemed to respond better to calling in the afternoon.  

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Turkey hunting in TN is legal from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.  

Listened for a good while over the weekend and heard several birds early in the morning while drinking coffee, but nearest gobbles were no closer than probably 3/4 of a mile away.  Well off our property, did not even waste my time trying.  

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