end to a season

End to a season!

I did not get a chance to hunt as much as I would have liked. I still enjoyed my time in the woods as much as ever. I sure appreciate the state adding a youth turkey season 2 years back, and was able to take my nephew both years on a quality WMA hunt. He was super pumped up, and my Browning 410 pump has the scratches to prove it. We had plenty of action just have not been able to seal the deal for him. Hopefully next year wll be his year.
I did 3 weekend hunts for myself 2 WMA that were action packed. Birds were gobbling good on the 1st hunt. I had a gobbler fired up good 2 days in a row all I had to do is cross about 40yds of knee deep water, and the bird should have been mine. Problem was this hunt the temp was 35 degrees each morning, and I guess my age is catching up with me. I just did not feel the need to be soaking wet in near freezing temps for 10 min , or possibly the rest of the day. Any way he will be there next year, and I should have a chance at him.
I did an Easter morning hunt, at a different WMA, and called up a Jake, but gave him a pass. Change spots to close out the morning. I promised the wife I would be home for 1:00 Easter dinner so I had to be gone by 10:00am. Wouldn't you know it 9:40 rolls around, and a bird fires up where I had been calling from for 2 hours. He was hot, and coming on a rope. With time running out I made a common mistake on this fellow. I got to aggressive calling to much, and he decided to stop coming to me. Instead he went into strut just out of view. He still gobbled at every thing I threw at him. He just was not going to come the last 75yds for some booty. I overstayed my time limit by 15mins. and had to leave for home. Kinda funny how he wasn't coming the last 75yds for some booty, But I was hightailing it home so my booty wouldn't kick my booty. OK not really funny.
My 3rd hunt was an invite to my buddies place in Suwannee county. Just 20 acres surrounded by lots of land that is hunted very lightly if at all. Took him out the first morning hoping to fill a tag for him. It just wasn't to be overcast, and the wind was howling. We never heard a gobble, but were lucky enough to spook a hen off that was roosted right over our heads, and soon after had 1 pitch right down into my dekes. Something he has never witnessed before. Called it quits early, and headed 50 miles to his lease so he could fill his feeders. While he was doing so I wandered the property in search of something to bring home for the freezer. Ended up popping a beast. Yes the elusive Florida wild boar. Scary animals I spotted a pack of them, and took aim with my 22 mag downing him with percision shot to the head. A trophy for sure. He fit perfectly into an empty ice bag from a reddi ice cooler. maybe 6lbs cleaned ready for my webber. Headed back to the property for a good nights sleep. The next morning I got up ready to kill a bird. My buddy was more concered about hugging his pillow, so with it getting lighter by the second I start walking away from camp when to my suprise a bird starts gobbling like crazy. So I set up, and wait patiently for enough light for a flying down yelp. After 20 mins of this guy screaming his head off, and another 1 that followed suit well off the property. I did a series of clucks and a 3 note soft yelp. This immediately stopped the gobbling from both birds. I thought to myself The close 1 must be coming so I waited patiently for 20 mins. Than way of where the distant bird was I hear a gobble or 2. So I try some calling, and never hear a real response. About 5 mins later I hear all this racket very wierd noise coming from the direction of those birds stuff I had never heard before. This is when I figured I had to close some distance. I moved about 200yds to where there was a change in the woods , and there was a long woods road seperating the different blocks of woods. The edge of where I could hunt. I leaned my gun against a pine, and started sticking palmetto frawns into the ground just pulled out my deke, and almost stood up to deploy her when I see a gobbler running full steam ahead my direction. He just was not gonna come into range. I layed down in my blind , slid my gun off the tree, and scrambled through my vest for a call. As the bird disappeared behind a brush pile I managed a couple of clucks from my slate, and that is all she wrote. The bird popped out at 25 yds to the right of the pile, and ate a load of 12 guage 3in 4x6 remington perfect head shot. So I compose myself, and start to put my gear away as my bird flaps on the ground. I just happen to glace up, and hear comes another gobbler. I can see him coming from 100yds he runs up jumps on my bird, and spurs the hell out of him. Than turns , and wants to run in my blind with me. I ended up spooking him off. He really was not sure what I was at least that is what I told myself. I had hopes of killing him on Sunday. Nice bird 10 1/4 beard 3/4 spurs.

When I picked his up I discovered what all the racket was appearently The bird that was close to me decided to fly away, and go kick some butt on the bird I killed he was missing a bunch of feathers where the wing met the breast. Than the loser made a break for it running towards my 1st set up. When the winner figured out what was happening he followed suit.
That nite we celebrated With a fat steak, a bottle of Jim beam , and an 18 pack chaser. Had a neighbor over, and he enjoyed himself a tad to much. I awoke to light fast approaching threw on my gear, and stepped out to find our neighbor passed out naked in a chair. Not a pretty sight, but I snapped a photo for your enjoyment. Warning content may not be suitable for childern.

Ran to where I killed the 1st bird, and was ble to get my dekes out this time. No gobbling this time. So when fly down comes I do some calling. No responses so I call some more. Next thing I know is a hen decides to join the party. She walks into my set up for a few. I thought about runnng her of but didn't. Than she heads down the road toward where I anticipate my bird coming from. It is a 300 to 400 yd perfectly clear view to my dekes. I just do not happen to be sitting where I can look down the road. 15mins go by with not a peep from a turkey., and my patience level in running thin not to mention my head was a little heavy from the nites festivities. I just leaned back and got comfy when I see a glowing red head just above the fern. I got my gun up to the first good opening, and was able to watch this bird go in, and out of strut 3, or 4 times. When he hit my spot I did not waste any time. You see for a long time I wanted a bigger, and badder turkey gun. Able to reach them from unheard of distances. Which I have 1 now, and love it. For some reason watching my nephew carry my 410 around for the last 2 seasons. I thought how cool it would be to blast 1 with the pea shooter. So I carried it out there with me that morning, and it worked flawlessly. 6 pellets to head at 25yds lights out mr. gobbler. What an awesome feeling. I just do not know how I am going to break it to the kid I drew 1st blood with it.
Me, my bird , and my Browning 410 10 1/2 beard 1in spurs

Remember to not where shorts, and flip flops when doing this.

Ouch.
A pic of the shells, and beards.

The final result.

Got both birds back to St. Pete, and weighed them gutted, plucked with no head or feet the 1st weighed 12 1/2, and the 2nd 14 1/2 any ideas on whole weight. I am just curious.
Also congrats to all who scored this spring. I did not get a chance to give you all props for your successes.