Another 2017 recap
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- Posts: 136
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Another 2017 recap
I've very much enjoyed the recaps on here lately and they've convinced me to share my own. Sure helps this summer time lull. I don't post much, but have been an avid reader for years. Hope you enjoy.
Started my spring on a chilly 32 degree opening morning in deep south Mississippi. I didn't have high hopes, but one thing led to another and I eventually connected on my 'white whale' DeSoto National Forest gobbler. Those of you familiar with the area know birds are extremely hard to come by there now days. A goal of mine is to harvest a bird in all 6 of Mississippi's National Forests. With the DeSoto down, I only have one Forest to go.
Headed to another National Forest on opening weekend and hunted some unfamiliar ground. Took 3 mornings but finally closed the deal.
I must have been living life right before the season rolled around. A few days after my second gobbler I managed to finish up in Mississippi on yet another longleaf country DeSoto bird.
Next up was Louisiana, a new state for me. Took an entire week off from work as I figured I was in for a really tough hunt. Opening morning didn't start out too well when two trucks beat me to the gate I planned on hunting. But Plan B paid off a few hours later.
Hunted two more mornings then cut my trip short to save my vacation for another new state, Oklahoma. Roosted some birds the evening before the opener and connected on one shortly after fly down.
That same evening I heard a solitary gobble at dusk on another tract of public ground. Eased over a hill and spotted a small flock roosted in this dead snag.
I took a guess at which direction they'd fly down and got real tight the next morning. Birds never gobbled but I got to watch a show of epic proportions.
Didn't have a bird roosted for the third morning and the only gobbles I heard were .75 miles off. Headed that way and shortly before 8:00AM I finished up in Oklahoma with my third banded bird in two seasons.
Headed back east and since Louisiana offers a 1-day turkey permit, I decided to try my luck there again. Good call.
Made my annual trek to Missouri next. I've now managed to punch a tag on an Ozark bird for a decade straight.
Second MO bird.
And finally my big trip out west. Goal was to knock two states off the list, Wyoming and Montana. Surprisingly both were more difficult than the other states this spring, but I managed.
Wyoming:
Montana:
On my way back home I stopped at my favorite Nebraska spot to wrap up the season. I was sleep deprived and worn out, as you can see in my eyes!
Had never saw a gobbler with legs as white as the Nebraska bird's.
A few more pics from this spring:
Yaupon/gallberry thicket one of my DeSoto birds came from.
#8.5 TSS is rough on the piggies too
High straight-line winds made for a rough night in a tent the eve before LA's opener. Found this blown down timber close to camp the following day.
Love my tailgate coffee.
Oklahoma:
WY/MT/NE:
Watched a tom strut,gobble, and then pitch off this cliff during the middle of the day. One of the coolest things I've witnessed while chasing these birds.
Smoked a fat doe going 65mph while driving overnight to Nebraska. Miraculously very little damage. Can you find the hair?
Scattered dead spots are Mountain Pine Beetle damage
Chased some birds in this wildfire burn
Until next spring....
Started my spring on a chilly 32 degree opening morning in deep south Mississippi. I didn't have high hopes, but one thing led to another and I eventually connected on my 'white whale' DeSoto National Forest gobbler. Those of you familiar with the area know birds are extremely hard to come by there now days. A goal of mine is to harvest a bird in all 6 of Mississippi's National Forests. With the DeSoto down, I only have one Forest to go.
Headed to another National Forest on opening weekend and hunted some unfamiliar ground. Took 3 mornings but finally closed the deal.
I must have been living life right before the season rolled around. A few days after my second gobbler I managed to finish up in Mississippi on yet another longleaf country DeSoto bird.
Next up was Louisiana, a new state for me. Took an entire week off from work as I figured I was in for a really tough hunt. Opening morning didn't start out too well when two trucks beat me to the gate I planned on hunting. But Plan B paid off a few hours later.
Hunted two more mornings then cut my trip short to save my vacation for another new state, Oklahoma. Roosted some birds the evening before the opener and connected on one shortly after fly down.
That same evening I heard a solitary gobble at dusk on another tract of public ground. Eased over a hill and spotted a small flock roosted in this dead snag.
I took a guess at which direction they'd fly down and got real tight the next morning. Birds never gobbled but I got to watch a show of epic proportions.
Didn't have a bird roosted for the third morning and the only gobbles I heard were .75 miles off. Headed that way and shortly before 8:00AM I finished up in Oklahoma with my third banded bird in two seasons.
Headed back east and since Louisiana offers a 1-day turkey permit, I decided to try my luck there again. Good call.
Made my annual trek to Missouri next. I've now managed to punch a tag on an Ozark bird for a decade straight.
Second MO bird.
And finally my big trip out west. Goal was to knock two states off the list, Wyoming and Montana. Surprisingly both were more difficult than the other states this spring, but I managed.
Wyoming:
Montana:
On my way back home I stopped at my favorite Nebraska spot to wrap up the season. I was sleep deprived and worn out, as you can see in my eyes!
Had never saw a gobbler with legs as white as the Nebraska bird's.
A few more pics from this spring:
Yaupon/gallberry thicket one of my DeSoto birds came from.
#8.5 TSS is rough on the piggies too
High straight-line winds made for a rough night in a tent the eve before LA's opener. Found this blown down timber close to camp the following day.
Love my tailgate coffee.
Oklahoma:
WY/MT/NE:
Watched a tom strut,gobble, and then pitch off this cliff during the middle of the day. One of the coolest things I've witnessed while chasing these birds.
Smoked a fat doe going 65mph while driving overnight to Nebraska. Miraculously very little damage. Can you find the hair?
Scattered dead spots are Mountain Pine Beetle damage
Chased some birds in this wildfire burn
Until next spring....
Last edited by deerhunt1988 on June 26th, 2017, 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Another 2017 recap
Very nice! Congrats on a great spring tour, and thanks for sharing the trip with us!
Re: Another 2017 recap
You are the man!! Thanks for the report. congratulations
- hookedspur
- Gobbler Nation
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Re: Another 2017 recap
Congrats on a great season.
- Waddle Whacker
- Gobbler Nation
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- Location: Louisiana
Re: Another 2017 recap
Congrats on a great spring! All the pics were awesome except for the one with that hideous maroon and white chair in it.
Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts.
Re: Another 2017 recap
Great season! Thanks!
Re: Another 2017 recap
Congrats on a awesome season!!!!
Re: Another 2017 recap
Glad that you decided to post the recap. Great season and great photos. Thats a lot of time in the Kelty.
- soiltester
- Gobbler Nation
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- Location: Gaffney SC
Re: Another 2017 recap
Holly cow .. you sure were busy, but it sure paid off with a great season
Thanks for sharing and taking me on the grand tour with the pics.
Thanks for sharing and taking me on the grand tour with the pics.
ever wonder where the white goes when the snow melts??
Re: Another 2017 recap
That was awesome. What a great season.
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- Posts: 148
- Joined: July 11th, 2012, 9:09 pm
- Location: Schuylkill Co. Pa.
Re: Another 2017 recap
Whatever you are doing, don't change a thing!
Wonderful pics.
Wonderful pics.
Tungsten tinkerer from way back.
Re: Another 2017 recap
Great season and pics too!!!!!