Team #11 Limbhangers

[PsEbUcKmAsTeR17]

Here you guys/girls;) go, have at it.

-Psebuckmaster17-

[SalmonSlayer]

Hi everyone! I hope you all have a great season! Mine starts May5th down here in Berrien County. I've been seeing a number of birds as I drive around after work, but haven't really done much scouting other than that. I've got a good idea of where the birds will hang out and hopefully will get lucky again like last year. That was my first year turkey hunting, and after a week of scouting / owl hooting in the mornings, I set up a blind along an open field. 20 minutes after sun-up, I get a lone hen flying in just feet directly over my head. She lands in the open field near my decoys...seconds later, a tom runs in from the side and stops 30 yds from me. 5 seconds later....BOOOMMMM! My season was over. 11" beard, 3/4" spurs. Talk about lucky! :lol:

[ArrowHawk]

Hey there All

My season starts May 5th and I'll be hunting mostly Lapeer County but I have a back up place to hunt depending on whats going on. I have a bird picked out but we all know how that goes.

Anyways just checking in

[ArrowHawk]

Are we the only 2 that are going to sign in?

[SalmonSlayer]

Are we the only 2 that are going to sign in?

Looks like LongSpurs started a new thread...he and his wife sound like they're ready to go!

I'll officially sign us in on the signup page...If that's alright with everyone.

[ArrowHawk]

I'm good with it but we still need a few to sign in before we can.

[Long Spurs]

Were in going to be alot of fun! Blue Girl/ Long spurs

[PsEbUcKmAsTeR17]

Hey guys you dont have to wait for anyone to come to the team chat to sign in. After all your members are on your team then feel free to sign in.

Thank for the thought though.

-Psebuckmaster17-

[ArrowHawk]

Sorry my bad I took the following statment the wrong way
"When you have all 6 of your guys please sign in . Not until then."

Cannot wait until the May 5th to get here. For some reason I'm vey pumped about this year. I have one I have been seeing in the same area for a few years now and he holds close to it but he always out smarts me (I say it first "its not that hard to do"). This year I'm going to sit on him though to start off with and wait for him, we will see what happens.

[Benny]

hey i have seen my name listed on here for team 11 limbhangers but didnt know if i was suppose to sign in here or what. hopefully getting somewher

what do we got 10 days....

[ArrowHawk]

We are all set Benny, SalmonSlayer got us all signed in.

Now its time to Rock-N-Roll

When is everyones Hunt?

Mine is May 5- May11

[SalmonSlayer]

Well, this year my season is May 5-31st. I'm in the unit 234 guaranteed hunt for private lands. I got my place, a place across the block from me, the in-laws farms, and a place my buddy deer hunts (his grandfathers farm) to choose from. IF I should not see/hear birds at my house, I got lots of places to choose from.

Here's last years hunt results...less than 1 hour into it....
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/smTurkeyFull.JPG

11" beard, 3/4" spurs 22 lbs!

[Long Spurs]

Sweet we will take another one like him!

[caznik]

Benny learned alot from Caznik how to call turkeys didn't ya...:evilsmile

Cazzzzzz:evil:

[PsEbUcKmAsTeR17]

Sorry my bad I took the following statment the wrong way
"When you have all 6 of your guys please sign in . Not until then."

Cannot wait until the May 5th to get here. For some reason I'm vey pumped about this year. I have one I have been seeing in the same area for a few years now and he holds close to it but he always out smarts me (I say it first "its not that hard to do"). This year I'm going to sit on him though to start off with and wait for him, we will see what happens.


I see. That was meant for the other thread, when all six guys are a team then sign in. This has nothing to do with that it is for you guys to have team talk and stuff like that.

I just didnt want guys that have two guys on a team signing in.

-Psebuckmaster17-

[Benny]

my hunt starts the 21st, usually always see birds strutting in the fields by now but I think the colder weather hanging on may have delayed their habits a bit. I still have seen them a couple times but just not as often as usual. As of 4/6 there were 20-30 hens and at least 7 nice toms just on the edge of the woods, right about at 2:00 pm.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=74828
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=74827

These birds were out about 6-8 weeks ago, when we still had quite a bit of the snow in sw MI. The three alone are 2 young toms and three jakes I believe. Theres 2 that I wish I had gotten pictures of but they were a long ways away and they were just all blurred out but hopefully I can see one of them up close in a week or so here.

[Blue Girl]

My hunt is April 28th-May 4th. Can't wait!!!

Longspurs hunt starts after mine on May 5th - May 11th.

Hope everyone has an awesome season!! Good luck!!

