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2023 Turkey Hunting Thread

boyne bowhunter said:
2023 Year of the Jake
I have hunted 6 days this year so far. Could have killed jakes five of the days and managed to get self-filmed video footage of them coming in four of the days. The sixth day was opening morning and I worked a big mature Tom for an hour or so but the closest I could get him to was 60 yds. I have video of him too but he's too far out to clip a decent picture of.


Day 2 Inside 10 yds. It is snowing in the video.
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Day 3, I ran out of memory card on this one but here he is only 30yds out when the camera quit recording. He came in running off the roost and ended up passing by inside 15yds.
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Day 5, Thought my Jake deke was gonna get its butt kicked (inside 15 yds).
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Next morning same spot . . . birds at 25 yds.
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There are mature Toms moving but they're still in big flocks hanging in the private fields. This was the field in the background on day 5 hence the repeat of the same spot on Day 6.

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At least it hasn't been boring this year . . . :tearsofjoy:
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Are you calling Boyne? I've only been 3 times and had two encounters at 10 yards but can't get it done with my bow... yet. I'm worried about educating them with my limited calling skills and the same 2 dekes. Is that concern real or should I be sticking with where I've had more success instead of moving?
 
Horn said:
Are you calling Boyne? I've only been 3 times and had two encounters at 10 yards but can't get it done with my bow... yet. I'm worried about educating them with my limited calling skills and the same 2 dekes. Is that concern real or should I be sticking with where I've had more success instead of moving?
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Yes, I'm calling. Other than my early morning sits I'm moving and calling until I get a response then I set up.

No trouble getting responses from the big toms but I haven't been able to break any of them away from the pack. The jakes are separated off (probably tired of getting their butts kicked) and they're inherently stupid so I haven't had any trouble getting them to come in . In fact I got the one from day three to come back within range a second time a half hour later from when I video'd him the first time. He's a pretty bird but not to smart. :tearsofjoy:
 
peteherbst said:
I’m already getting my things ready for turkey season and my first tag isn’t until last weekend in April. Already thinking about changes I’ll be making. When does your season open? What are you changing? Gobble gobble!
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3 beards (counting mine). Walked in the woods a little late yesterday morning my opening day. Heard a gobbler, I believe he was still on the roost, maybe 150 yards away. I did a few light tree yelps set a deke in a small clearing next to an old logging road, sat down, clucked twice then shut up. 1/2 hour later he came slowly walking down the logging rd. When he saw my deke he puffed his fan out, then his head turned a beautiful red then white. When he got about 25 yrds. away and still fanning a gave a kee kee call. He slimmed down and gave me the shot. It never gets old!
I thank my maker for the beautiful spring morning and beautiful bird. Everyday is a gift... like yesterday morning.

The thedutchtouch found my hard to find shells for me with the caveat I would describe a hunt if I got one using the shells.
There you go Pal.... lol Keep the faith!!
 

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Well just had a lone Jake come through. No beard or I'd have had him. I'm on top of a small hill in an area with small rolling hills, I thought it was a hen so I didn't draw when he went in the dip on his way in. Came in to 12-13 yards and did the 1/4 strut thing. I couldn't make out any beard full frontal at that distance.

If Tommy was around he should have came and kicked his butt, right? Plus 2 of us making noise and another Jake deke and a hen?
 
Had 3 sits myself so far. Couldve shot couple 8-9" bearded birds but going after the big guy. 1st hunt had coyote staring at me from 15 yards 10 mins after I sat down. I was hunkered up against a big ol oak. Pretty cool, he stared for couple mins before he slinked off. 2nd hunt the immature bald eagle twice divebombed my brand new avian x decoy. Landed in the big oak by the nest & watched for 10 minutes before leaving. 3rd hunt was out in afternoon hunt & watched 2 canada geese leave the overflow pond, did a big 360°, and landed in the dang eagles nest o_O . They were up there honking for 5 minutes or so before they flew back down to the nest. Crazy hunts so far, cant wait for the a.m. sit. Good luck everyone & Congrats to all who've punched their tags.
 
Also lots of birds still grouped up. Very few hens on nests yet down here in the thumb.
 
Crcusmonky said:
I noticed that as well. Even this evening still in big groups.
I’m in the thumb as well.

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Good to know. Im thinking/hoping by next weekend they should be splitting up a lil.
 
Crcusmonky said:
5 straight days of rain won’t help but if we get a little warm weather, it should be rocking and rolling. Early may is my favorite, usually warming up but no bad mosquitoes yet.


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So the gobble is around then for u guys? Might have to head up north then! Been thinking new york
 
Was in the woods yesterday afternoon and watched this guy showing off for the ladies. Heard a couple of gobbles too, but only found 7 mushrooms. I did manage to find the 2 shells from the birds I killed this spring. I wasn't looking far enough away from the tree. Anybody else keep their empties?
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bonehed67 said:
Was in the woods yesterday afternoon and watched this guy showing off for the ladies. Heard a couple of gobbles too, but only found 7 mushrooms. I did manage to find the 2 shells from the birds I killed this spring. I wasn't looking far enough away from the tree. Anybody else keep their empties?
4f30010f14b942c5d40f3273c2d37fb0.jpg
b6624a56b0e50dadea761947290d0ca4.jpg


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I try to keep them! Always get bummed when I can’t find and or lose them
 
Pulled off double opening weekend in Ky. With a young man I mentor for hunting. His first long beard. Weather has been pretty terrible since and seemed to slow things down for us. Yesterday we hunted all day walked 7miles +….lol. Ended up killing a coyote and found my first ever turkey nest. So no turkey but was still a successful day for us.

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