Team: Gobbler Cobbler

[Nileshunter]

I just want to designate a thread to our team, so everyone can chat that is on our team in one specific area. Also, so people can join our team we now have 4 team members and we are looking for two more. Our Team Members are as follows:


TEAM GOBBLER COBBLER

Nileshunter
kcjablin
huntnfish247
hplayer13

[kcjablin]

Hello all, this is my first contest. I didn't find out about the contest last year till too late. I'll be hunting the 234 unit on private land in SE Michigan with a gun. Bird numbers seem to be looking good in my area so I'm hopeful I'll get some opportunities to contribute to our score. By the way you can call me Kelly.

[Nileshunter]

Kelly, I didn't tell you in my PM to you, GREAT NAME!! I think its very cool. Two things I enjoy the most Turkey and Cobbler!!! Just not mixed together!!! LOL I will be Unit K for either the first or second week of the season. My Dad wanted me to put in Up North this year so we can hunt in the Baldwin area at the new trailer he just got in 07'. We have seen some big birds up there and the neighbor has helping them along this winter in supplement feeding (ie. corn) from an elevated feed station. So hopefully they will make it till April and me and my dad can go after them.

[mrelkman]

I'll join your team. Private land hopefully first 2 weeks. Ingham and Livingston

mrelkman

[Nileshunter]

Welcome to the team Mrelkman... My name is Derrick and it is good to meet you. You make number 5, I will keep the last spot open until tomorrow for vandstd Kelly but if he doesn't contact me we will have to fill the spot. Again Welcome Mrelkman!!

[Nileshunter]

TEAM GOBBLER COBBLER

Nileshunter
kcjablin
huntnfish247
hplayer13
mrelkman
__________________

[hplayer13]

Hey guys, this is my first year in the contest as well as my first year turkey hunting!! I've already been out scouting and there is always a good amount of turkey in the area. I am hunting ZZ on 80 acres of farm/woods.

[Nileshunter]

hplayer, welcome and good luck man, I want to let everyone know if any of my team members needs tips on calling or any stragetic moves to get their toms this year lets help each other out. The more we work together I think the better our chances are to each of us getting our birds.

[hplayer13]

Check out my thread on Choke/Shot and get back to me please...

[QDMAMAN]

Gobbler Cobbler? That's the best you could come up with?:rolleyes::dizzy::lol:

[Nileshunter]

Hey now.... It's the best we could come up with. We are rookies here give us some slack... LOL:lol: What is your team name there QDMAMAN?

[Nileshunter]

We still have one more spot open... the guy I thought might join us, joined a different team so we are still looking for one more member for our team. Please feel free to contact me or write something in this thread saying you are wanting to join our team.

Thanks,

Derrick

[kcjablin]

Derrick,

I hunted in the Baldwin area about 7 or 8 years ago and you're right, there are a lot of birds over there. I was too new to ever connect with one in the four days I had to hunt but it was sure a great area. I never quite managed to get my bird in Michigan last year, but it wasn't for lack of opportunity-I'll confess that I missed twice. I think I got over confident after several years of getting birds regularly and also I got a new turkey gun that I think was a little too tightly patterned. I did however, get my Rio in Oklahoma last year so that was cool.

I'm with Derrick, I'll offer my advice to anyone who thinks it may benefit them. But I'll warn you, it's probably best to do the opposite of whatever I say. That's what the turkeys usually do.

Kelly

[Birddogm33]

I am looking to join a team. I will be gun only. I shot a nice tom last year in Oscoda county with a 9 inch beard, hopefully can pull it off again. Let me know if there is a spot left!!!

[QDMAMAN]

Hey now.... It's the best we could come up with. We are rookies here give us some slack... LOL:lol: What is your team name there QDMAMAN?


Rookies is right. You guys are going to be baptised by fire!:yikes::lol::lol:
We're compiling the same group as last year with 1 exception. Looks like we're going to fly again as "The Snood Dudes". Whatch out!!!!:D

Big T

[Nileshunter]

Are team is now complete we have six guys for Team GOBBLER COBBLER!!!

