NY Opener tom down

[Squirrelhunter91]

Yesterday was the opener in NY and I had a pretty good day. I headed upstate with my neighbor to a spot he had in Orange County. We called some birds in, but were unable to seal the deal because of hens. Also saw a lone tom walking around. When I hit the call, he would stop, but not respond. He had a big beard and a huge body.
So we went to another spot in Sullivan County around 8:30 and couldn't get a gobble at all. So since we were only 4 exits away from my family's property, we decided to go check out the house and property. He had never been there before so I wanted to show him our little weekend getaway. After being at the house for 5 minutes or so, a bird gobbles not a few hundred yards away. That was just way too tempting for a couple of turkey hunting fools on opening day. So off we went to try and get that bird. I kinda knew where he was headed, so we circled around to cut him off, but he covered ground way faster than I thought he would. So it was around 9:15 and he was down in some fields that are annual strutting zones. As soon as I hit the call, he hammered back at me. He would gobble every so often, while closing the distance. Instead of coming back straight the way he first went, this bird decided to do a big J hook around the backside of us. At first I had Mike sit facing the field, then he turned 90 degrees, facing down the hill, then finally he turned another 90 degrees, facing the total opposite direction he started out facing. I told him that if the bird came out in front of me, it was mine and if it came out in front of him, it was his.
So needless to say, after 30-40 minutes of working this bird and him double gobbling, he pops up about 30 yards in front of Mike. I can see the bird over my right shoulder, but he still can't see him. I tell him where he is and the bird took 3 more steps out in full strut and I hit the call to get him to break strut. He lifted his head a hair and BOOM! He ate some Winchester #4's at about 30 yards. Tom down!
He was ecstatic and jumping around like a little kid the whole time. This was his first turkey and I'm glad that I was able to call it in for him.





This call is made by http://www.purdyscustomturkeycalls.com . This is the 3rd tom in two years on that call. I'd say those Sullivan County toms like it. =]








It was a decent 2 year old tom. Roughly 20lb, 9-10" beard and 1/2" and 1/4" spurs. The one spur was all banged up from rocks.

[QDMAworks4me]

Thats awesome congrats!!

[3seasons]

Nice...Congrats to you and your friend.

[maytom]

Congrats Joe!! Look's like that makes two of us NY'ers who scored on opening day!!

[ccwhitey]

Congrats to your friend on his first bird.

[Heritage Hunters]

Congrats to your friend on his first bird and to you as well for calling it in for him. Good stuff!

[Hardwood_HD]

nice job! good looking bird..

[PA_RIDGE_RUNNER]

Way to go Joe. Having called in a few for other people it is nearly the thrill of getting one.

[pointing_dogs_rule]

nice bird, congrats.

By the way: ditch the A&W and try Braq's "the rootbeer with bite" (my favorite).

the dog

[redbeard]

Congrats!

[Tominator]

Good deal Joe. Great story.

[dbHunterNY]

Congratulations to you both on a successful hunt.

[huntinguide]

ataboy