Season Opener Today: How to save on Turkey loads.

[Leo]

This morning was one of the mornings turkey hunting you dream about. It almost was a disaster but a hunch lead us to check the blind one more time before tomorrow morning.

We drove out and it was gone!!! My chair was still there but the blind was missing. Normally we don't have anything to worry about with folks stealing stuff but I was starting to wonder. Looking a little harder around the area revealed a few of my stakes laying around. Then we put it together. The wind had gotten it and blown it 80 yds into the woods. It had blown hard enough to snap one of the nylon tie downs we had attached to a tree.

Well the blind was still in good shape so we set it up again for the following morning.

At 6:45am a truck drove down the dirt road near my blind. He was the owner of the adjoining land, so he had a right to be there. I thought to myself, this might be a long morning.

6:50am a lone hen came in from behind. Iexplicably spooked and flew off.
That's turkey hunting. She must have passed gas and scared herself.

7:00am I hear one bird gobble. I call four jakes right into the decoys. We don't shoot jakes on this land so they were fun to watch for about 15 minutes.

7:15am a group of hens comes in (at least 10 maybe more). The jakes try to join the flock in vain. This action lasts 20min. The flock finally moves out.

7:30am I start reading a Dean Koontz book and settle in for a long wait.

8:00am BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS BIRDS !!! GOBBLE GOBBLE! I put the bookmark in my half read chapter and snap a picture of this.



Those two birds are both gobblers and they were almost twins. They switched off and on strutting while I tried to decide which one.

In South Carolina the limit is two gobblers per day. The landowner the night before told me to kill two if I got a chance the next morning. Talk about putting pressure on a guy!

I think the birds conspired to make the decision easy for me. This was obviously a gift from God. As they moved closer to me they also moved closer together. This is where knowing your gun's pattern is absolutely crucial. I knew mine and at 20yds the chance for taking both was evaporating. Just then one bird took a step towards me. This brought their noggins to where there was only 3inches of space separating them. I took the shot and two longbeards went to Fajita Heaven . One leadshot #4s 3 1/2inch 12ga and two birds. Not bad!



One bird weighed 16lbs the other weighed 18lbs. Both had 10inch beards and 1 inch spurs. (yep twins).

Old broadbeard never showed. He should have with a flock of hens that big. He may not have made it. Not that I have anything at all to complain about

A reporter was at the check station. He took a picture of the birds and my homemade calls. I am gonna be in the paper

Everyone at the check station said you better go out and buy a lottery ticket but I feel I probably used up all my luck today.

[kooter]

congratulations on the birds. What an awesome opening day. Gotta wait until april 18th here.

[Hoyt03]

Sweet story, awesome pic, and nice birds...Congrats

[pointing_dogs_rule]

congrats!!!!

the dog

[buckbuster11]

Man, that is awesome...congratulations!! I cant wait to get after those suckers.

[dogdoc]

oh man--you got my blood pumpin' and heart racing!

congrats--those are 2 awesome birds!
todd

[BRDNSPR]

Ditto to everything above.....

[Rhino]

Congrats Leo. Great hunt! Don't you love it when a plan comes together.

[outdoorgirl]

it was a perfect opener for you LEO....CONGRATS !! if you make the paper i hope you share the article with us.

[Addct2hntng]

congrats!!!!

[VermontHunter]

CONGRATS...on some real nice looking birds,,,,,man I have to wait until May 1st. here in Vermont....I just hope I get to see what you got to see and I'll be happy....

[redbeard]

Now that's the way to do it Congratulations. Fine birds, fine birds indeed

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Darn it, now you've got me wanting to try the 2 for 1!

[Gus]

Congrats nice birds

[VTbowman]

Wow that awesome! Congrats!
I cant wait to get a few in my sights...
Come on May 1st!!!!!