The names are as follows:

TEAM GOBBLER COBBLER:

Nileshunter
kcjablin
huntnfish247
hplayer13
mrelkman
Birddogm33

[mrelkman]

Glad to be on the team. I've only hunted birds for 5 years. I look forward to learning as much as possible.

[Nileshunter]

I was wondering if everyone would introduce yourself here in our thread so we know all the team members real names. Also, if you could tell us what hunt you applied for and the times you will be hunting if you recieve your liscence.

Thanks,

Derrick

PS: I'm hunting in Unit K either the first week or second week of the season on private/state land around the Baldwin Area.

[hplayer13]

My name is Jim, this is my first year and I applied for the ZZ hunt I'm shooting a Mossberg 500 still trying to decide what type of ammo and choke to use

[QDMAMAN]

I look forward to learning as much as possible.



Then pay attention to The Snood Dudes!:D

[Nileshunter]

Please read this for a quick review for my veteran hunters on my team, and the new guys take heart to what is said in this thread. This is some damn fine information for hunting turkeys.

Here is the link:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270749

[Nileshunter]

I would like to hear from my guys on my team to see if they got drawn or not. You can check online on March 2nd. Thanks Guys

[Nileshunter]

I got drawn for the second week of the season. My hunt starts 4/27/09-5/3/09.

[hplayer13]

I got mine. ZZ Hunt 4/20-5/3

[Nileshunter]

Hey guys... haven't heard much from our other team members... please let us know if you were drawn for your tag, and please read the sticky about the rules for the contest so you are familiar with what needs to go on.

Thanks,

Derrick

[QDMAMAN]

Hey guys... haven't heard much from our other team members... please let us know if you were drawn for your tag, and please read the sticky about the rules for the contest so you are familiar with what needs to go on.

Thanks,

Derrick


You're on your own Derrick! Nobody wants to be on your team.:sad:

[Nileshunter]

You're on your own Derrick! Nobody wants to be on your team.:sad:


That's ok I still can take the whole team of the SNOOD DUDES!!!! :lol:

[hplayer13]

Looks like me and Niles are the only ones that ever get on here anymore!:lol: I've been out scouting alot lately and have a decent idea of their gameplan but am waiting to really narrow it down when the season is a little closer. Also have everything ready, patterned my gun and all. Hope everyone else is as excited as I am!!

[Nileshunter]

Looks like me and Niles are the only ones that ever get on here anymore!:lol: I've been out scouting alot lately and have a decent idea of their gameplan but am waiting to really narrow it down when the season is a little closer. Also have everything ready, patterned my gun and all. Hope everyone else is as excited as I am!!


I'm glad to hear things are looking good for you. I know we are the only two around it seems!!! So what choke and shot size did you end up with? I want to see you nail that first bird this year.:D

[hplayer13]

Just the stocked choke that came with the gun it is working fine so I don't want to mess with it until next season and #5 shot

[Nileshunter]

Just the stocked choke that came with the gun it is working fine so I don't want to mess with it until next season and #5 shot


Excellent!!! That is what I'm using as well.... I found it works really well with my 870 express. I'm using #5 as well.. Going up to the trailer to scout a little this weekend... See where the birds have been finding food and find some good roosting spots as well... maybe even see some that would be a real great sign. :D

[mrelkman]

Hey Guys, Sorry it has been a while since I have posted. I have been pretty busy and am acutally getting ready to leave for a meeting out of town. I am looking forward to getting in the woods. I start on 4/20 I think it is. I have my eyes on a smokey grey that is almost all white. 9 or 10 inch beard. It may also be a hen, but if I get the chance will take it as a turkery trophy of a lifetime. I did not quite get to full draw before a couple of them spotted me in the fall. I will be hunting with DAD who just started last year. His first year last year was successful with a nice 2nd year beard I am guessing with 9.5 inch beard, almost 1" spurs and 22 pounds from the Howell area that I called in mid afternoon in the early season.

