We missed the Saturday opener but were set up by 6:30am Sunday morning. Larry (on right in pics) and I have hunted together for years and always try and open the season in a cypress swamp near Avon Park, Fl. Due to an unusually wet winter much of our normal set up spots were ankle deep in water. We knew this going in and had picked a few alternate high ground spots in the immediate area. While still dark gobblers were answering owl hoots. By first light hens were cutting and yelping. We had placed four decoys near where we sat side by side behind some camo netting. At 7:45am a hen walked out and was shortly followed by two strutters. The gobblers locked in on our jake strutter decoy and strutted in. Now it gets really interesting.
Due to a temporary medical condition Larry could not shoot from his normal left side. He had said he would only call and observe this outing. Good intentions . I shot my bird at 16 yards and the second bird fatally decided to not run away but to instead rush up and start pecking at the now "flopper". Larry whispered that maybe he would try a right shoulder shot. I jacked in a second shell, passed him my gun, and when the survivor started to walk off Larry dropped him at about 30 yards. Fun day.
Mine - 16# 7", Larry's 18# 10". My first shell out was a Federal TSS #7, the second shell out was a Browning TSS 7/9 duplex. At 16 and 30 yards the TSS was overkill.
Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Last edited by joey46 on March 19th, 2019, 4:31 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Outstanding hunt. Nice birds. Congratulations to both of you!South Florida has some funny weather, water when there should be much, and we are hunting further south and the prairies are crispy dry.
Don
- HunterGKS
- Gobbler Nation
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Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Congrats to both y'all.
George
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR BODY STILL. YOUR HEART JUST HASN'T CAUGHT ON.
.17 = NITRO OF THE RIMFIRE WORLD USAF 1969-1973
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR BODY STILL. YOUR HEART JUST HASN'T CAUGHT ON.
.17 = NITRO OF THE RIMFIRE WORLD USAF 1969-1973
- Hognutz
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Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Congrats. Nicely done. 🤟
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
Last edited by Hognutz on March 18th, 2019, 2:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
May I assume you're not here to inquire about the alcohol or the tobacco?
I am the man from Nantucket.
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli” -Clemensa
When attacked by a group of clowns...Go for the Juggler!!
I am the man from Nantucket.
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli” -Clemensa
When attacked by a group of clowns...Go for the Juggler!!
- soiltester
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Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Now that's turkey hunting and sharing all the way!!
Congrats on a perfect hunt
Congrats on a perfect hunt
ever wonder where the white goes when the snow melts??
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Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Well done Congrats !
Re: Florida Double on St. Paddy's Day
Well done. Congrats.
TURKEYS
COYOTES
DEER
SQUIRRELS
(all in this order)
COYOTES
DEER
SQUIRRELS
(all in this order)