so my buddy and i are going to rough it fri night after trying to roost some birds, and then head out sat morn to see if we can find some thunderchickens. i know they are out there i saw em all gun season. probably camp the 471 side.
30.06, Just noticed your post about going to the Green Swamp and it jogged my memory of an incident that happened down there about 45 years ago. (When you reminisce it means you are getting old). Several of us were deer hunting just west of the then active railroad that was accessed from State Rd. 33 in South Lake county. We were still hunting a myrtle flat at daylight, when a gobbler came sailing in from somewhere and hit the ground about 50 yards from me. The old folks had always said, "Shoot 'em in the head or right at the top of his back if he's too far away." (top of the back usually leaves the breast intact when shot with a deer rifle). He was too far away for a head shot, but not the top of the back. Bang! Down he went and I had my first turkey! I toted him around for a while, as I worked my way back to the jeep, I began to itch on my neck and shoulders. Back at the day camp, my old uncle just grinned and said I had a good case of poultry mites! By the way that gobbler was taken with a 30.06! Treefarmer
great story treefarmer! the have cut out the use of rifles in gs for turkeys starting this year. but thats fine i carry my grampas double barrel this time of year. it is a lil intimidating when a fella gets out of his truck to turkey hunt with an ar, and you know everybody is ground hunting.
30.06, I should have included a few more details about the times when that hunt took place in 1966 or '67. I had bought 2-10 acre squares for $70.00 an acre in 1965. One piece was on the east side of the railroad and the other on the west side. There was a set of cow pens that joined the piece on the west that belonged to a family named Bridges, if memory serves me. It was more or less "old" Florida back then, before hunting leases were everywhere. Several groups hunted those woods that later became the Green Swamp WMA. The woods were burned regularly for cattle grazing and the deer and turkey loved to feed on the burns. We ran dogs back then, fished and camped where we wanted and for the most part most everyone behaved as they should, very little trash at camps. Every once in a while you might hear of some one hunting with a "one-eyed dog" at night. Times have changed! Treefarmer
the times they have changed, i had a great time fri night, and sat mornin. my buddy and i had two pair of gobblers workin towards us, but apparently my calling is effective, because a young bobcat worked in to about 30 yds of me before i stood up to chase it away. i love those woods!
