TM 3 Jelly Heads

[Schu72]

Looking forward to being a member of the team. I'll be hunting Belmont, Portage and Geagua counties.----Scott

[hunterforlife]

Checking in...:p...I'm hunting Fulton County, and i'm gonna be hunting public land...And i can't wait for the season to start...---Austin:)

[Gern186]

Checking in,

I will be hunting Richland county on the first few days, can't wait to get down there this weekend to get one lined up.

We need to come up with a team name, so I'll throw this one out there...... "Beard Busters" or "Beard Blasters"

Do you guys have any other ideas for names?

[Schu72]

I kind of like jelly heads.....or long beard busters?

[bowhunter1023]

Checking in!

I am probably the liability here. I have never killed a turkey, but I have never really taken it serious. I have been a few times the last 3 years, but I am yet to approach it in the same manner as I do my deer hunting. However, that will change this year. I have been calling for 8 years as a hobby and I know I can call, but I have never put it together with scouting and actually getting my butt out there. This year, I will kill a turkey and if I don't, it won't be for lack of effort. I'll be hunting Washington and maybe Athens Counties...

I like Jelly Heads since that is the choke tube I use! :D

[Schu72]

Glad to see the entire team checked in. Looks like we have a nice cross section of the state as well. Any more thoughts on the name?

I won't be hunting my best locations until Wednesday due to wife's work and getting the kids to school, but I'm fairly optimistic about the season.

[hunterforlife]

For the team name i'm leaning towards Beard Blasters;)...But a names a name...Anyway i will be able to get out there sunday for the youth season...but i will be doing all the calling,etc...My father doesn't know a darn thing about turkey hunting.:D...I also found a "promising" spot on some public land...Well good luck to everyone.

[hunterforlife]

Anyone leaning towards a name?:o

[Schu72]

I like Jelly Heads a little better, just because I think there will be other team names very similar to beard buster, but either is fine.

Gern do you want to cast the deciding vote?

Is anyone good a creating team avatars? Or what ever those things are called.

[bowhunter1023]

Jelly Heads will be more unique that Beard Blasters. It usually works best if we just pick one since it doesn't really matter. Jelly Heads got two votes pretty quick...

I can make an avatar on Monday...

[Gern186]

"Jelly Heads" it is.

Hopefully that turkey I plan on shooting next week will have a jelly head after getting plastered with some 3-1/2" shot, although I am going to try to shoot one with a bow first.

Good luck guys.... I won't be around a computer after today until next Friday. I'm heading to Richland County very early tomorrow a.m. to get some early scouting done.

[Schu72]

Best of luck..

[hunterforlife]

"Jelly Heads" is fine with me...as long as we win:D

[Schu72]

Took my first gobbler on state land this morning. Got a late start after getting my son on the bus. Almost didn't go out. Made it into the woods at 8:40. I was soaked to the bone by 9:30 and got up to seek shelter in some pines. Was ready to call it a day when 4 turks came from a standing corn field. It was raining so hard I was having trouble seeing their beards...I think they were jakes. I was again almost ready to give in. I decided to try to call. I got my call out and the surface was still dry, but the striker was a little damp. It didn't make a great yelp but I did get a response. One more hit on the call and I could tell he was coming. I spotted him coming through the pines and then he hung up. Tried some soft purring. It again sounded awful, but he gobbled. Then I noticed there were actually two gobblers. I was afraid to try the call anymore and I dont't think they could see my decoy, so Ijust waited for a head to pop into any opening and let my Ithaca Turkeyslayer roar.

Bird was 20lb. 10oz. 1inch spurs and 8 3/4 beard. Not a giant, but a great rainy day public land bird. I'll be back out looking for a bigger onw tomorrow.:)...Oh yea, pics coming to the scoring thread in a bit.

