PA Success!

[big28hunter]

This year has been very tough in my neck of the woods. Unreal hunting pressure and the birds have been giving me fits. Just needed one to come a little closer for an ethical shot. Well this morning at 7am it all came together as this 16 pound jake worked into 30 yards of me on a clear trail. The rest is turkey fingers! Good luck to all still chasing! Good huntin'

 

[deer_shooter]

Nice! They've been pretty uncooperative around here so far.

 

[kansasdad]

I love turkey fingers! Good job sticking to it and getting it done.

 

[L. I. Yankee]

Congrats on a nice bird.....

 

[Festus]

Congrats!
Way to stick with it...

 

[genesis273]

From most reports I`ve heard, turkey hunting has been tough in alot of the eastern states this year, including here in NC. I was able to hunt the first week of our season and only heard one bird gobble. Fortunate to kill two long beards, but was way too quiet.
Congratulation on a nice jake. That`s a hard earned bird.

 

[krshntr81]

Congrats!

 

[putm2sleep]

Congrats - that is awesome!
Why the unreal pressure there. Just curious? More tags, more birds and more hunters? Less land / fewer spaces?

 

[naturebob]

I was originally from PA> in the 50-thru 1977 and Lotta people and lotta private land. ... Presssure?...........BOB!

 

[Festus]

When I finally left PA in '03, there were simply too many hunters!
Plenty of birds, just so many hunters around that birds get educated quickly.
That's just my experience.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Congrats!!!!!

good luck to all
the dog

 

[big28hunter]

Congrats - that is awesome!
Why the unreal pressure there. Just curious? More tags, more birds and more hunters? Less land / fewer spaces?

Way to many hunters than I care for. Hunting public land so I know they have every right to be there as I do. A friend of mine was nearly pelleted a couple days ago by someone sneaking in on a bird he was calling. Thank GOD he wasn't shot!

 

[big28hunter]

Thanks fellas! Good huntin'

 

[genesis273]

Big28, I bet public land hunting in PA is tough! My one time experience hunting private land in PA was not a pleasant one. I hope mine was not the norm, but hunters from neighboring properties would just cross the property line and "sneak through the woods hoping to rustle up something" mid morning of opening day of deer rifle season while I had plans to sit in my stand most of the day, every day for a week. Later that week I had road hunters aiming out their truck window at deer in a field while I was sitting in direct line of fire in the opposite wood line at end of shooting light and they evidently didn't see me. 35 years of hunting, I've never seen anything like that in NC. Needless to say, I haven't been back, and I hope my experience isn't the PA norm. Saying that to say, I can only imagine the craziness of PA public land turkey hunting and the intense pressure. Which puts your bird to a higher level of trophy! Congratulations again.

 

[big28hunter]

Thanks genesis273! It can as you have witnessed be quite frightening. I always try and put my decoys in a position so I am protected from the blast of a stalker. However, if you get away from the easy access points you can have the woods to yourself. A lot of complainers here in the state that aren't successful because they feel their trophies should be 100 yards from the truck. With that said there are also hunters here that are very impressive outdoorsman and woman. Good huntin'

 

[cur dog]

Big 28, I've lived and hunted in Pennsylvania my whole life. I hunt both private and public land. I've had very few bad experiences with other sportsman while afield. I guess it might depend where you are located, and who your neighbors are. I think you are apt to run into a bad apple anywhere in the country. Heck, just watch an episode of Wardens sometime.

 

[big28hunter]

cur dog have been hunting this beautiful state for 33 years and spent a few before that just sitting with my dad. I have seen the best and worst out of hunters here in Northern Schuylkill County. I have also seen it abroad as well. We have a serious problem here with littering too which absolutely disgusts me. My glass is always half full though and I try to emphasize on the positives. Good huntin' fellow Pa'er.