I consider myself a rookie still. I have only hunted 5 years. I have taken a jake, and two nice gobblers with just under 10" beards and just over 20 pounds along with a hen with a bow 2 years ago in the fall. Last year I blew my chance with my first ever miss on a turkey with the old Winchester Model 1200 2 and 3/4 inch. I shoot Remington Heavy Shot # 4 with factory barrel full choke. I am going to pattern my BPS with modified barrel with some # 4 3" heavy shot in the near future to see if I can extend the distance. Since DAD has only killed one in his short turkey hunting career, he will still get the first shot. That does not concern me though due to the fact if he was with me when I shot my two other gobblers in the spring, we would have been able to get doubles. I can't wait. It's time to dust off Grandpa's old box call oalong with the Cody Slate Call, and practice with the mouth call. I am also thinking of buying some better decoys. Any thoughts. Pretty Boy was recommended to me.

Time for bed, rabbit hunting tomorrow. Time to let some .22 rounds go.

[mrelkman]

Guys, Nhttp://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Maybe_a_White_Bearded_Hen.jpg (javascript:;)ot a great picture, the bird looks much better than this, I am guessng hen. What do you think? Would you shoot in the spring?

[Birddogm33]

Ok fellas, I received my license and looking forward to a good hunt this spring. We still have a bunch of snow, but I am seeing some turkeys in the bare fields. Can't wait til May. Good Luck everyone

[Nileshunter]

Dad and Mom were up at the trailer this weekend opening everything up and turning on the well again. Dad said he was greeted in the driveway as they pulled up by 2 big toms well over 10' beards and 5 jakes and 12 hens!!!:yikes: It looks like the turkeys around our area made it through the winter just fine. I'm hoping they will stick around and give me an opportunity at the end of the month!!!

[mrelkman]

I hope you get one of the big toms. I hope we all do. Around the Lansing area birds strutting all over. I am ready.

[kcjablin]

Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. I was checking regular but never saw any new posts and fell out of the habit. I'm hunting the late season, unit 234. I'll be hunting St. Clair and Lapeer counties, been seeing good numbers of birds in both areas. I'm leaving next week for 10 days in Oklahoma to visit family and to hunt Rios. I haven't seen any really big toms close to home yet but my backup spot in Lapeer always holds some 2 and 3 yr old birds.


I hunt with a Thompson Encore 12 guage with the factory Turkey tube and shoot 3" Hevi-shot 13 loads in #5, I actually missed a couple birds with this set-up last year but that was me getting antsy and shooting before the birds really got in close. I swear I'll be more patient this year.

[QDMAMAN]

Sorry I haven't been on here in a while. I was checking regular but never saw any new posts and fell out of the habit.


I hear ya! The day this thread opened will be about as exciting as this thing will get this season.:rolleyes::lol:

[hplayer13]

Well i wanted to make a post on here but I had to search for it on the second page. Hope everyone still is participating on our team, I am extremely excited for Monday! My rookie season, but I'm ready to get a bird!!

[Nileshunter]

Yeah, we are still alive here.... Good Luck next week and hope you bag one!!!:D

[QDMAMAN]

Yeah, we are still alive here....



On life support and going down hill!

[mrelkman]

l look forward to getting out there. I am trying to figure out if I want to put out a decoy, multiple decoys, or just call. I'm curious what you guys are thinking.

[kcjablin]

I just got back from Oklahoma. I got two birds, both of them were textbook roost and shoot the next morning. They flew down right to me and walked to the gun like they were on a string. I hunted two mornings and shot one bird each morning and was back to the house by 7:30. Fantastic hunts, a few great stories, and a couple of great wild turkey recipes. I'll post some more details if anyone is interested.

Kelly

[Nileshunter]

I have found using a two hens and a jake set-up really gets the old toms flustered!!! I like to take the one hen and lay her down in the mating position and put the jake real close to the hen and have the other hen looking the opposite direction like she is trying to lure the jake away for herself.... very deadly combo in my neck of the woods....