[Long Spurs]

Found a good one for the wife this morning. All he has to do is keep his mouth shut for the first week.

[Benny]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/Spring_08_Turkey.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/78_good_toow.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/1inchgoodw.jpg
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/10_inch_goodw.jpg

Had a pretty good opening day this year. I wasn't sure where they were roosting at all this year but I had seen them during mid day a couple of times.

Got out in the morning and stood on the edge of the field in the dark for a bit... no gobbles.. at all....bummer. Snuck into the edge of the woods where they roosted last year and set up the decoys, looked in the trees for black spots...nothing. Gave a few soft clucks and purrs...nothing no gobbles. Then out of nowhere a bearded hen swoops down..ok here we go.. she starts clucking like mad with a couple other hens and they fly down..getting better but still not a single gobble. So the hens finally clear out and the whole morning has gone with not even hearing a gobble. Just 3 hens.

11:00 comes around and I am back in the same spot, same set-up. No sooner did I sit and give a soft purr, and that same lippy bearded hen starts sounding off right behind me. Couldnt believe I had made it into the woods with out getting busted. So its her and her 2 girlfriends clucking around for about an hour infront of me...still no gobbles. then right about at noon after a louder sequence of calls from the trusty ol Rod Benson and I heard it. Kinda far off and behind me But finnally the thunderous sound I had been waiting for. Then another and another. I hit the slate maybe another 4 or 5 times before I had relieved the itch of wanting gobbles and then I sat quiet.. and so did they. about 10 mins later when I'm about to hit the call again one lets loose right behind me, then another guy goes just a little further away, all in all there ended up being 5 toms that came in and I'm pretty sure there was at least two more coming from where I had heard the first. The one I ended up harvesting strutted right up to me and was MAYBE 5 yds when I laid the hurt on..lol This was probably the most exciting hunt I have had since my first bird. Once they started gobbling they didnt stop and all the toms were in full strut basically the whole time they were there.

My bird was about 23.5 lbs had a 10 inch beard one spur was 7/8 inch and the other was 1 inch. I really dont believe I got the biggest in the group though. there were two others I saw take off after the shot that had some real paint brushes hangin. But hey I cant complain at all, my guy put on a hell of a show. The way that the weather has worked out this year I think is going to provide a lot of fun for the turkey hunters, the toms dont seem to be all henned up like they have the past few years at my place.

Hope everybody else has some stories to share as well in the coming weeks. Good luck !!!

[ArrowHawk]

Congrats Benny

I'm going insane with all the Birds being taken and I don't start until the 5th.

[caznik]

Hey Ben,
Don't forget to post your pictures of your bird and score it in this thread.

Score thread- http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232302

Nice job Ben,

Rich

[Benny]

yeah i have been trying to get my pics to post on the other thread but every time i try it i get little red x's like when i tried to post pics earlier on this one. not quite sure whats wrong cuz i'm doing it the same as what i did for the pics of my bird here.

[caznik]

yeah i have been trying to get my pics to post on the other thread but every time i try it i get little red x's like when i tried to post pics earlier on this one. not quite sure whats wrong cuz i'm doing it the same as what i did for the pics of my bird here.

I will add it to the score thread for you Ben..
Rich

[caznik]

There ya go Ben,
I added your pictures and your score to the right thread for you and your team.

Your bird was 40 points.

Rich

[Long Spurs]

Great bird !!!!!!!

[Benny]

Saw your bird in the pictures thread. Nice job chris_l. I tried with a bow last year and it was the first spring tag I've bought that I didnt fill. This year I took my insurance program because I was filming and the tom I shot was only 5 paces away... funny how that works... nice job!!

[Long Spurs]

Been a ruff week so far for Blue Girl 16 hrs. of hunting 10 birds worked some real close but no dead bird as of yet. She has got blisters on both heels and keeps going. Now I know why I married her! I will keep you guys posted.

[Blue Girl]

Here's what I posted on the picture thread for our score.

After a rough week of forgetting how to shoot, I finally got this one!! I hate to admit it, but I missed two turkeys this week. Very frustrating but what can I do?! Don't know what I was thinking when I took those shots but made sure not to think that when aiming on this one and it worked. It's not like this is the first hunt for me, I've killed 5 turkeys in the last 5 years before this year. I'm not saying I'm perfect by no means but I think I hurried too much in the shots or something. Who knows?! :rolleyes:

I got out of work today at 5:00 and went out as soon as I was ready. We went into our favorite spot (my last 4 turkey's came out of this location) on state land to see what we could get to gobble and come our way. We were only in the woods about 5-10 minutes after a 20 minute walk in when we heard the gobble reply to some calling. Each gobble was closer and closer until he was about 28 yards out and I took the shot. The rest, as they say, is history!!

