Spring...

tod osier

tod osier

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It is tough for us with late openers to watch all you guy and gals chase turkies before we open. What a great time of year to be in the woods.

My season opened this week and started with me on a longbeard I had put to bed. I set up on him and his gals on the opener morning and it was too easy, he flew down at 30 yards and was strutting in range 15 minutes after legal. He strutted into 10 yards but my heart wasn't in it. When he crossed out of range I regretted that I didn't take him. I hunted the rest of that morning, an early morning later in the week and I slept in today.

I got in the woods today at 8 am and spent a relaxing morning calling from some of my favorite deep woods spots. I first heard this bird gobbling from along the side of a hill above a swamp and I was able to close 100 yards and get set up right perfect on a knob next to the swamp that would give me nice visibility, but would keep me (the hen) out of sight as he closed the distance, dropped off the hill and into the creek bottom and then close the final yards to gun range. He was gobbling some, but not hammering after my calls, I hate that... you know they hear you, but you want to keep calling to make sure and if you don't resist you over call. He went into strut right out of sight in the creek bottom. The silent treatment had him on the move looking for love before too long, probably 5 minutes. He popped up within 30 yards and cut right in front of me. I wasn't about to let him walk.

I don't get many birds this nice, so I am super happy (although the picture doesn't show it). 24 pounds, 11" thick beard and both spurs well over an inch.

dogs.jpg

 
Todd,
nice. Sounds like a turkey farm here every morning. Too bad they are all on the state park. Cant seem to get the Rail Road guys to buy in that the turkeys are a danger to the trains.


The pup is looking very good. He does resemble his half brother quite a bit.


Enjoy the turkey tenders.
 
Good going. 24 lbs, Wow... must have a little bronze park turkey in it. :-)

The little yeller pup isn't so little any more.

Tim
 
That is the first time I have ever seen a turkey retrieving dogs. How did you train them? What a beautiful pair of hunting partners you have. Congrats, Tod.
Al
 
Good going. 24 lbs, Wow... must have a little bronze park turkey in it. :-)

The little yeller pup isn't so little any more.

Tim
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24 pounds is big for me, even my 3 year birds seldom break 20. His crop was full of acorns, so he has been doing some feeding along with strutting (we had a good mast crop last year).

Little yeller has put some weight on and has quite a bit more to go.
 
Todd,
nice. Sounds like a turkey farm here every morning. Too bad they are all on the state park. Cant seem to get the Rail Road guys to buy in that the turkeys are a danger to the trains.


The pup is looking very good. He does resemble his half brother quite a bit.


Enjoy the turkey tenders.
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They are fun, you should get out to the State park with you bow (and really good camo :).
 
That is the first time I have ever seen a turkey retrieving dogs. How did you train them? What a beautiful pair of hunting partners you have. Congrats, Tod.
Al
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Thanks Al, I'd really like to put Pete on a Spring gobbler, but haven't investigated it - there has to be a state that allows dogs in spring (maybe not). He has fetched just about everything else and he would love it.
 
Tod,

Nice bird, 24 lbs is nothing to sneeze at most anywhere. Here in Iowa we do average a nice size due to all the grain fields but even then I would be glad to harvest a 24 lb'er. Especially one sporting over 1" spurs.

One always has second thoughts after you pass on a bird, but it looks like you made the right call. Even if the first bird had been bigger and badder than this one, this bird definitely gave you a better "hunt".

I am glad you guys are all posting your stories, it doesn't look as I will get after them this spring and I do miss it.

Congrats again on your bird, do you have an second tag available or is one it, for your area/state?
 
Good job Todd. I have only gotten out once this year. We had a good member of our camp die of a heart attack at our camp immediately after shooting his biggest bird ever. It took 1 1/2 days for memebers and authorities to find him. Anyway, it has taken the desire out of me this year. Trip
 
Todd - what a big bird, a keeper for sure. Sounds like you made the right decision on the easy one and ended up with a memorable hunt. Love the photo, there are a couple of handsome gun dogs !
sarge
 
Good job Todd. I have only gotten out once this year. We had a good member of our camp die of a heart attack at our camp immediately after shooting his biggest bird ever. It took 1 1/2 days for memebers and authorities to find him. Anyway, it has taken the desire out of me this year. Trip
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Thanks Trip. Sorry to hear about your experiance this season, that would put a damper on anyone's season. I'm sure you will be out there soon enough to celebrate his memory.
 
Tod,

Nice bird, 24 lbs is nothing to sneeze at most anywhere. Here in Iowa we do average a nice size due to all the grain fields but even then I would be glad to harvest a 24 lb'er. Especially one sporting over 1" spurs.

One always has second thoughts after you pass on a bird, but it looks like you made the right call. Even if the first bird had been bigger and badder than this one, this bird definitely gave you a better "hunt".

I am glad you guys are all posting your stories, it doesn't look as I will get after them this spring and I do miss it.

Congrats again on your bird, do you have an second tag available or is one it, for your area/state?
Click to expand...


Thanks Dave, I have a couple more tags left and I'll be working on them ASAP.
 
That is the first time I have ever seen a turkey retrieving dogs. How did you train them? What a beautiful pair of hunting partners you have. Congrats, Tod.
Al
Click to expand...


Thanks Al, I'd really like to put Pete on a Spring gobbler, but haven't investigated it - there has to be a state that allows dogs in spring (maybe not). He has fetched just about everything else and he would love it.
Click to expand...


Tod,

Congrats on the big gobbler! Just put my first one down this weekend, you are a correct a great time of year to be in the woods.

Wisconsin allows hunting with dogs in the spring.
 
Wow, Nice going that Gobbler is a Stud!
24 pds is HEAVEY no matter where you hunt.

Good way to work for it, and enjoy the whole experience.
 
Tod, Very nice,very nice! That is a dandy! Big bird wherever you go! I would like to go one more time here,but I dont know if work schedule will allow. Congrats again on a fine job! Brian
 
Nice bird Tod and good hunting. Heading out to NH tomorrow. We had a blast on Sat. with Jamus, his son Gabe on his first hunt and Skeeter helping to guide. Gabe had one nice bird off the roost and after strutting at 20 yards and not being able to move another bird made us and Gabe was able to shoot and miss clean on the gobbler. Had a second bird give us a hard time and came up behind us at 15 yards and he could not get a clean shot. Too bad but the boys had a super time and I know the Dad's did too. Talk to you later and high to the family. Hank
 
Congrats on a nice bird Tod! You're right about trying not to over-call, it can be hard to keep quiet. But I think it brings better results.

Your pups are very well behaved. You should have seen mine when we brought the birds home yesterday.
 
Great bird in the photo!
You know you have come full circle as a hunter when you can let a longbeard walk away from a 10 yard shot.
My hats off to you.
 
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