FlGirl Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Well, Texas proved to be a little difficult. We didnt know until we got there that they had had a HUGE wildfire across the Nueces River from where we were hunting 2 weeks prior. We had talked to a friend that was there just before the fire and he said there was 100's of birds but as we all know one of a turkey's favorite things is new growth on a burn. Instead of 100's there may have been 25 or so birds on the place and most of those would only be around for a little while in the morning and then head to the burn. I decided to take a jake on the evening of day 2 to be sure I got my bird for my slam. Not the big bird I wanted but RIO DOWN. Hubby had better luck but it was down to the last morning. He got a gobbler with 10 1/4" beard and 1 1/8 spurs. RIO DOWN ! ! They've offered to let us go to another piece of property north of Austin since the season lasts until May 11 there, we've just got to see if we can work it out. I guess I used up all my luck the day before we left. Went with a friend to our lease for him to try to get his Osceola but all the birds including several strutters congregated on the side of the field where I was. He sat out in the middle the field where we had been seeing them strutting but we didn't facture in the 2+" of rain we got the day before. After just sitting quiet for over an hour and a half trying to let the birds go to him I gave up that they were going to cooperate so I started some soft clucks and yelps. After about 15 minutes one of the gobblers that was doing most of the strutting broke off and started my way. I was across a small ditch of water and the road that boarders the field. I saw him hop the ditch and start up on the road in a strut. He got about 3/4 way up on the road, stopped and run his head up looking for that "hen" that was over there. I wasn't sure how big he was but I knew he was one of the dominant gobblers so I decided to take him. I had hoped that when I shot some of the other birds would go to other guy but NO they decided to come attack my gobbler and knock him in the ditch(which I didnt know at the time). That was an awesome sight. After about 45 minutes they had all wandered off and I went to get my bird. There he was completly submerged in water. No big deal I thought. Then I pulled him out of the water. He had a double beard with the 1st beard being 11" and the 2nd 8 1/2". 1 1/2 spurs, 20.2 lbs. I couldn't believe I had just killed my 2nd bird of a lifetime within 2 weeks of my 1st. I called hubby and told him and he insisited I get him mounted. Called taxidermist and told him about him falling in the water. Then I did something I never dreamed I would be doing. Rushed home, called pa-in-law for some help and we spent the next hour and 1/2 with my bird hanging up in front of a fan and blow drying him with a hair dryer. To my taxidermist's amazement we were able to "save" him. Now hubby and I are trying to draw plans to build a trophy room and figure out if we're going to have to take out a 2nd mortgage to pay the taxidermist.....:rolleyes: We're off to Nebraska on the 23rd. Hopefully to much better luck than Texas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Congratulations!!! Just one more left!!! Good luck in Nebraska!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the one Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 nice story and great bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okbowman Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Congrats, good luck in Nebraska!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportsman2500 Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 That's an awesome bird!! congrats to you and your hubby. Good luck on the slam!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 congrats! good luck in Nebraska! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Nice birds, congrats and good luck for the last bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Congrats :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkeybuster Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Excellent!!! Good luck in Nebraska. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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