Blue Girl
Team #11 - LimbHangers
Beard length - 10 1/16"
Spur #1 - 15/16"
Spur#2 - 7/8"
Points - 40 (?)
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/Blue_Girl_2008.jpg[/IMG]
Beard Length
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/2008_beard_length.jpg[/IMG]
Close up of beard length
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/2008_beard_length_2.jpg[/IMG]
Spur #2
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/2008_spur_length.jpg[/IMG]
Spur #1
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/medium/2008_spur_length_2.jpg[/IMG]

[Benny]

Nice Job on the bird. Well deserved after all the work. Three Birds in the bucket for Limbhangers, Woo HOOO

[SalmonSlayer]

I connected this morning!!!! Tomahawk (kevin) and I succeeded in taking a double this morning at 7:30am behind my house out of his blind. I'll post official results and pics later, but for now...my bird stats and story are:

9 11/16" beard
spur 1: 7/8"
spur 2: 3/4"
weight: 20.5 lbs

I owl called last night at about 9pm and got an immediate answer from the direction our blind was set-up. I'm pretty sure I heard 2 gobbles on top of eachother, but I knew at least 1 gobbler was there. So I headed in and didn't bother them any more. Couldn't hardly sleep as I had a good feeling about my opening morning hunt. Kevin arrived at 5:30am and we hit the field and setup 2 pairs of decoys about 30 yds apart from eachother. 6:30am we had 4 deer come within 20 yds of our blind and hang around until we shot our birds. 7:15am or so 4 hens came out of the brush barely 15yds from us. Then a tom in full strut comes out. He circles 1 set of decoys and heads toward the hens...never breaking strut. Then a jake comes running past the tom and gets between him and the 2nd set of decoys. I guess he thought since there were more hens then toms, he could get lucky! Then as we watch these birds, a 3rd tom comes out. :D We ALMOST got the kill on video, but minutes after mine came in, his came in and we had to do the "ready, set, shoot". I nudge Kevin and tell him to get his gun because these were 2 shooters and we were going to get a double!!! The 2 toms always seemed to have either a hen behind, a deer behind it, or fanned out with it's head tucked in. Finally, after probably 10 minutes, we get our chance!

He shot just before I did and dropped his bird, but mine took to the air after I shot! I thought I missed!!! :tdo12: But after calling to the hens who stuck around for quite a while, clucking and pecking around I thought we'd celebrate his bird and call it a day. I could save most of my 1/2 day vacation if I headed to work right away...and use it tomorrow morning. At the last minute, I thought I'd walk in the direction the bird flew just in case I didn't miss. I walked 50 yds into the thick overgrown grape vineyard (which I keep as a sanctuary for the wildlife) and gave up. Kevin tells me to go just into the woods because we are so close anyways. We go maybe 10 more yards, and there he is laying at the base of a tree! He crash landed and smacked a tree so hard, he broke both legs and a bunch of tail feathers. Never the less, he's a beauty and a true trophy as we got the rare opportunity AND SUCCEEDED on a double kill on mature toms!!!

Kevins turkey:

Beard: 9 3/4"
Spur 1: 1/2"
Spur 2: 3/4"
Weight: 19.5 lbs

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/Double2_sm.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/Beard_sm.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/BeardClose9_11-16_sm.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/Spur7_8in_sm.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/Spur3_4in_sm.JPG

[Blue Girl]

What an awesome hunt!! I'm glad it worked out for you, and a double to boot! Well, that makes 4 for our six we need. Longspurs is out right now trying to see what he can get. He had to work today and could only go out for about an hour or so this morning. No luck as of yet but hopefully we'll have something to post tonight.

[ArrowHawk]

Congrats on the birds all.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get a bird this year and my crappy first day.

I noticed something that smelt burned on my way back to where I hunt (I hunt state land) and after the sun came up I saw my worst fear. The DNR came in and did a controlled burn of an area of about 100 acreas which I believe to have been done maybe 3-4 weeks ago. I also never saw an animal in the area nor did I even hear a single gobble anywhere.

I will probably go over to St Clair to hunt this weekend but right now I'm pretty bumbed.

[Blue Girl]

Keep checking that burn. Turkeys love the roasted seeds and fresh green shoots. Long Spurs killed one off a burn a few years back and it was full of burnt seeds.

[ArrowHawk]

I check again yesterday and still no signs of anything in the area.

I did find a couple of other places and gained permission to hunt them this comming weekend so my hopes are alive again. One place sounds and looks very promissing. Friday I'll be back at it hard.

[Benny]

Awesome job there slamonslayer, I bet your heart sank just a little bit when you thought you missed!! Does anybody know if the hens pretty much control the toms yet or are they still responding pretty good? I got a buddy that has the hunt going on now and I was talking about going and calling for him but I haven't been out in a couple weeks and it has been descently warm, so I wasnt sure how they were acting now. Great job on memorable hunt!!!

[Tomahawk]

Thanks for the memories SalmonSlayer. It was an incredible morning. You have told the story well. I think the shots were a fraction of a second apart. It seemed as if things were happening in slow motion, so it was hard to tell.

[Blue Girl]

Longspurs got his turkey tonight. :D It looks to be a 40 point bird. We'll post pictures and scores later.

[Long Spurs]

LongSpurs
Team #11 Limbhangers
Beard length - 9 5/8"
Spur #1 - 1 1/16"
Spur#2 - 1 1/6"
Score - 50 Points (?)
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/Andy_s_Turkey_20081.JPG[/IMG]
Beard Length
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/2008_beard_length2.JPG[/IMG]
Beard Length (close up)
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/2008_beard_length_22.JPG[/IMG]
Spur #1
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/2008_Spur_21.JPG[/IMG]
Spur #2
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/546/2008_Spur_11.JPG[/IMG]

[ArrowHawk]

Awesome job

It looks like its down to me and only 2 days left. I hope I can score.

[koz bow]

Wow - great bird there Longspurs! Congratulations....

[caznik]

Hey guys better get Salmon Slayer to show his tag.

Your team is doing good...:)

Rich

Team #11 Limbhangers

Long Spurs-50 Points
Blue Girl- 40 Points
chris_l 50 points
Benny- 40 Points
ArrowHawk
SalmonSlayer-0 Points (Need a Shot of the tag)

[ArrowHawk]

Sorry all

I hate to say it but I struck out. I hunted hard but the Birds once on the ground kept thier traps shut. I had one yesterday morning though that was working a field edge towards me when I notice some smoke comming from the neighbors yard (SOB started a Bonfire at 6:30 in the morning). That was the closes one this year. I also past on a bearded Hen (kicking myself now).

Anyways Congrats to everyone else and sorry again that I wasn't able to make it 6 for 6.

[SalmonSlayer]

So your season is over? Or you don't have any more times you can hunt? Either way, it sounds like those wiley birds had YOU pegged...talk about a role reversal! :lol:

Team, it was a great season...now I gotta concentrate on getting the wife a bird. She's been sick sick SICK the last week, so this week hopefully she feels up to it. Still got birds in the area and no one has hunted her parents farms, so some unharrassed birds there too. Congrats to everyone on their birds...now we'll just wait and see if we can hold on to 1st place!

Later and happy hunting....

[ArrowHawk]

My season is over I only drew the 5th-11th.

With the burn that took place it drove the birds out still no sign of them in the area, never even heard a gobble in that area. Wish I would have known the DNR was going to do the burn so close to the season. It may have even been done during the first hunt period.

[Long Spurs]

Just the way things went this year. Thought I was going to blank out this year.

[Long Spurs]

Hold on all we can do is hope!!!

[Benny]

ehh we got it in the bag...lol my father-inlaw called in a nice one on the 24th for his buddy its posted in the turkey hunting forum under I think "My Buddy's 2nd turkey ever" it's a dandy with 1-1/2" spurs on it.. but i had to correct him because in his post he said it was the biggest spurs he'd ever seen... well he must have forgot about my monster three years ago w/ 1-3/4 inch spurs... but it just goes to show ya late season success isnt impossible. just takes a whole lot of patience. Thanks to all here who posted pictures and stories to share, it was great being on a team with such good luck this year and being able to see all the nice birds and read their tale. good luck to you guys that hunt them in the fall and hopefully next springs a repeat of this...at least for me if you guys arent on my team..lol :evilsmile

[Long Spurs]

Late season is alot of fun! Called in two to the gun last weekend. Got one more guy that is going to give it a try on Sat. Win or loose we have a great team!!!!

[koz bow]

I am thinking our guy SMOKE73 is fading fast, so your only fear might be a sandbagger or two. Three shots on goal, and nothing in the net for him. It happens.

Congrats to you guys on a great season, great luck and for sure some skill to bring it all together.

Koz - Asst., to the Asst. HMFIC of Team Snood Dudes