[Nileshunter]

Always enjoy new recipes for turkeys... would like to see some pics of your birds as well.. Congrats on the successful hunts!!!:D

[kcjablin]

We went down there to visit family, my cousin lives on a 300 acre ranch that backs up to a 3000 acre ranch that I also had the run of. I hunted there last year so I knew some likely roost sites, the first night I roosted a bunch of birds in a little stand of trees along a creek bottom. There was a retention pond berm along the north side of the trees so you were only about 15 feet lower in elevation from the birds even though they were 30 foot or so in the trees. I got there real early and set up a strutter jake decoy and a breeding hen and got settled in a thorn bush about 30 yds away on top of the berm. I only called lightly as I was really close and from last years experience these birds don't like a lot of calling (I don't agree with what they say on the hunting shows about Rios being real vocal and liking a lot of calling, at least not these ones). At 6:45 a jake pitched down and started flying directly at me, he sensed something was wrong and at the last minute pulled up and landed about 15 feet away from me slightly to my right. My decoys were slightly to my left so my gun was pointed in the wrong direction and he was acting really nervous. I tipped my head down slowly because I've found when you look directly at them that close they can sense it. I could only see his feet and hear him gobble at my decoy, hearing a bird gobble at 15 feet actually makes your ears hurt a little! He wanted to go to the decoys but he sure didn't like the looks of my thorn bush and he had to walk within five feet of me to get down the berm toward the decoys. He finally got the nerve up and scooted by, I waited until he got out to about 20 yds and rolled him.

Not long after the rest of the flock lit down to my right about 200 yds away were the berm tapered into a large pasture, I did a sneak around the woods and attempted a belly crawl sneak to get into range. I managed to go 100 yds across mostly open pasture using slight little dips and patches of grass but I couldn't manage to crawl faster than they were feeding across the pasture, they never did see me though.

That bird I breasted out, cut the meat into large chunks and marinated it overnight in a combination of soy sauce, honey, and Dr. Pepper (which is apparently what flows from Okies' wells, the way they drink it). Then we grilled it in shish kebobs with mushrooms, onions, zuccinni, tomatoes, and asparagus. It was awesome, the meat really absorbed the marinade really well and I think the soda and overnight marinade made it really tender.

The legs and thighs I always skin and cut up and put in a large crock pot and cover with water and put on low for about 15 hours. Pull the meat off the bones and rinse and strain the liquid through cheese cloth. Add the meat back to the clarified broth with your choice of vegetables and seasonings and serve over separately cooked noodles for the best soup you've ever eaten guaranteed. All those tough tendons and sinews in those legs melt into awesome broth, when you refridgerate it, it will be the consistancy of jelly if you've done it right. After all that cooking the meat doesn't have all that much flavor in it but the stock does and it would be a shame to waste all that good protein you worked so hard to take.

We didn't find too many morels down there this year, I guess it's been a really dry spring. But the few we did find we added to the soup, asparagus or any other early spring vegetables are really good with this too. You can also freeze the stock for use later. It really is unbelievably good, it's not something I came up with-just something I read somewhere and a great use for those legs that are so damn tough usually.

I'll save the second bird story and that recipe for a little later. My Michigan tag opens up on the 4th, started scouting today-saw one jake across the road from my house and found out someone else has permission to hunt my number one spot from last year. But he'll be done by the time I start and there are a lot of birds over there so it shouldn't hurt things too much plus I have three other spots for backups that all have birds on them.

Has anyone from our group gotten a bird yet?

[mrelkman]

Opening Day, I passed on a small jake at about 7:30 in the rain. Only bird that came in during the morning. Evening was a lot of fun with no birds killed. Dad and I set up and I called 4 mature big toms with three hens all across the field. They got to within 60 yards and would not come in any further. I had no decoys out. It was pretty windy and rainy and I passed on putting them out. That is probably why they would not come further. Dad and I will be out Friday morning. I have high expectations for one of us, hopefully a double.

The 4 big boys gobbled and strutted all evening and went out of site around 7:00.

