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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
 Posted - 04/20/2009 : 16:40:42
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Well my uncle decided to try turkey hunting this spring with me. We hunted the 105 property this morning, started out in unit C. Right at daylight I seen a turkey on the edge of the woods along the north edge of the unit, as soon as it seen my decoys he turned around and left. Just before this I noticed a coon about 10' infront of me and of corse I had to cough that coon dang near turned inside out trying to make a break for it . About 7:30 we seen a deer comeing acrossed the bean field and head into unit D. Had 8 woodies fly over us about 20 feet up and slowin down to dive into the river, go figure its not duck season. About 8 we decided to take a walk to unit E and see what we could find over there, we jumped 2 deer right in the corner of units D&E. Then we seen several objects moving in the corn to the north of us, I decided to give some clucks and we noticed 1 of the objects heading our way and yep its a turkey. We set down on the edge of unit D and wait, about 60 yards out the bird gobbles and then looks back (like oh no what did I do?) at 50 yards I notice a very small beard its a jake. Well he gets real nurvious well I start cluckin softly and he comes in to 40 yards and I tell my uncle to take him, what I didn't know was my uncle had his gun layin on his knees and not pointing towards the bird, by the time he gets the gun around the bird is like 50 yards away and a clean miss from him.
Well now its brakefast time so we are off for food. Then decide to head over to the 103 property to see what it looks like as I have never been there before. We parked in the south parking area and walk up unit B, just after we got our guns out of the truck we notice 3 does run across the road to the south. Man is there lots of water in the woods on this property. While walking towards unit A I find a nice wide 5pt laying dead about 20' behind the tent blind that looks to be right on the property/ units A&B boundries. We never did see or hear a turkey on this property.
All in all it was a great day in the woods, other than being wet we had a great day. And managed to see some turkeys and other wildlife.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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ATB
Junior Member
232 Posts |
 Posted - 04/20/2009 : 19:20:38
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| Wish I wouda known you were coming to say hello. I was on 103 unit C from 6:30 to 11, and would have still been out there if the wind didnt break the post on my pop up blind. I saw 4 does working across the field on C from east heading to the woods on the west. Turks had lock jaw and the wind mangled my blind and the fan on my decoy. Hopefully better weather on Friday when I head out. |
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1342 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2009 : 09:21:06
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I know Greg Kuchenberg killed a bird on 119 yesterday morning. Still waiting on details.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2009 : 10:00:40
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I know Joe Brykalski got one down in Ohio on the Henery Co. property, if I remember correctly it has about a 8" beard and 1" spurs. He has a nice story and I will let him tell it.
On my hunt this morning,
I got a late start this morning, jumped a small doe on the way in she went into unit D. Get the decoys set up along with the pop-up blind on the east edge of unit E, about the middle of the unit. Notice 6 more deer comming out of unit F into unit E then into unit D, all appered to be does and last years fawns. Notice some movement to the south of me and yep 4 hens heading my way, they see the blind and head into the woods to the east. Had some woodies and geese land in the corn field. Notice some more movement to the south and see (what I believe is the same 4 hens) well it turns out they are 4 jakes and they are about 50 yards away heading north (right to me) they are getting nervious about the blind so I give some soft clucks and chirps and they walk out into the decoys (the smallest one was about 1' for the decoye looking at it). Now I have 3 big toms to the north of me about 100 yards and they are comming towards me and the jakes. Still have yet to hear a gobble. The jakes have went past me and are about 50 yards away, I'm calling and gobbling and I hear the bigger toms gobble. While I'm calling and the big toms are gobbling the jakes start gobbling, talk about funny the bigger birds head toward the jakes and they start getting real nervious and shut up. Now I have about 10 toms and jakes and hens to the north of me about 50 yards in a little valley and can only see the heads and tops of the tail fans of the bigger toms. Never did kill a bird today but it was a great hunt non the less. I guess I will have to wait for another day to kill my bird. The birds had lock jaw the last 2 days untill I got them going today.
Well good luck to those going out and remember post the story.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2009 : 12:09:31
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Hunted again this morning with my uncle, the Toms where gobbling from the time we got to the blind untill we each baged a jake. Again the long beards wouldn't come into the decoys and decided to stay with the hens. The 1 jake had about a 4" beard, the other had a tripple beard all about 4". We had a great hunt this morning seen the tom's strutting and displaying they just wouldn't leave the hens. We managed to bring in 2 jakes about 8am.
