My 2015 Osceola Gobbler

[HarleyRiders97]

This is by far the largest Osceola gobbler that I have ever harvested. I was hunting in Volusia County, FL. on the morning of March 26, 2015. We had hunted this bird pretty hard for 2 mornings and after hen interference at fly-down I decided to give him a break and go after another gobbling tom. Well that plan didn't work either. After a quick lunch I was back at it. An approaching storm was almost on me. I had 3 decoys out ( jake, breeder hen, feeder hen). After a tremendous downpour the sun broke thru and the birds started gobbling again. I called a few times very softly and three hens came out of the swamp into the field where I was sitting. Shortly thereafter this gobbler came out and followed the hens towards the decoys and ultimately to his death!!! The time was 1:15 pm. I was using diagrapham's, slate and box calls during this hunt. I shoot a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag loaded with 3 1/2" Hevi-Shot #7 ( which took this gobbler off his feet at 35 yards). After all was said and done his measurements were as follows: Beard length 14.25", both spurs at 1 1/4", and a weight of 19 lbs. 6 ounces.....

[hookedspur]

Congrats on a real Stud of a bird.

[SCtrkyhntr]

Congrats on a heck of a bird

[Cleveland48]

Great bird!

Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

[appalachianassassin]

that's a loooooooooooooooooooooooong beard.

[timbrhuntr]

Congrats ! Nice turkey ! I bet you will be cleaning up in the longest beard contests this year !

[GENO]

WOW! That's a nice one!

[Northerner]

Nice tom congrats!

[GOLD HUNTER]

[wiltznucs]

I've dropped a few whopper Osceolas but never cracked the 12" mark on beards. Congrats!

[strutnva]

congrats

[Hognutz]

Congrats on a beautiful, big a$$ gobbler!!

[GLOCKMASTER]

Congrats on a VERY nice bird.

I'm trying to plan for a Florida trip next year....

[customcutter]

Great bird, never saw one with a beard like that.