huntn4bucks Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 I recently took a new job and it has really limited my hunting...I guess I've kind of let it limit my hunting. Because of that, I haven't been smashing longbeards like I use to. Anyway, I got an invitation from a good friend of mine to head west and chase some Rios. We've been trying to coordinate this trip for several years now and just couldn't work the scheduling out. My buddy had been on this ranch before and knew it had turkeys on it. That's because the rancher had only let one other person turkey hunt on it in the past several years. We were hoping to get there before dark on Saturday to try and roost some birds but massive thunder storms and a 2 1/2 hour delay on the Interstate put a damper on that. We finally got to the ranch about 9:30 or 10:00 that night...so much for roosting birds. Since my buddy had been on the ranch before and after a few calls to the rancher, we just picked a spot and went to it at pre-dawn. The wind was howling so hard that we couldn't hear anything. I thought I heard a single gobble but couldn't pin point the direction. We sat there for about an hour with nothing happening and decided to move. That turned out to be a good decision. We spotted a strutter with several hens in the bottoms. We noted their direction and made a beeline through the canyons to get in front of them. After about 20 minutes we were in position...about 80-100 yards in front of them. This was looking good. About that time the rancher comes driving down the road. That ran the turkeys to the other end of the ranch close to where we started out. After another 30 or so minutes of sneaking through the canyons and dense cedar groves, we were back into position. This was the first time that we actually got a good look at the strutter and he was a DUDE! After several minutes of aggressive calling, we got the ole boss hen riled up and she brought the whole flock to within 20 yards. It wasn't long after that the ole Benelli unleashed a load of Winchester Supreme 3 1/2" # 5's. Success! My first Rio! Weight: 22 lbs Beard: 10 1/2" Spurs: 1 5/16" and 1 3/8" HOOKS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congratulations! Great bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Great bird, dang son that's a HOGGG. ATTA-BOY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Man! That thing has some hooks! Congrats! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 awesome bird, congrats on that stud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbuckhotspots Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congrats! Heck of a bird you got there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAMABUCKS Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congrats on a great bird. Good to have back posting for us little people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congrats on a good looking bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Awesome bird, congrats:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Great color on that bird. Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Congrats on the gobbler! well done, and nice pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 24, 2009 Report Share Posted April 24, 2009 Very nice, congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted April 25, 2009 Report Share Posted April 25, 2009 congrats on a nice bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Congrats on a great bird. Good to have back posting for us little people. Thanks! Things really came together this weekend because my brother-in-law and I doubled on two nice longbeards Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig mack Posted April 26, 2009 Report Share Posted April 26, 2009 Congrats!!!! That thing has some daggers!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 WOW!!!!!!! What a pig!!!!! CONGRATS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 where you huntin in okie land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt or be Hunted Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 now thats a big bird WTG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Congrats bud! Beautiful bird....real nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 Look at the hooks on that badboy! Congrats on a heck of a bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted April 27, 2009 Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 what a purty bird!!! And he does have some great HOOKS! Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted April 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2009 where you huntin in okie land About an hour west of Oklahoma City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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