16 March 2002

[Bill M]

Well I got my Florida turkey license and now just have to wait till the 16. They have a good price for out-of-state hunters ten day was $38.00.That is a bargain for todays prices.Every other state I have hunted turkeys in runs around $150.00. I will keep you posted, hopefully there won't be a bunch of hunters at Blackwater River State Forest.But any day hereing a gobbling turkey is a good one. BILL

 

[Nut]

Best of luck there Bill. I hope you enjoy the hunt and I know you will.

Is Linda going also?

 

[snite66]

Good luck Bill,

I envey you, gettin to go that early, I have to wait till the 7th of April for my season. Maybe next year I will try for a Fla. permit

 

[Bill M]

Snite turkey permits are sold over the counter. Not on a draw. Thanks Nut I'll keep you posted. BILL

 

[Nut]

Getting real close now Bill

 

[Bill M]

Thats for sure Nut. Going to leave Tuesday morning, can hardly wait, to here that first gobble.Dosen't make any differance if I kill a bird or not. Just love that challenge to see if I can out smart him.I plan on taking my movie camera and hope I take the time to pack it in and try to video some of it. Would like to get one more alum. or slate call you know you never have enough.I'll let you know when we get back BILL.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Bill, Take lots of pictures when you get the gobbler.

 

[snite66]

One more good luck before you go Bill.

Make sure to take lots of pics! And you know you will have to buy that call, cause you know it will be the one you will need when you are out there if you don't

 

[Kraven]

Good luck to ya Bill M.Hope ya get a good Gobbler.

 

[TurkeyEye]

I cant wait to hear how you did Bill.
I hope you had fun

 

[Bill M]

Well when we left here it was around 27 degrees.We got to Florida on the 12 and it was 76 degrees.I scouted the area I was planning on hunting and located three toms one by himself and two togather.I was walking three miles to get into this area one way.The temperature went to 86 degrees with 83 percent humidity.Talk about being hot in my Ohio turkey hunting clothes.I worked the lone tom for three days to no avail.15 min. after getting off the roast they wouldn't gobble the rest of the day.So three to five gobbles then silence the rest of the day.Then Tuesday morning nothing not a sound so I checked out the other toms and they were gone also.It was like they disappeared from the earth. So I hunted some other areas but no turkeys.So on thursday I located thw lone tom but he gobbled twice and that was it.So Friday morning I left my decoy and backpack in the truck and only took my shotgun,slate call and compass.A cold front had came in over night and it was around 32 degrees with a N. E. wind.So 4:00 Ohio time I was up and walking into the area that I though the tom was.I was standing there waiting for him to gobble and I turned around real slow [ Still plenty dark ] and a turkey rocketts up from around 20 feet away.I kick myself a couple of times and walk in the direction the turkey went.Set down and made a few clucks.Then I heard a gobble west of me so I moved towards him and stopped and made a few clucks.Then he gobbled again moving away from me.So I went up on this side hill and moved west as fast and quiet as I could. I went over a few deep washes and set up,south of where I though he was.It was so thick that I new if I saw him he would be in range.He gobbled again and I made a few clucks and about a half hour later he gobbled again around 50 yards north of me.So I made a few clucks and about every twenty min. I would cluck real soft.About hour into this here he came pecking up food as he came into me.I moved a little to get lined up on him and he seen me and stopped and streched his neck out to get a better look.Needless to say my three inch, number fives smoked him.He weight 26 lbs and has a 9 1/2 inch beard.But no spurs just a blemish on his legs where there suppose to be.If it wouldn't of gotten cold and got windy I don't think I would of found him that day eather. Why he gobbled so much that morning I don't no but that surley helped to get close to him.All week I worked him and he never would answer a call,crow,owl,turkey,nothing seemed to work.But one thing for sure turkey hunting is the top of my fun list.If I would of had my video camera with me and had gotten him on film I'm not so sure if I would have killed him.What a beautiful creature.I thank God that I'm able to go different places to see all the different kinds of plants,birds and animals in these areas.When day light started you would of thought you were in South America in a jungle,what strange sounds some of them made. BILL PS The mosquito just about ate me alive thats a story in its self.And when we got home today we have around five inches of snow,what a bummer!!nullnull

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[Nut]

Totally awesome Bill!!!! Congrats on getting the gobbler and having a lot of fun. Can't wait to see the pics you took and to hear you tell more details when I see you and Linda again. Did ya keep the beard?
The boys will want to see it ya know. Wait I think I would like to see it as well

Seems like we got it with this weather after alot of people I know went south. They all got home and brought this down upon us. I didn't go anywhere yet.

 

[Ithaca 37]

Congratulations and thanks for the story!

 

[TurkeyEye]

Congratulations from me also. Glad you had a great time. I can't wait to hear about it also.
Codie

 

[snite66]

Congrats Bill!!

That was one heckuva story! Goes to show that perserverence pays off sometimes. I know plenty of hunters that would have seen those temps and wind and said the heck with it, cause they would think the birds wouldn't talk under those conditions. You proved it pays to go any time the season is open no matter the conditions.

Congrdulations again on a hard won trophy Bill.