Gobble gobble Spring Turkey 2025

[Pahoundsman]

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Awesome PA bird! Job well done.

 

[Gellar]

@Chad Gus quit sand bagging and show us that turkey you killed today!

 

[BrentD]

Well, with 2 days to go in the Iowa season, I have yet to punch a tag. Today, I had one talk to me for 20 minutes. He was so close, I could feel him, but I was just back of the crest of the ridge and he was just over it. And for 20 minutes we talked. And talked. And talked.

I like to get the most out of my tags. Some of you guys fill your tags in the first 15 minutes of the first day. Not me, I want to run the whole season....

Maybe tomorrow will be the day. I have a plan. I always have a plan.

 

[Bluffgruff]

My dad and I doubled on Rios this week, if 5 hours and 8 miles apart is doubling.

 

[Chad Gus]

Per @Gellar request
Somehow I forgot to apply for turkey tags here (Wisconsin) which isn't too big of a deal as i prefer to hunt the late seasons around home. The wife and kids will hunt the early tags and I get to be guide/caller for them, if need be. When the leftover tags went on sale I picked a few up for the last 2 seasons. My first season started on Wednesday and it started out with the toms being extremely quite. One tom way off in the distance on land i don't have permission on. That afternoon after work I went to my brother's farm and called in 5 jakes, right off the bat. They got a pass and the rest of the day was rather uneventful. Thursday morning and the toms were gobbling strong. I slowly worked my way in as close as I dared and setup. The group of 5 toms were 80ish yards, roosted in front of me, gobbling at any and everything. They flew down and went straight away from me towards a large corn field. As they were going away from me I could hear some birds across the road from me and they were getting closer. I got up and headed that way as fast as I could. I know more than sit down and 3 jakes are 30 yards in front of me, gobbling and strutting. I let them walk and headed home to get ready for work. Some strong storms rolled through that afternoon so I didn't go out hunting. Once they passed me and the wife took a cruise around the neighborhood and look for birds. Those 5 toms from the morning hunt were out in field and looked to be heading towards the same area they have been roosting in. The next morning I'm back to that same area waiting for the first gobble. I let out an owl hoot and a tom responded immediately and in the same spot as the day before. I slowly eased in, but to slightly different spot than I was in previously. I make it about 70 yards and I stop and wait for them to sound off again. Luckily I stopped where I did, as I tom gobbled from the tree directly in front of me. I'm behind a giant maple tree so I slowly drop to me knees and wait. After about 20 minutes they started flying down to the ridge 80 yards in front of me. 5 minutes later the lead tom is 30 yards away doing is thing. Problem is, he is on my right side and I have to lean way over to shoot. As I shot i basically tip over and I hit him in wing. He's flopping and thrashing around, I pick myself up, get up to him just as he gets to his feet and stands there looking dazed and confused. A quick second shot and that was it. 22lbs 9.5 inch beard 1.125 inch spurs.

 

[jdf]

Wife and I..

 

[It’s Bucky]

2025 MT bird

 

[Forkyfinder]

One of these days im gonna be tempted enough to thin the local herd.

If you are close to billings and want to hunt a turkey, might be able to assist

 

[TexanSam]

Went out west in order to try for my first merriams. After roosting a bird on the first evening, I show up to the same spot to see someone driving their pickup truck right down the closed road underneath the bird I had roosted the night before. Desperate to find another bird, I start walking and calling every hundred yards or so. I realize quick that I am in an area with a bird so I focus in on picking that area apart. 2 hours and 3 miles later, I get a hen to answer. It was about 8:00 am at that point, and the hen seemed awfully upset about my existence so I decide to sit and wait, hoping that a gobbler would show up. About 5 minutes into our conversation, a gobbler answers the two of us, so I try to get in between him and the hen. After a quick move, I realize that I overshot the location of the gobbler, but I can still hear both of the birds answering me, and by this point it sounded like they had linked up. I stay put for a minute and start slowly moving their way, when I hear the hen once again, and it sounds like she is really close. I lay down quickly in what looks like a bomb hole on the side of a hill, send one more challenge to the hen and wait. The angry hen comes looking for me, bringing along a couple of hen friends, passing me by only 3 yards. Me knowing that there was a gobbler with them prior, I sit and look in the trees, and spot the gobbler I had heard prior. He walks right towards me, and once he gave me a clean shot, he was down.

