Great Weekend

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Hobbes_mobile
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Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Issac and I had an especially good weekend. We filled one region specific tag and one general tag each. It required a lot of miles and a lot of fuel. There was definitely some luck involved but a lot of hunting also.

This bird should have been Isaac's and we set up that way but after hanging up and strutting at 80 yards or so in front of Isaac, he swung wide left and came in behind Isaac and hard left of me. When he drummed and strutted up the rise he came out of strut with nothing but his stretched out head showing. I was nearly pointed his direction already so it was a quick shift and I gave him a load of 8.5s at 25 yards. He had a double bird and knarly looking spurs. The first double bearded Merriam's that I've killed.
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

We found another bird in the same region at 3 PM that hung up over a hill from us and sounded a whole lot farther than he was. We changed positions on him and as Isaac was about to sit down in front of a big cedar I saw his gun go up and he had his first of the trip. He had looked up and the gobbler had came up out of a cut strutting right in front of him at 25 to 30 yards.

He thought he let him come out of strut but he must have put his head up and still had his fan up because the shot took 4 or 5 feathers out of the fan. It was a really pretty fan with especially green bars.
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Hognutz
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hognutz »

Way to go, Shane!! Great looking bird!
Congrats on the double beard. You earned that this year by helping all the others.
Well done...
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!!
Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

After Isaac's first bird, we made about an hour and a half run to another area to squeeze in a hunt that evening and this morning. We stumbled on a bird that same evening after hunting a while and when we were on our way back to the cabin. The dang thing had gobbled just down the road from us while I was trying to locate birds for this morning. He was apparently hot because we barely got off the two track when he came running over the hill through the trees. Isaac missed him on the first self defense shot and cleaned up with his second as the bird regained his senses and sped away. It wasn't as enjoyable a hunt as the others but he was a suicide bird that Isaac wasn't planning to pass up.
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

This morning found us moving on a roosted bird as it got light. We got set up around 150 to 200 yards away about the time a hen flew down and another bird a little farther and to my left started gobbling. It was plenty light for flying down but the gobblers stayed in the tree.

The bird in front flew down and went quiet but the bird on my left kept gobbling. I wasn't sure the bird on the left would do it because of his location but he turned it on once the bird in front started gobbling again. He then went quiet for a little while and was apparently moving my way the whole time.

About the time I spotted the strutter out front at 150 following a hen left to right, the left bird gobbled and had clearly cut the distance. I shifted my gun left about 30 degrees or so but the sun was just peaking over the hill to my left at eye level and was about to blind me.

I really thought he was still 100 yards out but the steep hill he was over fooled me. It wasn't a few seconds and I heard drumming. About the same time I thought he's right here , he came strutting into view at about 35 yards cresting the hill with the orange sun lighting him up from almost behind his fan.

Luckily he was far enough right of the sun that I could see him. I let him get to 25 or so but was afraid to let him come any closer for fear of losing him in the sun and the sun was really starting to light me up. Issac had a front row seat from 15 yards off my right shoulder and was almost looking down my barrel when I shifted left and dropped the tom when he raised his head. It was 5:45 and shooting light was around 5:15.
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We were sitting in those trees behind me and I killed the bird was strutting just off my right side in this photo.
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We are looking down the hill the bird had strutted up over.
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Jbird22
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Jbird22 »

As good as it gets! Enjoyed the read and pics! Congrats to both of you!
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

A few more photos:

Carrying first bird out through rock bluff and early morning sun:
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Issac doesn't let me get too many photos of him so I'm usually trying to get them when he's not paying attention.
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

A couple random photos
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Early morning sun on last bird
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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Fans removed. Isaac's top left fan really has cool green bars. It's too bad he shot so much off.
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Turkinator
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Turkinator »

Excellent!!!!!
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HunterGKS
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by HunterGKS »

Congrats to the Ole Man!!
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Congrats to the Younger Un!!!!

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George

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR BODY STILL. YOUR HEART JUST HASN'T CAUGHT ON.

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Hognutz
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hognutz »

Sweet!! Great pictures, as always!
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!!
Swampstalk
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Swampstalk »

Shane, doesn’t get any better than that! 4 birds, great time with your son! And some awesome country. This one is for the book!

Congrats to you both!
Don
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by FLGobstopper »

Wow, that is a great weekend! I especially appreciate the story since been done here in my home state since first part of April and the close by state I've been hunting in since, which ended yesterday, I have only heard and worked one other gobbler in the past 3 weeks. Certainly missed having some real action packed hunts like that this year but love reliving yours and others. Thanks for sharing and the great pics made it even better.
spider316
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by spider316 »

Mr. Hobbes, congrats to you and your Son ! Enjoyed a similar weekend with my Daughter, special memories for sure !
The most experienced novice Turkey hunter the good Lord ever created !
timbrhuntr
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by timbrhuntr »

Well done ! I miss those Merriam's and their loud drumming in the morning ! :thumbup:
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Chief Razor
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Chief Razor »

Congrats, great pictures!
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joey46
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by joey46 »

Big congrats as usual. I'm way behind on my "congrats" and almost missed this. Great pictures.
jhogue
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by jhogue »

Looks like a great time Shane! Congratulations to you and your son!


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Hobbes_mobile
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Re: Great Weekend

Post by Hobbes_mobile »

Thanks guys. It was a better weekend than I could have asked for. I'm in Illinois right now wishing it was turkey season here so I could hunt Easterns again. However, the nephew's wedding was worth the trip.
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