[hplayer13]

I haven't gotten anything into range, but I know of at least a dozen toms in the area. Tonight was silent until I heard them roost. I'm really feeling good about tomorrow morning but we will see!

[Nileshunter]

GOOD LUCK GUYS!!! I hope it works out for the both of ya's... sounds like you have some nice places where the birds are sticking around... My Dad has been up at the trailer all week and has not seen too many birds around Baldwin.... the weather was crappy with snow Mon/Tues. but the weather looks like it made a change for the better and I will be up there next week for my hunt...

[Nileshunter]

:DGreat Story Man and sounds like some good recipes for us to try!!!!



We went down there to visit family, my cousin lives on a 300 acre ranch that backs up to a 3000 acre ranch that I also had the run of. I hunted there last year so I knew some likely roost sites, the first night I roosted a bunch of birds in a little stand of trees along a creek bottom. There was a retention pond berm along the north side of the trees so you were only about 15 feet lower in elevation from the birds even though they were 30 foot or so in the trees. I got there real early and set up a strutter jake decoy and a breeding hen and got settled in a thorn bush about 30 yds away on top of the berm. I only called lightly as I was really close and from last years experience these birds don't like a lot of calling (I don't agree with what they say on the hunting shows about Rios being real vocal and liking a lot of calling, at least not these ones). At 6:45 a jake pitched down and started flying directly at me, he sensed something was wrong and at the last minute pulled up and landed about 15 feet away from me slightly to my right. My decoys were slightly to my left so my gun was pointed in the wrong direction and he was acting really nervous. I tipped my head down slowly because I've found when you look directly at them that close they can sense it. I could only see his feet and hear him gobble at my decoy, hearing a bird gobble at 15 feet actually makes your ears hurt a little! He wanted to go to the decoys but he sure didn't like the looks of my thorn bush and he had to walk within five feet of me to get down the berm toward the decoys. He finally got the nerve up and scooted by, I waited until he got out to about 20 yds and rolled him.

Not long after the rest of the flock lit down to my right about 200 yds away were the berm tapered into a large pasture, I did a sneak around the woods and attempted a belly crawl sneak to get into range. I managed to go 100 yds across mostly open pasture using slight little dips and patches of grass but I couldn't manage to crawl faster than they were feeding across the pasture, they never did see me though.

That bird I breasted out, cut the meat into large chunks and marinated it overnight in a combination of soy sauce, honey, and Dr. Pepper (which is apparently what flows from Okies' wells, the way they drink it). Then we grilled it in shish kebobs with mushrooms, onions, zuccinni, tomatoes, and asparagus. It was awesome, the meat really absorbed the marinade really well and I think the soda and overnight marinade made it really tender.

The legs and thighs I always skin and cut up and put in a large crock pot and cover with water and put on low for about 15 hours. Pull the meat off the bones and rinse and strain the liquid through cheese cloth. Add the meat back to the clarified broth with your choice of vegetables and seasonings and serve over separately cooked noodles for the best soup you've ever eaten guaranteed. All those tough tendons and sinews in those legs melt into awesome broth, when you refridgerate it, it will be the consistancy of jelly if you've done it right. After all that cooking the meat doesn't have all that much flavor in it but the stock does and it would be a shame to waste all that good protein you worked so hard to take.

We didn't find too many morels down there this year, I guess it's been a really dry spring. But the few we did find we added to the soup, asparagus or any other early spring vegetables are really good with this too. You can also freeze the stock for use later. It really is unbelievably good, it's not something I came up with-just something I read somewhere and a great use for those legs that are so damn tough usually.

I'll save the second bird story and that recipe for a little later. My Michigan tag opens up on the 4th, started scouting today-saw one jake across the road from my house and found out someone else has permission to hunt my number one spot from last year. But he'll be done by the time I start and there are a lot of birds over there so it shouldn't hurt things too much plus I have three other spots for backups that all have birds on them.

Has anyone from our group gotten a bird yet?