 

[It’s Bucky]

Went out west in order to try for my first merriams. After roosting a bird on the first evening, I show up to the same spot to see someone driving their pickup truck right down the closed road underneath the bird I had roosted the night before. Desperate to find another bird, I start walking and calling every hundred yards or so. I realize quick that I am in an area with a bird so I focus in on picking that area apart. 2 hours and 3 miles later, I get a hen to answer. It was about 8:00 am at that point, and the hen seemed awfully upset about my existence so I decide to sit and wait, hoping that a gobbler would show up. About 5 minutes into our conversation, a gobbler answers the two of us, so I try to get in between him and the hen. After a quick move, I realize that I overshot the location of the gobbler, but I can still hear both of the birds answering me, and by this point it sounded like they had linked up. I stay put for a minute and start slowly moving their way, when I hear the hen once again, and it sounds like she is really close. I lay down quickly in what looks like a bomb hole on the side of a hill, send one more challenge to the hen and wait. The angry hen comes looking for me, bringing along a couple of hen friends, passing me by only 3 yards. Me knowing that there was a gobbler with them prior, I sit and look in the trees, and spot the gobbler I had heard prior. He walks right towards me, and once he gave me a clean shot, he was down.

Congrats on your first Merriam! And thanks for a great story.

 

[bryanbliss]

Going out sometime in the next two days to find a place on public land (MN) where I can, hopefully - maybe - tag out on my first ever hunt.

 

[Lostinthewoods]

Going out sometime in the next two days to find a place on public land (MN) where I can, hopefully - maybe - tag out on my first ever hunt.

Good luck!

 

[338win]

Couldn’t hunt as much this year. Got a few short trips in across 3 states and ended up with 4 birds.

Got my biggest public bird on a block of wma that I hadn’t been on in almost 20 years. 10 days after opener found a pocket with 5 gobblers hammering on a Monday. I have only had birds fly to me off the roost 3 times. This was one. 4 year old 24.6 lbs at 6:58 am.

 

[kansasdad]

That first image looks like something @DaveHawk / @mdcrossbow would create on canvas.

Congratulations

 

[Mica Man]

Last bird of the season. Was glad to spend an early morning in the turkey woods with my daughter. Has been a fun spring spending time with family, friends, and even a few Hunt Talker's chasing birds. Looking forward to what the rest of the year has in store.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Got out with my brother last weekend. We called in 6 gobblers and were able to each take one. Great morning!

 

[th88]

As painful as this is... I have to inform you westies how much you are damaging your turkey hunting. Ya'll are clueless when it comes to spring gobbler hunting. You can't deny it. Us east coast bros have known it for quite a while now. But as its gotten more popular out west, you've not realized what you are inviting. Us turkey hunters east of the MS river are a dirty, dirty bunch. We'd rather have your turkey than your hot sister or mom. You have a three bird limit, cool! We will limit out in 4 days. We've already fk'd ourselves in the eastern US. Mark my words, you will be next.

 

[shrapnel]

As painful as this is... I have to inform you westies how much you are damaging your turkey hunting. Ya'll are clueless when it comes to spring gobbler hunting. You can't deny it. Us east coast bros have known it for quite a while now. But as its gotten more popular out west, you've not realized what you are inviting. Us turkey hunters east of the MS river are a dirty, dirty bunch. We'd rather have your turkey than your hot sister or mom. You have a three bird limit, cool! We will limit out in 4 days. We've already fk'd ourselves in the eastern US. Mark my words, you will be next.

Maybe you should write a book!

 

[Hobbes]

As painful as this is... I have to inform you westies how much you are damaging your turkey hunting. Ya'll are clueless when it comes to spring gobbler hunting. You can't deny it. Us east coast bros have known it for quite a while now. But as its gotten more popular out west, you've not realized what you are inviting. Us turkey hunters east of the MS river are a dirty, dirty bunch. We'd rather have your turkey than your hot sister or mom. You have a three bird limit, cool! We will limit out in 4 days. We've already fk'd ourselves in the eastern US. Mark my words, you will be next.

I don't recall anyone from the West inviting you to invade. In fact it's your YouTube heros that continue to promote every state they can. You are correct though, you'll turn us upside down given the chance. That's why I'll push legislators and game agencies to limit your presence every chance I'm given, turkeys, elk, deer, name a western game animal, and I'll support limiting your arrogant self entitled presence. Given the opportunity, I'll press states to eliminate filming on public lands for profit as well. Anyone that cannot see the damage this madness is doing is kidding themselves or refuses to see it because of some personal gain.

 

[cur dog]

I don't recall anyone from the West inviting you to invade. In fact it's your YouTube heros that continue to promote every state they can. You are correct though, you'll turn us upside down given the chance. That's why I'll push legislators and game agencies to limit your presence every chance I'm given, turkeys, elk, deer, name a western game animal, and I'll support limiting your arrogant self entitled presence. Given the opportunity, I'll press states to eliminate filming on public lands for profit as well. Anyone that cannot see the damage this madness is doing is kidding themselves or refuses to see it because of some personal gain.

That was kinda hostile.