Good luck to you guys that have yet to get a bird or your season hasn't started yet.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1342 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2009 : 17:39:17
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Mike Miller and his parnter killed 2 birds this morning in Hillsdale. I have pictures and will try to get them up for all to see, soon.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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GKuch
Junior Member
126 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2009 : 20:23:49
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"Ringin Ears"
Opening morn and I have my blind up on 119A near the southwest corner of the unit, maybe twenty five yds from the timber to the west. In the dark I see a flashlight coming from the south, off property and it stops at the fence row just east of the timber. Another flashlight coming from the south into the woods to the west. It stops about 50 yards west of our property on the south edge of the woods. One more flashlight heading north through the woods about 75 yards in. It stops about 2/3rds of the way through the timber. I shine my flashlight at each of these neighbors as they walk to their spots to be sure they see me in my blind. OK, "everyone" is set. I am thinking those terrible negative thoughts, like will these guys bag the big tom I hope to call to the field. Will these guys shoot into the field and make my life intersting? On and on. Well it is starting to get light and the toms start up. Gobbling from what I figure four or five different birds. At least 3 are pretty close. The rain starts coming down pretty good right about legal shooting light. Comes down hard for about 30 minutes and stops. The day turns into one of those perfect ones; overcast, no wind, very quiet. I give a few yelps on the box, slate and diaphram to try to imitate a small flock of hens. I get a bunch of big gobbles back and several of them are close. The negative thoughts start creeping in, are the neighbors going to shoot just prior to the birds coming to our field? This had happened two years earlier in this unit. They got a nice gobbler called to them by yours truly, judging by the gobbles and shot. A few minutes later I see something white through the mesh window netting. Then I see the large tail fan that had blended into the woods at first. Then another fan. Two nice gobblers coming right for my blind at less than 30 yards. They come to within 3 feet of the blind. I give a very soft purr and they hammer out gobbles right next to my blind. So close I could not get my gun around to a position where I could think of shooting. They began to strut directly away from me towards the woods and my jake decoy. I am thinking these guys are going to kick that decoy's butt. Well they got out to about 6 yards and a pull the trigger and drop the larger of the two mature birds. The bird flopped about for a few minutes. Once it stopped, the other Tom, still hanging right there within 5 feet of the dead bird, walks over, gets up on top of the dead bird and begins to peck and spur and jump up and down on it. When it finished, about a mintue later, it wondered off to the woods. It was one great morning in the woods, and the first time I have ever bagged my birds so early in the season. I guess I have mixed emothions about the hunt ending so soon. Heck, I am over it, I have turkey in the freezer and time to fish. Not bad.
Oh ya, when I shot, I forgot to stick the end of my barrel out the hole in the blind's mesh. It has now been a week and I think my ears are still ringing. Don't forget to protect your ears. Good luck to the turkey hunters!
Kuch |
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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 11:04:04
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Congrats Greg, sounds like you had a great hunt, I'm glad it worked out for you this year.
Everyone I talk to says the birds are not afraid of the pop-up blinds, well let me tell you they don't trust them on the 105 property. I could only get the birds within about 60 yards with mine out on that property. That is atleast 4 birds taken off club property this year and we just started the secound week of the season.
I know we where seeing about 10 other jakes on the 105 property and the 3 big toms. If someone would like to have someone else call for them or just want someone to tag along with them let me know as I would like to get back out.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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JimmyC
Junior Member
160 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 12:18:13
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Way to get out there and have at it guys! Congrats and thanks for sharing.
I'm hoping to stumble onto one in the late season. |
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1342 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 05:26:42
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Frank,
I know of 6 birds taken on club property so far, one in OH, and five in MI.
If those birds were leery of the blind, I would suspect there is something flapping in the wind, or they could see you in the blind moving. Did you have the mesh screens up? I've never had a bird spook at a pop up until they literally had their head in the blind with me. However, I have had them spot movement through the open windows, doesn't take much.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 12:19:42
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Todd,
These birds are just very skitish about the blind IMO, there is nothing moving on the out side of the blind and the windows where set up so the birds couldn't see in. Even the first day the 4 jakes that came in after seeing the blind went out into the field about 20 yards. It might just be me and the fact that I'm not used to a long beard not comming into my calls, this is only the secound year I wasn't able to call a long beard into gun range when I could see him and get him gobbling. I guess its more the fact that I'm not used to being rejected by turkeys wether they be Tom's or Hen's. I couldn't even get the boss hen to fight with me? I will say once the birds where in the woods I had at least 4 of them with in 10 feet of the blind but when they where in the field they wanted nothing to do with it.
