Old State Land Bird

[Nautitroller]

I have been after this old Tom for a few years now. State Land in Danby. Scouted him a few times before season. Same tree he was always in so I figured why not give him another try, listen to him gobble for a while fly down and walk away with his harem of hens, like always...

This morning started like usual and I was able to use a drainage to slip within 120 yards. First half hour he knew I was there but he didn't want to budge, soft calling with long pauses between produced nothing but his thundering gobbles. So i gave him the silent treatment and the next time he gobbled I cut him off with a long series of cuts. He couldn't stand it and broke his spot and started coming, drumming and spitting the whole way. He got to sixty yards and hung up strutting. He ended up doing the 50 yard end around and a soft purr and cluck made him break that last 10 yards I needed.

Ended up having 1 1/4" spurs 22lbs and an old beat up 9 1/2" beard!

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[Sk8man]

Nice going John! that is a real specimen and great description...felt as though I was right there

[fishshack]

Awesome turkey!!!! Congrats

[Gill-T]

Great bird.

[BSmaster]

definitely

[Kevin J Legg]

Very nice well earned bird. Should post this on the hunting forum.

[Nautitroller]

Thanks guys. Gotta say I am blessed with access to some great private land but I love chasing state land birds. I am not a fan of using decoys but if you are hunting " field birds" they are sometimes critical. Whereas hunting " big woods birds" usually setup and calling are keys to killing. I also have been very lucky to have been able to hunt with some of the best turkey hunters in the country. There is a theory that the big woods birds have to work harder to attract hens not just fly out into a field and strut n gobble.

I had a chance to hunt with past NWTF CEO and host of TV show Turkeycall, Rob Keck, I learned more from him in about 8 days of hunting than I could in a lifetime. He is an excellent woodsman, caller and overall an incredible gentleman that respected nature deeper than anyone could imagine. He could read a turkey better than anyone I have ever hunted with. Every call had a purpose and every move was orchestrated to perfection. Cadence was by far the most important when calling. BTW he ended up killing two longbeards with me. As we hiked past a group of "two year olds" as he said, he wanted the bird with the drumming in his gobble. His bird ended up having 1" 5/8 spurs, hooks....

I was thinking of Mr. Keck today when I said a little thank you prayer over my bird, thanks Rob.

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[FishSlime9]

Great bird and story!

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[Frogger]

Boom, what a bird!  Thanks for sharing

[bondouley]

Great bird! Nothing better than harvesting an old state land bird

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[33canuck]

Nice job man, nothing like it