Spring Gobbler #1 for 2024

[Mike Koneski]

So it's not a Parker but it's my go-to turkey gun. Remington Super Mag with a red dot, XF turkey choke and it feeds on 1 1/2oz of TSS (I reload these too). Bad medicine for our tough PA turkeys. On 5/4, our opening day, around 6:05 a hen came into the food plot on the far end from me. She was "grazing". About 15-20 minutes later I see two black bodies come into the clover. "Game on!" They were not quite 300 yards away and just followed that hen around. I heard no gobbling all morning and the Toms did not strut. They all three disappeared down toward the creek valley and I didn't see them anymore. 7:15 I catch a glimpse of a red flash out of the corner of my eye. Then another. Then the hen walks around a chestnut tree 40 yards out. Then one gobbler "periscopes" my decoys. That's all it took, pulled the trigger and he was stoned at 40 yards. He weighed 19 lb 13 oz and had a 5 1/4" beard. Probably the smallest Tom I shot in a while. His crop was full of dandelion heads, clover and gravel. Tomorrow I take my 8 year old grandson out. Would be nice if we both tag a gobbler in the same morning.

[Garry L Gordon]

Now that there is cool! Good luck tomorrow.

[Mike Koneski]

I hope to post a pic of Rex with his first bird. He's 8 and loves hunting with his Pappy. :cool:

[Dean Romig]

Wow, dandilion heads too… :shock:





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[CraigThompson]

Mr. Koneski sir , I sent you a text with my thoughts on Turkey artillery :cool:

[scott kittredge]

Wow, dandilion heads too… :shock:




my lab loved them, kept the lawn free of them. all i had to do is point at one and say get it. loved the yellow ones the best :)
.qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

[David Case]

Got mine 3rd day of season. Seen him on his strut zone a clear nut flat above a big basin at 11:55 first day on way out of woods. I first heard him gobble one short gobble at 11:15am while walking on other side of basin. Tried calling but he stood his ground and I ran out of time at noon. So two days latter I set up on his clear nut flat strut zone. One hen decoy at 7:15am . Did some soft clucks and short yelps, no gobbles anywhere. Called again 7:30 am, nothing. At 7:40 he poked his head up about 25yds on the crest of the flat looking at the decoy. With his head fully up,I shot and down he went. 10" beard ,20lb+ 1"+ spurs a solid 3 year old.

[Dean Romig]

He was a smart one David Case. They don't get old by being dumb.





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[Mike Koneski]

Rex and I were set up and in the blind at 5:00. Heard two gobbles at distance. We saw nothing. Pulled out at 9:00. Neighbors hunted next to us too and they saw nothing. Damp, foggy, yucky day. Turned really nice in the afternoon. I might sit tomorrow AM with a different piece of shooting gear. :cool:

[Daryl Corona]

There is really nothing better than hunting with your grandson. Good luck Rex!

[Stan Hoover]

Rex and I were set up and in the blind at 5:00. Heard two gobbles at distance. We saw nothing. Pulled out at 9:00. Neighbors hunted next to us too and they saw nothing. Damp, foggy, yucky day. Turned really nice in the afternoon. I might sit tomorrow AM with a different piece of shooting gear. :cool:

I can't blame Mr Tom, I wouldn't have given myself up for such an awful lookin gun:eek:

[CraigThompson]

I can't blame Mr Tom, I wouldn't have given myself up for such an awful lookin gun:eek:

Carry the gun I suggested it’ll bring you luck ! And tell young Mr.Rex what happens in the Turkey blind stays in the Turkey blind :rotf::rotf::rotf:

[henderson Marriott]

Craig:
I am dueling with at least a 4-yr old gobbler. Had him dead to rights in his roost oak
3 weeks ago, lined up with a 1926 Long Range LC Smith. But dry gulching
an ancient foe is not my style. He dropped from the limb and would not be called in...

Last year got another denizen that I fooled with for two years straight. These AL
Eastern birds remind me of the two I got in Goochland, but these have Tom Kelly
advanced degrees in Houdini tricks. The 3in VHE is next howitzer in line...

The NWTF state that some few live beyond 5-years and become serious moss-backs ...

Ridge

[CraigThompson]

Craig:
I am dueling with at least a 4-yr old gobbler. Had him dead to rights in his roost oak
3 weeks ago, lined up with a 1926 Long Range LC Smith. But dry gulching
an ancient foe is not my style. He dropped from the limb and would not be called in...

Last year got another denizen that I fooled with for two years straight. These AL
Eastern birds remind me of the two I got in Goochland, but these have Tom Kelly
advanced degrees in Houdini tricks. The 3in VHE is next howitzer in line...

The NWTF state that some few live beyond 5-years and become serious moss-backs ...

Ridge

You need a Parker PH 8 gauge and a set of 10 gauge chamber inserts and two 10 gauge shells to carry along if an 8 isn’t legal where you’re hunting ! Then of course the actual artillery rounds to go in the gun :whistle:

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Great bird Mike, at least I'm not the only one whose idea of a turkey gun is not a SXS.

[henderson Marriott]

That is a bit heavy, even for me.
Sometimes fast moving barrels and time-on-target are as important as caliber/gauge
in a turkey gun.

[Stan Hillis]

There is really nothing better than hunting with your grandson. Good luck Rex!

Amen!

[Mike Koneski]

I was out yesterday (5/9). Set up by 5:00. At 5:17 my buddy, Grumpy Grouse started drumming and that set off the gobblers. There were three maybe 50 yards right behind me and they just hammer-gobbled the whole time I was in the blind. Finally I had two come into the clover at 6:30 and strolled right through my decoys. There were now two Tom's gobbling behind me. I figured I'm not waiting anymore and turned one into a jelly-head at about 10 yards at 6:37. The other Tom just turned around and walked away while the two birds behind me kept right on gobbling! If I have to get up that stupid early, something better die!! Bird #2 is cut up and ready to cook. Bird #1 was delicious!

Bird #2 was smaller, 4 1/2" beard and 1" spurs at 18 lb 3 oz.

Weather looks really good for Monday and Rex will be sitting in the blind with me. A trusty single-shot .410, red dot and 3" shells with 13/16 oz TSS.

[Stephen Hodges]

Great bird Mike, at least I'm not the only one whose idea of a turkey gun is not a SXS.

Harold, I am also with you guys:)

[Mike Koneski]

Great bird Mike, at least I'm not the only one whose idea of a turkey gun is not a SXS.

That Rem Super Mag has been my go to gobbler getter for a long time. Not that I'm averse to using a double, but it's hard to argue with success. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! I do only use my doubles for upland birds and breaking clays.

[scott kittredge]

if you guys can hit a flying clay target at 35 and 40 yds+ with a SxS(and i know you all can) you should be able to hit a standing turkey in the head at 25 yds with a SxS. just saying.:shock:

[Mike Koneski]

As the Bartles & James ad said, "Thank you for your support." :rotf::rotf:

25 yards is one thing, PA birds are wary and tough. I've killed three in the past four seasons at 62 yards and more. That's where the red dot and TSS shot perform so well. If they hang up at 80 yards or closer, they will assume room temperature. I have confidence in the gun/ammo combination, and that's 90% of the battle.

My good friend Dave that hunts turkey and deer here sits in the blind with me. We've taken a few doubles over the years. That's very cool when we both shoot within seconds and there are two gobblers on the ground. He's witnessed two of those long shots. His comment after the 2023 bird was "I have to get some of those shells. I never thought you could kill a bird that far away." :bowdown: