Opener in Arkansas

Stories of your favorite gobbler hunts.
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jhogue
Posts: 380
Joined: September 13th, 2017, 5:08 pm
Location: Van Buren, Arkansas

Opener in Arkansas

Post by jhogue »

This morning I set up on a bird that I’ve been listening to on and off since the beginning of March. I tried to get both my girls on him this weekend during the youth hunt, but weather beat us Saturday and he just went straight away yesterday. I assumed he was henned up. This morning I set up tighter on him than last two days. He started gobbling about same time as usual, but actually was across the creek from where o expected him. He gobbled nine times and promptly flew out of the tree. Lucky for me, he flew right over me and landed up the hill from me between 60-70 yards. I made my first few clicks to him and he burst into strut. He responded to calls well vocally, but refused to close any distance. After about 15 minutes, he walked away from me gobbling over the ridge. I attempted to get around him and ended up busting him off the hill.... I stayed around him for about 20 more minutes and he never gobbled. I decided to leave him alone for the day and go check some other gobblers. Long story short, I didn’t hear another gobble. I worked my way to one area where I’d heard a couple birds twice. While walking the ridge, I heard a lot of feet moving in front of me. I initially expected a hunter and then got hopeful for a flock of turkeys. I saw black low to the ground through the brush and was sure it was turkeys, until it was hogs. I could tell the wind was in my favor and they were going to walk right on top of me. Having never shot TSS at a love animal, I wanted to try it out. I picked out the largest hog and let her rip on its head and neck at 18 yards. The hog never took another step. I checked it out and could tell it was still alive but not going anywhere. I went back and got it at the end of my hunt. 1 3/4 ounce of TSS was plenty to handle this 150-175 pound sow. This is my first hog ever. I’m looking forward to eating it and I know where I’ll be for my gobbler in the morning.
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OLE RASPY
Gobbler Nation
Gobbler Nation
Posts: 2958
Joined: July 8th, 2011, 10:06 pm
Location: KENTUCKY

Re: Opener in Arkansas

Post by OLE RASPY »

Good deal on the hog. You got any pics?
TURKEYS
COYOTES
DEER
SQUIRRELS
(all in this order)
jhogue
Posts: 380
Joined: September 13th, 2017, 5:08 pm
Location: Van Buren, Arkansas

Re: Opener in Arkansas

Post by jhogue »

I’ll have to transfer from my phone. I only took two. Since this has my first hog, I was surprised about the size of each piece of meat compared to the total size of the animal. Seemed like less meat than I expected for how heavy it was. Much more mass of fat and skin than I realized. Only close sizes mammals I’ve cleaned are white tail deer and one black bear. Back straps were much smaller than I expected.
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ncturkey
Posts: 886
Joined: September 15th, 2011, 2:22 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Opener in Arkansas

Post by ncturkey »

Congratulations on a nice sow.
Mike
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