Turkey Season 2023

Congratulations!!

 

Well, I went out tonight ( Thursday) saw some turkeys and went after them. It was a hard hunt. In the end, I saw that they were headed to a creek. I snuck in, this was new property for me in National Forest, I found a crossing I thought they would use and set up. A perfect set up, perfect shot and perfect evening. It has a 9" beard, 3/4 spur and a 1/4" spur, a little over 15 pounds, and it had a deformed toe.

 

I guess a pic would be a good Idea.

 

What a good year. My heaviest tom, an odd cinnamonish tom and a smoke grey tom. Kinda makes up for the ones I blew it on.

 

He is going to be a hanging dead tom mount.

 

Congratulations!!! That bird is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see the mount!

 

Does anyone know what to do about the blood on the white feathers? I tried spot washing, but it just seemed to smear it onto surrounding feathers looked brownish. Will it just come out when I wash it or do I have to do something more to it?

 

I wash in dawn and oxiclean and rub the bloody feathers in the wash with my fingers.

 

Thank you. I was hoping that would be the case.

 

winks

use this but rinse well after using it

 

I use winks to get stains off waterfowl.

 

Pretty Smoke colored bird. One day I'm going to have to get out and chase the 4 in NA. Trying to get all the waterfowl finished up and on the wall first

 

Hydrogen peroxide does a good job on blood.

 

My last morning in Maine I’m set up in a field corner. I’m watching the field and calling occasionally. I look to my right and this coyote had just come out of the woods and was stalking my decoy. Of course my gun is on my knee and not in his direction. I slowly start moving it as he keeps sneaking in. Looked like a pointer easing in on a pheasant. He was getting to the point I knew he was going to rush at it so I quickly threw the red dot on him and touched it off. I shoot a 20 gauge with #9 TSS shot. He dropped and never twitched.
I would have rather finished my hunt with a gobbler but that was pretty exciting. Hopefully I saved a few fawns and some poults. Don’t laugh at my decoy. That collapses and goes in my vest. I usually use dsd or avian x decoys.

 

Nice job! Getting coyote is better than not getting anything. When I first started hunting turkeys, I think it was my first time actually, I called in a huge bobcat to the decoy. I didn't have a cat tag, so I watched him become very confused on why my decoy didn't taaste like a turkey dinner.

 

How long is the beard on that one? Good job, dang poult/fawnmunchers have become so numerous everywhere.

 

Thought I would bring this back up since my fall turkey season starts on Friday September 1st. Daily bag limit is 2 birds either sex and yearly bag limited is 2 birds either sex. I decided I would hunt early while their feathers are not the best to deter me from trying to do another mount. I have no room for that. So, a beard and spurs will suffice.

I have been seeing turkeys there and quite a few coveys of quail, so my upland 20 qauge will go along for the ride to keep my new turkey gun company.
Can't wait to try out my new setup!