Adjam5 Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 I met my sons Joe(18) and Mike(13) at our house/hunting camp in NY's Sullivan county Friday night. We got our plan together for the morning and went to bed early. We were where we wanted to be come flydown time. We had birds gobbling right off the bat at dawn. All of us got set and Joe worked his magic...These birds were thundering and making a bee line for us. They covered about 300 yards and hit a low(12") rock wall. 3 Toms with thin beards, but full fans. Mature birds. They strutted and held off about 50-60 yards away from Mike, and they were not coming closer. That rockwall could have been a half inch high. They wanted the deke to come to them. They lost interest, hooked into the forest and were gone. Bummer. We tried to chase them, but is was all for naught. They were tight lipped after that. Saturday was over, hunt wise after a few more tries and Sundays weather did not look good. We got up at 4, the rain was coming down good and went back to bed. About 9:30 the rain broke a bit and I saw a lone hen out in my field from the kitchen window. Joe played with her a bit, and she wandered off unspooked. My son Joe was restless went to take a ride and scan a few fields we can hunt for turkey and he was back in 5 minutes. He saw a Jake and knew where it was headed. We got Mike out of bed, dressed and climbing the ridge across the road from us. This bird was hot! Joe set out the deke and started calling. It took a bit, but the gobbler came in...but hung up because of some brush in the way. He was strutting back and forth putting on a good show, but behind brush where Mike couldn't get off a shot. That Tom lost interest and calmly walked away. We know this ridge VERY well and used it to our advantage. Joe and Mike took off after the bird using the landscape to its fullest and I went back for the deke. I caught up to them and Joe has this Tom thundering... but it wouldn't commit. Joe and Mike crawled up to this rock wall ledge and peaked over it, I stayed about 50 yards back...There were 5 Toms about 30 yards out in full strut! Mike raised and steadied his .20ga Mossberg. Picked one closest and let the lead fly. Bird went down like a ton of bricks. 9" beard, 3/4" spurs, 18 to 20 lbs. We thanked God for the harvest and the smiles and shoulder patting started . After the lesson learned from the rock wall and the other toms. That was the barrier keeping those birds from coming to the calls. They hate rock walls Joe has the dig cam and better pics are on their way. Congrats Michael and Joe...job well done boys. This was one of my BEST times ever afield. Traipsing the lower Catskill mountains with my sons hunting. It just does not get ANY better than this. I was in heaven for a while yesterday and today. My son Joe has to be one of the BEST Turkey callers I have ever heard call. He switches up calls and pitches and gets these birds super hot. He had quite a few turkeys under his belt for a 18 year old. He has called in more for others than for himself. He loves calling for people. Job well done Joe. Again . Mike and his Tom. Better pics on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats to him on a nice bird. Its nice to see that someone at least had some success on the NY youth season. I got skunked and so did quite a few of my friends. Congrats again to him tho!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Sounds like the three of you had an awesome experience Anthony! You said you stayed back but seeing all those toms over the edge was probably a very cool sight. Congrats to your boys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted April 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Thanks guys...more pics. I am still riding high and I didn't even shoot the bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleA Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Anthony, great story there...... You have to love it when a plan finally comes together. Congrats to you and your sons for a fine job at working together towards a common goal. You are like myself and alot of others as you get plenty of satsisfaction letting others do the hunting. Just being there, sharing your love and experiences mean alot to youth especially your children. Lot's of great memories there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcif Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Nice bird! Tyler and I tried, but didn't get one. I have a lot to learn with these birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats to you all! Great shot Mike on a great NY bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats on a great bird!! Seems like the young 'uns were awful hard on the turkeybirds across the northeast this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 awesome congrats nice bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats guys! I cannot see the pics here at work but I'm sure he is grand! :rockon: How about sticking a pic in the NY Room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 great story and nice bird... congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Great story and hunt. And I know what you mean about being on a high and not shooting the bird. Exactly how I felt and still do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Great job Mike, Joe and to you too Anthony. Super duper gobbler and pics! Congrats guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats to Mike, Joe and you too Anthony...sounds like all of you shared a great turkey hunting experience together. Great pics too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maytom Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrats!!! Awesome pic's too!!! WTG!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushy Tail Butcher Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Congrat's Congrat's, that's a fine looking bird. Best of luck the rest of the year!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 congrats!!! good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Nice bird. Congrats to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted April 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 How about sticking a pic in the NY Room? Will do Joe! Thanks for the congrats guys. I was still floating a bit when I got to work today . Told anyone who would listen . We will be at it again this weekend with Joe trying to get his girlfriend a bird. Good Luck to all going out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 great bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_Spike_King Posted April 26, 2010 Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 Way to put the smack-down on that bird Mike, congrats guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted May 2, 2010 Report Share Posted May 2, 2010 That is so awesome! Get those photos printed and matted by a good shop. Moments together are precious. Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted May 2, 2010 Report Share Posted May 2, 2010 Wtg, Michael! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Great bird, congrats to you and your son!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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