[hunterforlife]

Took my first gobbler on state land this morning. Got a late start after getting my son on the bus. Almost didn't go out. Made it into the woods at 8:40. I was soaked to the bone by 9:30 and got up to seek shelter in some pines. Was ready to call it a day when 4 turks came from a standing corn field. It was raining so hard I was having trouble seeing their beards...I think they were jakes. I was again almost ready to give in. I decided to try to call. I got my call out and the surface was still dry, but the striker was a little damp. It didn't make a great yelp but I did get a response. One more hit on the call and I could tell he was coming. I spotted him coming through the pines and then he hung up. Tried some soft purring. It again sounded awful, but he gobbled. Then I noticed there were actually two gobblers. I was afraid to try the call anymore and I dont't think they could see my decoy, so Ijust waited for a head to pop into any opening and let my Ithaca Turkeyslayer roar.

Bird was 20lb. 10oz. 1inch spurs and 8 3/4 beard. Not a giant, but a great rainy day public land bird. I'll be back out looking for a bigger onw tomorrow.:)...Oh yea, pics coming to the scoring thread in a bit.
Nice...Yesterday I was out during the youth season with my dad, and brother...No luck...but saw about 8 turkeys total...I called in 2 hens to within 5 yards of me...and also called in a silent one(couldn't see the beard)...I thought it was a jake but he snuck up behind us by the river...and my brother spooked him:banghead3:...And also saw a big tom strutting in a field about 80 yards away but he saw "us"...It's great now that the regular season has started because i can go by myself...Let's just say if i go by myself...i think i can connect...My father was just there so my brother and i could go...and my brother is a loud one:nono::whistle:...Anyway congrats on the bird Schu 72

[Schu72]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to giving it another go tomorrow. I have never taken two birds in one season. Hopefully, this will be my breakthrough season.:coolgleamA:

[bowhunter1023]

Congrats to you and thanks for getting us on the board! I'll be out Thursday and all weekend...

[Schu72]

No luck this morning. Birds were very quiet. Only heard two gobbles all morning. Saw one hen that was it. Debating whether to try West Branch one more time or head to Belmont county.

[Schu72]

Had one gobbling early then he went silent. Not sure if a hen cut him off or what. Tried a second set up saw 2 hens and then a a couple of hunters came in on me. They saw my decoys and backed out, but I was ready to call it a day. I'm packed up and heading to Belmont. Not sure how my internet access will be. Best of luck. We have some work to do....I think 1 team already has 3 good birds.:bouncy:

[hunterforlife]

I wish i could get out there everyday...but i got school:whistle::D...Going sunday

[Gern186]

The weather sucked, but the hunting was pretty good.

Went out Sunday morning and sat in my blind with a video camera and got nearly 20 minutes of awesome turkey footage. I had 3 different gobblers and several hens within range of me. How do you take 8mm video and put it on the computer?? Is it even possible?? I have some great video of a huge gobbler strutting right in front of me for at least 10 minutes. I would like to show you guys if I can figure it out.

I took a 24lb bird monday morning at 7 am sharp. I will get some pictures posted some time this weekend. He has 1" spurs and a 10" beard, give or take. I had 2 toms come in to the decoys and shot the larger bird.

Went back to the same spot tuesday morning since there were 3 toms hanging around there and had the huge gobbler that I videotaped come in silently. He came into the field, saw my montana decoy and 2 hens and he came right in. I had my bowtech with me and wanted to get my first bird with a bow. He got to 16 yards, I drew, he was in full strut broadside. Just as I settled the pin he turned right toward my blind facing directly at me and stopped just quartering to me. I settled the pin low on his chest and made a good release. I watched the arrow zip right thru him and he took off running to the edge of the woods. I watched him go down over a hill and disappear. I searched for 3 hours and could not find him anywhere. I found my arrow and it had just a little blood on the nock, and some slimy stuff on the fletching. I can't figure out what happened. The shot felt good, it looked good, and I couldn't find the damn bird. I looked under every downed tree and brushpile that I could find. This bird was every bit as big, if not bigger than the 24 lb. bird I took on monday.

Yesterday I had a gobbler within 50 yards coming to a call, but he saw something he didn't like and disappeared over the top of a hill. I had the safety off and everything, just waiting for him to come out from behind a couple of trees.

Our group of 5 guys took 6 birds in the first 4 days of hunting. The weights were 24, 23, 21, 21, 20, and 20 lbs.

We also caught some white bass and crappies while we were there. Yesterday 2 of the guys found 65 gray morels. Overall it was a good vacation even though the weather was crappy until Thursday.

