My First Longbeard

[jbrown]

Actually, it's my first wild turkey all together. I was blessed with about an hour of no rain right at sunrise this morning, at it definitely paid off. This bird started gobbling from the roost around 6:25 a.m.... and I was set up in a hay field about 350 yards away from him. First I thought I was too far away, but I figured the open hay field would be a hot spot. I made a loud fly-down cackle, and about 10 minutes later I heard the gobbler pitch down from his roost. I threw in some yelps here and there and he finally seemed to be making his way in my direction. It took him awhile, but he eventually made it to my hay field. Once he saw my hen and struttin jake decoys it was all over. He was spittin and struttin and gobbling the whole way it. And once he got to about 50 yds he bum-rushed my jake decoy. That's when I let him have it. My hunt was over at 7:20 a.m. and I made it back to the house before the downpour. Definitely a hunt I will never forget. The bird weighed 23 lbs, had a 9 3/4" beard, and 1" spurs.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll146/farcass31/Turkey%202009/downsized_04200907391.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll146/farcass31/Turkey%202009/downsized_0420090736a1.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll146/farcass31/Turkey%202009/downsized_04200907341.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll146/farcass31/Turkey%202009/04200907321.jpg

[Cap't Ernie]

Nice bird!

I really like the first picture with it slung behind you back. You're suppose to smile in the other one though lol

[ap0317ah]

Congrats on your first Wild Turkey. I can't wait to get out Friday.
Tom

[uglykat26]

congrats im hoping to get my first this year too

[B-W D-end #94]

nice bird. im looking for my first ever this season as well.

[coonskinner]

nice one...nice pics too...:D

[Dissident]

Great pics and story! Good timing too!

[laxin]

Congrats on your 1st Bird!!!

[deerhunt45]

Congrats jbrown :bouncy:

Good story and pics! Thanks for sharing :coolgleamA:

[TripleA88]

Congrats jbrown

[whistlepig]

Congrats You got the fever now. :yikes:

[Steve]

You ought to enter it in The Photo of the Week Contest (http://www.accesstheoutdoors.com/hunting/photo-of-the-week-contest) on AccessTheOutdoors.

[bowhunter1023]

Nice bird! Congrats!!! :biggrin:

[TheCream]

Congrats on the first bird!

[mercercountyhunter]

congrats, nice bird jim. wish i was around this spring to chase some birds. killed my first turkey last year.

[jbrown]

You're suppose to smile in the other one though lol

haha Yes I know... it wasn't even 8 o'clock yet so I wasn't quite awake. I'm a real grump-ass in the morning. :)

[jbrown]

Thanks for all the congrats, guys. I am looking forward to getting out after another one... especially after tasting wild turkey for the first time. This stuff is mouth-watering!

[canine1]

Congrats..That's one nice bird!!

[SouthernOhio#9]

Very nice bird! Congrats.

[archer1983]

Thats the way its supposed to happen! Congrats! :D

[Limbhanger]

Congrats, a text book hunt!

Word of advice, do not expect all future hunts of to go like that, or you're going to be very disapponited.:D

[Turkeyfoot]

jbrown....Attaboy teammate:bouncy: That makes two 23#ers for team #2!! Congrats on a very good 1st bird:D.....TF

[sjastrz]

congrats jim, nice bird!

[CritterGitter]

Congratulations Jim. Sweet pics to!

[XX78]

Nice bird, can't wait to hit the woods in the am. Wife stays home with the kid on tuesdays and thursdays so I'm gonna give it a whirl for the first time this season.

[BuckSlayer]

Gorgeous bird...congrats on the first

[bluedog]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome first turkey! Good luck the rest of the season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D