Rhino Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Saturday morning a friend of mine wanted to try to video a turkey hunt with me. We went to were I had heard a bird gobbling mid morning Friday to try to get on that bird coming off the roost. We sat down around 5:30 that morning close to where I had 1st heard him the prior day to listen for the birds in that area to crank up on the roost. Within 10 minutes it started raining lightly but fortunately it only lasted a few minutes. At 5:55 we heard a bird gobble on the roost west of us about 500 yards away. When he gobbled the 3rd time we took off to get in position to work him. When we moved in to set up we heard 2 birds gobbling. One was about 150 yards northeast of us and the other was about 250 yards west of us. Since the birds were already on the ground by then we set up just below the top of a plateau where 2 ridges came together. These 2 birds were gobbling on each of the ridges. With the 1st series of calls the bird to the northeast was gobbling hard and coming in fast. We focused our attention on that bird watching for his approach from the northeast. He got quiet for a minute or so but I thought I heard him drumming just over the rise on top of the plateau. The bird actually passed by just over the rise and then came in northwest of us. When I 1st cut my eyes to the west and saw him he was about 20 yards away but I could only see from a couple of inches below his waddles to the top of his head. He began moving back east but all I could see was his head and waddles so I held off trying to check out his beard. When I finally got a good look at him he was about 60 yards northeast of us. He looked like a 2 year old bird with about an 8” beard but he was heading away now and way too far for a shot. When he went out of sight he started gobbling again and the bird to the west started getting really getting fired up. I told my cameraman buddy we had to get on top of the plateau in case the other bird tried to walk across it too. We kept low and I repositioned on a big tree 20 yards to the northwest and my buddy set up on another tree about 5 yards behind me. The bird to the west was slowly getting closer and he cut me off gobbling at my first series of clucks and purrs. A few minutes later I gave him some more light clucks and purrs and 2 birds gobbled back from the same direction only closer now. They were really fired up now gobbling on their own and steadily getting closer so I gave them the silent treatment and they kept gobbling and coming closer. They briefly hesitated gobbling like crazy just below the edge of the plateau for a few minutes so I gave them a couple more light clucks and purrs. Finally the lead gobbler materialized in front of me less than a minute later. He stopped about 30 yards away right when he stepped up into view. He was looking all around for that hen. I waited thinking my buddy was collecting video footage but after about 10 to 15 seconds that big gobbler turned to walk off. He made 2 steps going away and I delivered a load of #5’s that flipped him over out of sight. As I walked up to my bird I saw there were actually 2 gobblers right behind the gobbler I killed. One ran off and they other hit the air when they saw me walking up. I asked my buddy “wasn’t that great” and he said yea but I haven’t seen the 1st gobbler yet. I guess there was a tree between him and the bird I shot. When the 1st bird approached that I let walk off my buddy was laying on the ground trying to video from behind the tree I was sitting on so I guess from his angle he couldn’t see that bird either. Oh well we’ll try to get one on video again another time. This gobbler is a big one for Mississippi. My gobbler has an 11 1/4” beard, 1 3/8” and 1 5/16” spurs, and weighed 20 1/2 pounds. Go Team Timber Shakers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers That's a hoss of a gobbler! That bird is gonna score high for sure with spurs like that! Body weight and beard length are outstanding as well. That is one heck of bird. Yep, those are good hooks, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers congrats Rhino--that is one big bird! great story also! todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullfan Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers Good job!! I can't wait to hunt. We still have snow here and over a month befor the season opens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borch Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers Congrats Rhino. You always seem to find the big boss! Way to go! Borch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers Rhino does it again...Good job!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addct2hntng Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers Rhino Awesome job !!!!! go timber shakers !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Man that story got me all fired up...lol. Great bird, congratulations!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. great job rhino !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Awesome Rhino, way to go. Sounds like a heart thumpin' hunt for sure. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maytom Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. WTG!! Our season doesn't start until May 1st!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. MAAANN I wish you were still one of my team mate for this too! Man Thats one big bird>Congrats!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHuntr1 Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Congratulations Rhino! Nice Bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers Nice Bird Sir, Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo_hunter Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. congrats. nice bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Thanks everyone. I just happened to find the right birds that were anxious. It's been a strange season so far. What turkeyfreak said has been the norm for most hunters that I've talked to so far down here. For the most part it seems like most of the birds aren't quite ready yet. Spring green up is late this year too. It hasn't even started which is very unusual for us this time of the year. One thing is for sure, turkey hunting will only get better in the coming weeks. Hope you all have close encounters and bag some birds when your season opens. Until then I hope those of us that are getting an early start can help light a fire in you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Awesome bird Rhino, congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Nice bird---Rhino. I've deer hunted around Natchez----anywhere close to you ? CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trakker Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Nice bird to bad you didn't get the video,maybe next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. [ QUOTE ] Nice bird---Rhino. I've deer hunted around Natchez----anywhere close to you ? CB [/ QUOTE ] CB Where I do most of my hunting in Mississippi is about 45 miles north of Natchez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Nice bird Rhino but you were suppose to shoot a little one first! Congrats anyways! That's one awesome bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Congratulations on a great bird! I didn't hear the first gobble all weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Man thats a GREAT BIRD! Congrats on that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Delta_Hunter Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. That's an awesome bird Rhino. I hunt just North of Grenada, MS. This past weekend was horrible for all the hunters in our area. Usually hear at least 3 or 4 birds in a two day spand but not a single note this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobie Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Re: Chalk up a Big Gobbler for Team Timber Shakers. Congrats on an awesome bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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