[Schu72]

Congrats....sounds like a real honey hole. Too bad about the other bird.

[Schu72]

Well my farm in Belmont was a real bust. Saw a bunch of birds on Thursday but they were grouped up and wouldn't respond. Could have shot a Jake, but passed. Friday and Saturday were lousy. Very little movement and almost no gobbling. I'm back inPortage county now. I have never killed a turkey after the first week. If anyone has any tips for later season hunting, I'd love to hear them. How was the hunting were you all were at?

[Gern186]

I hunted Saturday and Sunday. I didn't hear one single gobble either day. The wind picked up early on both mornings which made calling very difficult. The temperature was hot early also, which makes the birds slow down on movement. I did pass on a bearded hen on Saturday morning, and saw 2 bearded hens on Sunday morning, but they were out of range. 1 of them had at least an 8" beard, and a large body, but I'm not interested in shooting one of those queer turkeys.... just don't seem right.

It is windy here again today, 4th day in a row. Not good.

[bowhunter1023]

We had them fired up on Saturday morning. We were actually within 30 yards of one gobbler as he shook the woods at 6:45, but we could never get between him and where he was headed. By 8, he and all his buddies shut up for the day and we headed back to the house to fish for the rest of the day. I hope to get out tomorrow...

[bowhunter1023]

Way to go Gern! :biggrin:

[bowhunter1023]

I got a pic for us. There is a water mark on it, but you can't see it if you put it in your avatar. The mark annoys me, but I liked the pic. I can try something else if ya'll would like...

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/OSContestPic.jpg

[Gern186]

I just downloaded my pictures, I will post them now. The turkey picture didn't turn out very good because the weather was bad and the turkey was wet from the rain.

[Schu72]

Nice bird. I didn't even try to fan my bird. I was home alone and trying to take pictures with the timer on the camera. The bird looked ugly being so wet. I even tried using my leaf blower to dry the feathers in the garage. LOL. I gave up and just went with an over the shoulder look.

[Gern186]

Here's a better picture of a 25lb bird I took in 2007. The sun and green grass makes a lot better picture than rain and a wet bird.

http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Gern186/100_0635.jpg

[Schu72]

Nice one. You have taken some heavy birds. Mine always seem be come in around 21 lbs. I have a few pics of my birds from 2006 and 2008 on my profile if you want a peek.

Hoping to get out Saturday. I have a new place in Portage Co., but I haven't scouted it yet.

[Gern186]

I killed another bird this morning at 8:00.
23 lbs, 10-1/2" beard, spurs are around 1".

I had him roosted about 100 yards away at daylight but he went the other way with some hens and a couple other gobblers. I decided to stay patient and wait on him to come back my way after he was done with his hens. I was hunting along a big river and a large corn stubble field. At about 7:15 I heard him gobble 2x, but he wouldn't come in. At about 7:45 I decided to scan the river bottom through the trees with binocs and I spotted 2 strutting toms about 200 yards away and heading in my general direction. I picked up the box call and gave a few yelps. Almost immediately they started walking faster in my direction. I put the call down, pulled up the facemask, and got the gun ready. It wasn't even 1 minute and I see a white head coming through the brush. Out pops Mr. Gobbler into the stubble field, sees my montana decoy and 2 hens and goes into full strut. I let him get to about 20 yards before I dropped the hammer on him. I sat still and picked up my push button call and started calling for the heck of it to see if I could bring the other turkeys in. Within a minute or so I see 3 birds coming through the brush. They ran right up to the downed Tom and immediately started attacking him. There was 1 tom and 2 large jakes. They literally beat the crap out of my dead bird. The other tom just kept pecking at the head of my dead bird, actually picking up the head in his beak and dropping it. The 2 jakes took turns jumping up and down on the dead bird. It was unbelievable. I let this show go on for about 5 minutes. The other 3 birds refused to leave. The other tom just sat on top of my bird and picked at him and jumped up and down on him. Finally I decided that I had better scare them away before they picked off all the feathers of my bird.

I will get pictures on here later.

[Schu72]

Way to go !.....no luck on my end. Hunted Saturday morning. Did not hear a single gobble. Saw three hens. Tried a little run and gun later in the morning. No luck. I probably only have 2 days left to hunt..so my chances of improving are dwindling. Hope the rest of you have some luck this weekend.

[Gern186]

Here are a couple of pictures from yesterday.....
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Gern186/100_1216.jpg
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Gern186/100_1218.jpg

[bowhunter1023]

Way to go Gern. I'm gonna hit it hard from here on out. Not been out for a week or so. Just been too much going on...

[aholdren]

Way to go Gern. I'm gonna hit it hard from here on out. Not been out for a week or so. Just been too much going on...

If you can get permission, your best place to try would be in the powerline rightaway directly behind your aunt Hannah's and uncle Jim's old house. They roost right there and it's easy picken's.:)

[Schu72]

Planning to get out Saturday for sure and maybe Sunday. I think I may try a spot up in Ashtabula or Geagua County on Saturday. I'm still trying to get that 2nd bird.

Gern-- which of your birds will score the best?

Hunterforlife-- any updates?

[Gern186]

I need to measure the spurs on this bird. I know the beard is about 1" longer than the first one. I will check spurs and see.

[Schu72]

Morning was a total bust...not a single gobble. Only saw one lonley hen feeding in corn stubble. Don't know where the gobblers went on that property. Probably won't get out tomorrow. May try Belmont next weekend.:banghead3:

[hunterforlife]

Well I blew my chance last sunday:banghead3::dizzy:...I got to an area that i thought would be good...but then i heard a some shockgobbles over in another area...So i snuck into within 50yard(I would Later find out) of the tom...Well I sat down and made a few clucks...Then he was going crazy...This went on for about a half hour...I though he was farther than he was, so i decided i try to sneak in closer:nono:...Well he wasn't over the next ridge like i though...He was like right friggin there...There were about 5 turkeys that took off from the tree...I busted them off of their roost, and i basically ruined my hunt...So anyway went out today, and didn't see/hear anything...So tomorrow and next sunday will be my last 2 days i can go out...Any tips would be greatly appreciated on late season birds:bouncy:

[Gern186]

I killed my 3rd bird of the year this morning (2 from Ohio, 1 from Indiana) at 11:15 am, I had been following this bird and another tom around since I spotted them strutting in a field at 9:00. They refused to come in to any calling, maybe they just couldn't hear my calling because of the wind.... so I decided to go after them. The wind has been blowing at 25-30 mph since daylight..... so I just kept following them and belly crawling and sneaking where and when I could. After over 2 hours and about 3/4 of a mile of following them, I finally got close. Because of the wind my movement and sound was concealed enough for me to finally sneak up to 35 yards of this gobbler and get a shot. I am real happy with this bird. It was an extremely exhausting hunt because of all the crawling, but the result makes it all worth it.

Here he is, 11" beard and 1" spurs, 20 lbs.
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp189/Gern186/100_1223.jpg

[bowhunter1023]

Congrats on another fine kill Gern!

I have been a disappointing team member fellas and I apologize. I have one hunted hard one morning. The birds have not been sounding off on the roost in the evenings and I'm not good enough to kill one without at least that tid bit of information. I do plan on hunting both mornings this weekend and one morning this week. I'm gonna do my best to add some more points...

[Schu72]

I only consider myself a novice and get discouraged by a lack of gobbling in the mornings as well. However, 3 of the 6 turkeys I've killed have been harvested after 9:45 (all 20+ lb. gobblers).

I'm really burned out at this point. My last two attempts resulted in no gobbles and a lot of questions. My wife works this Saturday...so Sunday is my last chance. I'm having a hard time convincing myself to make the 2+ hour drive to hunt with no recent scouting in Belmont County. I have no confidence in my spot in Portage County at this point....What to do??????:dizzy:

Good luck.

[Schu72]

Did get out this morning....no luck. So much for the hunting getting better in the late season. Anyway...I had a great time participating in my first team contest.

Thanks,

Scott

[Gern186]

I still need to upgrade my 2nd bird, the beard is about 1" longer than the first one. I will try to get the pictures on here soon.

[bowhunter1023]

I had fun and send my congrats to those that were successful. We tried to roost some birds this weekend, but we never heard a thing. Even the big tom that had been working the back field, has been gone for over a week. Another year of being beardless. One of these years... :nono: