I had gone out on opening day here (March 15th)and saw about 5 or 6 jakes. I prefer the jakes grow up so I passed on a shot. The last one I saw never did see me and he actually walked about 8 or 10 feet from me as he was heading to the roost. I had scheduled to go back this past weekend, but got sick and couldn't make it.

I decided to take the day off today and drove down from Houston. I got out into the field and got set up just after 7AM. Called once, no answer. Waited a few minutes and called again. A gobbler responded from what seemed like over 100 yards away.

I had no sooner called a second time when six jakes came out of the woods and into the clearing I was at the edge of. One of the youngsters actually was running toward my decoy. Just when I thought it was another wasted effort, two gobblers followed the jakes out.

The dominant one went into full strut and was actually drumming the ground as he walked toward my sexy hen decoy. I let them get within about 30 yards or so and hammered the leader.

I didn't weigh him but his beard was 9 3/8" long. Spurs weren't that good. Not the biggest I've shot, nor the most difficult shot (It was 33 yards.), but probably the fastest - I hadn't been set up more than 5 minutes or so when I dropped him.

http://smg.photobucket.com/use...zps3397a897.jpg.html

congrats....

Heck ya! Congrats!!

Good for you.

I am hoping for me one next weekend .

quote:

Originally posted by TexKD:
Good for you.

I am hoping for me one next weekend .

Good luck with it Tex. As of Friday, they were really gobbling and coming the call well - at least in Victoria.

Where do you plan on hunting them?

Them Rio's love to gobble-----I love hunting them. Conglads on the dandy gobbler---Bob

We're seeing them in the Guadalupe River bottom above Cuero.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
We're seeing them in the Guadalupe River bottom above Cuero.

I hunted them South of Cuero for years - along Coletto Creek. I never saw another turkey hunter in Cuero all the time I hunted there, but lost my lease about 3 years ago. Sure do miss eating at Don Bravo's - best Tex Mex I've ever eaten.

I've had these gobblers (plus a gang of hens and a couple of jakes) in the yard of my ranch house for the last month. Can't seem to get the grandson loose from Little League baseball long enough to come shoot one. They'll gobble back at any kind of noise you make, to the point that it is almost comical.

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've had these gobblers (plus a gang of hens and a couple of jakes) in the yard of my ranch house for the last month. Can't seem to get the grandson loose from Little League baseball long enough to come shoot one. They'll gobble back at any kind of noise you make, to the point that it is almost comical.

NICE paintbrushes on those big boys!!!