Went scouting for turkeys Thursday and Friday. Great trip. I have never seen so many birds. They are still in flocks and haven’t broken up yet. Hopefully by opening day this coming Saturday they will no longer be buddy’s.
My brother George and I slept under the stars, just before daylight while still laying on the cot I let out a best imitation of an owl hoot. 200 yards away turkeys went crazy. Needless to say that got us pumped up.
After breaking camp and locating more birds we stopped at a small lake and threw some lures. We caught and released about 30 small trout nothing bigger than 10”. Rainbows and Browns.
About 10:00 AM we tried calling Coyotes. I was using a Burnham Bros. J1 call. After 3 separate calling sequences over about 15 minutes George whispered two coming in.
I shifted slightly and a coyote spotted me at about 75 yards, I was not in position to shoot. (Carrying my HK 22 Mag. Rifle)
Darn I thought I blew it, about that time 4 coyotes came charging in trying to be the first to the sound of a squealing baby Javelina.
We were sitting back to back but I was able to watch George roll a big coyote with his early Heavy Duck Winchester model 12.
What a great day to be out and be able to share with my brother.

Wonderful times Phil!

My hunting area is still covered in a foot of snow.





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Our snow is/has been gone for a good bit now. There were two long beards in the north pasture yesterday and I saw about 5 in our lower pasture this morning. I think the breakup is starting. Problem is, I have not seen any hens as of late. I am sure they are there but...

The Parker or the Lefever or the 32" Meriden will get the call....

On my way to Amoskeag Auctions this morning I almost expected to hear "Road Guards Out!" when I had to stop for a couple of minutes for a flock of 8 or 9 hens to cross the street all the while this guy stood there as if to stop traffic.

Our season begins on May 1.


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I would take that one!!

went hunting this evening boy was the ground wet...but an ideal day for the turkeys to feed...I call a few times and waited about 30 minutes and called again all at once I seen 2 big long beards feeding uo the center of a field I was watching...they fed up to 71 steps and they sarted to leave I clucked and the one in the lead stopped and raised his head to give me a good bye look I pulled the rrigger...that turkey went down hard and flopped a little...I unbreached the h r single barrel 12 ga but it would not throw the hull out...reached in my pocket for my knife but no knife....yep left it on the reloading bench.... looked at my phone it said 4.10 time of kill....was home and had it cleaned and in the frige by5.30...the turkey was a 2 year old 3/4 inch spurs 19 lbs 9 inch beard....used a single barrel 3 1/2 inch hrwith the new tss 3 1/2 inch 2 1/4 ounce load of tss no 9 s.....believe me these tss no 9s will drop a turkey at 70 yards....I new it was a long shot but I ve shot this gun enough to know it was capable of taking a turkey at 70 steps so as one fellow says the proof is in the pudding....charlie

I could not be happier for you!!! So glad it came together for you.

thanks its always nice to be able to just go hunting....charlie

Great job Charlie. Keep on keepin’ on my friend!!





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Charlie, It sounds like you had a great hunt. I hunted with an old H&R 36" single shot for years, and I know that being aware of your one chance is critical. Nice job!

Here in PA we open on May 1.

finally got luckey yesterday seen 2 big long beards coming my way....would not come in close hung up at about 70 steps...I was using a hr single barrel 3 1/2 inchgun...was using the new ssttungston no 9 shot...turkey dropped st the pull of the trigger....it was 71 steps to where the turkey fell...these shells will drop a turkey at that range all day long..the turkeyhad a 9 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs weighed 19 lbs....charlie

Charlie, those TSS loads are turkey killing machines!! The shot is expensive but well worth the cost. I'd say that using tungsten can easily increase our kill range by 35-40 yards. Congrats on your Tom! :clap:

Good job Charlie!

Believe it or not, I found zebra hunting to be a lot like turkey hunting. When Harry and I recover our strength, we will be after them soon enough.

Look closely and you see about 60 or so Merriam’s turkeys about 4 miles below my favorite spot! These birds will be at my spot by the end of April as the green up starts. Never seen so many turkeys this year!

that's some gang of turkeys and single file...hope they stay around for you...charlie

Shawn: Is that a fence hung dead speed goat or deer in the bottom of that frame ?

I thought at first it was a deer in the fence, but when I got closer it was insulation. :corn:

Good for you Charlie! Now to find all of that number 9 TSS buried deep in the meat before your teeth bite into tungsten.

I d better bite down real gentle like I still got most of my teeth ...wind up again today and at 51 degrees makes me want to stay by the fire...suppose to be 31 tonight gobblers usally get the lock jaw....charlie

That's because you're inside where you can't hear them...:whistle:





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Thanks Shawn.... Just wondering.

Caught this on cam the other day.... Thought it was a pretty good pic for a game cam turkey pic.

Season opens in Missouri on 4/19.

We got back Saturday after a week of Turkey hunting. We saw lots of birds and had plenty to call to in the mornings. Due to the high concentration of birds and the fact that they were flocked up the first 5 days. It was tough to actually call the Gobblers in.
Day 6 my brother took his bird. Day 8 I took mine. Just two year old birds but our hunt was coming to a close, and we had had a fun hunt.

nice birds...always wanted to hunt them turkeys but have never got too...charlie

Thanks Charlie. I also used TTS shells loaded with 7 shot. The Gobbler was only about 25 yards so not a true test of the pattern but at that range I bet the pattern was not any bigger than a dinner plate.
Here is clearer picture of the Merriam’s Turkey George shot. It weighed 18.8 lbs.

I may hunt off the porch.

Sounds like a plan. I guess you would need camouflage with white stripes, though.:bigbye:

I am still recovering from zebra hunting, but hope to go this weekend

Nice birds Phil! I see you were on the San Carlos. We always went up to Point of Pines. Were you in the area? Guided?

Yes up by Point of Pines. No guides it was a do DIY hunt. Hunted toward Ten of Diamonds, also fished the Black river with some success for Trout and Small Mouth bass.

I miss that area. We used to fish, hunt, picnic and enjoy the cool air. Did you catch the Apache trout on the black?We'll have to get together soon for a shoot Phil.

Sounds good.
No Apache trout. Caught and released quite a few Rainbows and Browns.

I have stream that flows through my property it has rainbows, browns, and Brook trout... didn’t open till yesterday. It was about a rock throw from where I harvested my turkey. My personal best Brown out of the stream is 26” and a 5 1/2 pounds.

Here in New Hampshire it started yesterday, May 1. My season got going at 0550 when I shot this 21 Lb Tom with a 9” beard.

Just saw this thread.
Nice birds Phil I need to come out there and chase those birds.
We started March 6th this year and just finished April 25th. very long season here bit lots of fun.IN withdraws now have to fish to adjust.
Nice birds to all and be safe.

very good birds hope theres more to come....charlie