[mrelkman]

:coolgleam Guys,

Went out Friday morning and had 7 toms / jakes on the roost within 60 yards of me and Dad. I thought for sure since they gobbled every time I let out a soft yelp that they would come in and we would have a chance at a double. They went the other way with about 20 hens.
I went out in the evening. Sat down at 4:00. Had just set up a single decoy when I saw a jake about 100 yards away in the edge of the woods. I called and 2 jakes instantly came in. I had fun with them and was messing with them when I called really loud and heard more gobbles. Here came 5 single line about 600 yards out. Came right to my calls, gobbled about 30 times. First one in line looks right at me and busts me. Saw it had a decent beard and fired. Done hunting and tagged out by 4:45. I would have liked to have shot the final beard in line, but it was all or nothing and probably calling these guys in again this year would not happen. Will post pictures in the near future. We are on the board.

[Nileshunter]

Nicely done elkman... Great story and way to put him down!!!!

[kcjablin]

Cool, we're on the board. This little warm up and rain will really get the birds going when it finally clears up, I have found that rainy days are pretty good too though. The dairy farm where I first started hunting, the owner (who didn't hunt) used to tell me all the time that if I would come out only on the rainy days I would see more birds and have no competition (he let a lot of guys hunt there). I have to agree, they do get tight lipped, but they come out in the open more and if it does stop raining and the sun comes out later in the day, they really fire up. I never let rain keep me from going out if I planned on hunting that day.

[hplayer13]

Last monday, opening day, I was soaking in the rain from 5 to 9...Then a few days later it was so hot I sweat all day too! Either way I'm in there. Tomorrow is the day boys....If not then the next day;)

[Nileshunter]

Well guys, we can put another one on the board... Sat Morning was up in Baldwin on State Land was able to put down a 29lb tom... He had a 10in beard, and 1 inch spurs on both of his legs.... My second bird ever!!! We got out little after first light, went over to an area that we thought we would start and see what happens.

My Dad started calling a little bit and we heard gobbles... so move into position about 200 yards into the woods and set up the decoys two hens with the jake.... got set up and began calling some more and he gobbled again, by this time I can see him making his way towards us and then he spots the decoys and comes charging in to about 40 yards... He began to strutting, spitting, and drumming... I needed him to close another 5 yards are so, because my 20 gauge was right on at 35 yards and that is what I felt comfortable with... So he makes his way around a big oak tree and stands back there for about 10 mins... all this time I'm thinking please let me get this bird... so Finally my Dad was like I will make one call and see if he will come out.. so he hit the call once and he came around the tree and soon as he turned his head around the tree I let him have it... the Remington 870 express mag did the trick.... My pics are in the Turkey Gallery for scoring I think we should have 40 points to our name from my bird... What an awesome time... We forgot the camera so I had to take the pics at home that's why I'm not wearing camo in my photos..lol but all in all one great weekend!!!

[kcjablin]

Congratulations!!! That's a great second bird! You thinking of having it mounted?

[mrelkman]

Sorry guys it took so long to post my pictures from the first Friday of the season. If I totaled it correctly 50 points. Pictures are posted in my photo album and under the successful turkey pictures pages. Good Luck to those still hunting.

[kcjablin]

Well, the hunting has been getting pretty tough the past week. The leaves are full on, the days are heating up, and the birds have sure cut way back on their gobbling. So...today I took a jake that I walked up on around 10:30 after no luck all morning. I'm running out of time to hunt and the hunting has been getting tough, sorry I couldn't bring in more points, but all I got was 20 for us-5 3/4" beard and 1/2" spurs. I've been playing cat and mouse with a BIG tom all week but haven't seen him in a day or two, or heard him, not that he ever spoke much anyway. The guy who lives across the street from his favorite strutting area says he thinks he's four or five years old-they see him around every year.

I know I'm going to start seeing toms all over now, I actually saw two more strutting on my way out of the woods and another strutting this evening on the way home from my son's hockey game. Typical, it was a good season and a good hunt.

Kelly