I only know of the 5 birds, the 2 I was part of Joe B, Mike M and Greg K. birds who got the other one? Never mind I see Mike Miller had a partner with him so yes that makes 6 birds. I think this goes to show we have some pretty good turkey hunting on club property. I havent checked the harvest reports yet but I can't beileve noone has taken a bird off 116 yet. That property is loaded with birds.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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Edited by - frank on 04/29/2009 12:26:07 |
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GKuch
Junior Member
126 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2009 : 21:23:00
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Thanks Frank. I enjoy your posts. Keep them coming. For me, the turkeys don't seem to be bothered at all by the blind.
Good luck fishin.
Kuch |
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xenacray
Starting Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 01:13:29
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Greetings:
I think Kuch and I were on the same hunt! My 11 year-old daughter and I slipped into my pop-up blind at 0615 on Earth Day. Prior obligations forced us out of the blind by 0800. I wasn't too upset with our early departure as my girl was less then excited to be afield that morning. Once the house cleared out I headed back to the blind at 0915. I began my calling sequence at 0930. Eight to ten yelps and a gobble or two every fifteen minutes for the first hour. I stretch the calling out to every thirty minutes for the second hour. After that I go mobile and try to find the birds on the ground. On this day, I heard a gobble 90 yards southeast of my position around 1030. I settled in and prepared for a shot in that direction. I kept the two window flaps on the west side of my blind closed just in case the birds tried to sneak in and catch my head darting about inside. I waited a full 15 minutes before issuing another call sequence. I sent seven yelps followed by a gobble deep into the woods before me. A mature Tom cut my gobble off before I could complete it. Guess where he was all fanned out and looking for a fight with the Pretty Boy decoy north of my blind? Fifteen yards to the west (behind one of my closed window flaps). I froze and waited for the rest of the hunt to unfold. Two minutes later, two Toms walked within three feet of my blind past an open window to the south. The largest Tom continued forward and turned toward my decoy setup. At 1050, I put him to rest with a six yard shot as I watched the other seven birds with him ease back into the woods to see another day. My goal of harvesting a turkey with a 10 inch beard has finally been realized! It was great hunt on a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.
Toby |
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GKuch
Junior Member
126 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 14:52:29
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Congrats Toby! Sounds hugely similar to my hunt. It is truly an awesome thing, isn't it? We know there were at least two other members hunting club property today who bagged birds. One of them, for the first time!!!! Maybe they will post their success here as well.
What a year of turket hunting this is turning out to be for ASC!!
Thanks guys.
Kuch |
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frank
Average Member
838 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 17:53:57
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I hunted with Bill Gulu on friday morning, we hunted Mi0105 in the E unit. Set up on the west side of unit D and the only birds we seen where north towards the other end of the E unit. Never heard a gobble all morning ended up calling it quits about 10am or so.
Hunted Saturday morning with Jason Walker on the same property and the same units. This time set up on the east edge of the property about the place Bill and I seen the birds on friday. Just before daylight heard a gobble behind us and a little north, as it started getting lighter heard at least 5 different birds gobbling 2 to the west (what was believed to be unit F) and 1 to the south not sure what unit this bird was in and another 1 (at least) behind us. About 6:30 heard the hens talking in the trees, around 7am seen a bird fly out into the field infront of us like I expected. While waiting for the turkeys to fly down we had at least 3 or 4 deer walk with in 30 yards of us, with 1 getting down wind and spooking. Hear more birds fly down but they land in the woods to our back's, waiting for them to hit the field and bring the Toms with them. Hear some leaves rusling right behind me and about 6 feet to my right I see a hen coming out into the field she has 3 others with her and they get about 10 feet infront of me and spot something they don't like and start puttin and head back to the woods. While they are puttin there is a Tom gobbling it seems like every other breath he is so close I can hear him shaking when he gobbles, but he stays in the woods on the neighbors property and don't come out in the field. As these birds leave and we hear no more talking except from them we get up and start walking north, spook at leats 4 more birds off the roost. I give a kiwi call and hear a gobble to the north as Jason and I are looking for a place to sit we see a hen about 50 yeards away with 3 Toms with her 1 being a long beard. All in all it was a great hunt I just wish Jason could have gotten his bird.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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jaywkr
New Member
83 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2009 : 18:18:21
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| Hunted 105 this morning. I had D&E reserved but I saw all the birds on c&d. I did manage to call what I think was a jake(had red head) in to about 20yds but could not see a beard. |
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2009 Turkey season
