Success in Ky!!!

[BillCartwright]

I guess I'll make my first post here a success one. Glad to see a few familiar faces. Not sure what is going on with the other forum, I can' pull it up. Anyway, here is the scoop on my LBL quota hunt.

Spent the past 2 days hunting a special draw hunt that gave me a jump start to the Kentucky Season. LBL is pretty tough. Most of the birds carry Master Degree's and even your 2 year old birds are not typical. Day one I worked numerous birds, but they all proved tough and stayed with hens throughout the day. The weather wasn't the greatest with storms coming and going and some wind. The one bird I had coming was foiled when truck came down a gravel road and parked. Someone got out blowing on a owl call that at best sounded like a dying goose. Bird went quiet. I stayed put for nearly 90 minutes and the bird never slipped in on me. I feel the person entered the woods and likely bumped the tom. I moved locations after some trucks pulled into my area. I found a promising area for Day 2 that is likely to become my #1 spot there going forward. At flyup I heard some birds in the distance and felt good about the morning hunt.

Day 2 brought perfect weather and lots more gobbling. At first light I found myself 125 yards from a booming gobble. About 100 yards down the same ridge another bird sounded off. I immediately sat down and let the woods come alive. Over the next 30 minutes I bet those 2 birds gobble 150-200 times. I started some tree yelps and immediately was met by live hens. There were turkey all over the ridge. The first tom hit the ground and gobbled. Within the next 5 minutes 17 hens flew down. Best I was hoping for was the birds would work my way or I could bring them. The second tom flew to another tree and I could plainly see him. After about 5 more minutes he just jumped to the ground. These 2 birds gobbled hard for the next 2 hours but stayed on the ridge. Behind me off in the distance a 3rd bird had started gobbling. With every yelp and cut he would cut me off. So I turned around and started talking to him. Within 20 minutes I could see the bird enter a clearing about 250 yards out. I watched him strut/gobble to within 70 yards. At that time I fired up my camera and was going to take some pics. I lost sight of him due to the terrain and all of a sudden I see him on a dead run at 20 yards. I snapped a couple not so focused pics and pulled the trigger on him at 8 yards. A 2 year old bird, 19lbs. 9 3/4" beard and 7/8" spurs. This bird came from at least 3-400 yards away. His initial gobbles were very faint. I'm sure part of his coming was because the other 2 gobblers tearing it up and all the hens, but it was plain that with my every call he'd cut me off double and triple gobbling. It was a good hunt and I'm thankful at having success on public land that is pretty tough to hunt in my opinion.

Here are a few pics of the bird as it was coming to gun and a harvest photo.

www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/lbl_1.jpg
www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/lbl_2.jpg

www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/lbl05kybird.jpg

[jirvin]

Congrats Bill.Yeah I can't pull up the other forums either.

[BillCartwright]

Thanks Jeff. I was able to bring it up a few minutes ago, but the Turkey forum is still blank.

[jirvin]

That is gonna be bad if we can't get back the Turkey Forum.

Bill,depending on my season this year I may have to get you to guide for me the way my luck has gone the past few years.

[BillCartwright]

You are welcome to come down and hunt with me. More than enough room at the house, so your only expense would be gas and time. Would love to try and get you a bird to gun.

[jirvin]

That sounds good You know I would appreciate the help and I would pay you whatever fee you normally charge.

I think my plan tomorrow and this weekend is to get my dad another bird.I will sacrifice my chances at one to see him get another one and try to get it on camera.I just can't figure out how to work the calls and the camera at the same time. ;D

[jirvin]

I also want that first bird to come by my own means.Does that make sense?I dont know how much longer I can hold to that theory though.I just think it would mean more to me if I got my first by me calling to him and making him do what I want,especially if my dad had already got his and he was setting next to me watching the whole thing go down.

That brings up a question.How did you get your first bird,Bill?

[BillCartwright]

You would owe me nothing. I invited you. I don't make my living with the guiding I do. Pays for the leases and equipment and I use it all as a tax write off.

I understand about wanting to call in your own bird and will support that. I've went on several "guided" hunts but always do my own calling. I prefer it. I've asked a guide to chime in to simulate another hen or a fight, but I do my own calling. I never guarantee anyone a kill, but do guarantee we will be on birds. IMHO successful calling has to do with saying what needs to be said and when to say it. When you hear hunters talk about mimicking another hen or call like the hens are, well that is right on most of the time. If the hens are not being vocal and you are out there yacking it up, just isn't natural and I think the birds are weary to that. They know their surroundings better than anything. Luck can always be a factor as well and will take it if it shows its hand.

As for my first bird, being self-taught it took me 2 full seasons of hunting at LBL before I killed my first bird. I was part of the "If you can't use a diaphram you are not a turkey hunter" era. I still use a mouth call pretty regularly, but it is hard to beat a sweet sound friction call. I won't say it has been cake, but I've limited out every year except in 2002, when I only took 1 bird in the state. Other seasons I've racked up as many as 11 hunting several states. I've been hunting turkey since 87'.

[jirvin]

This is my fourth year and other than the forums and you guys I'am self taught(I knew I was a slow learner or at least that is what my teacher said).My dad never Turkey hunted until I took him.I have had a couple of chances and blew them so it is really my own fault I haven't got one yet.

[BillCartwright]

Just email me if you want to talk about coming down after this weekend. The offer is open, so any time. I'll see if I can't be as good of a host as MassiveAss. LOL.

My dad didn't turkey hunt either, bass fishing was his spring thing, as it was mine, until I discovered turkeys. I rarely think about fishing until Mid May now.

[ncboman]

Bill, congrats on the Tom.

The pics of him coming in are great. What kind of camera were you using and did he ever act like he noticed it?

[freedomrules3]

i do like the photo with that beard sticking out. sounds like some great action, nothing like hearing a couple hundred gobbles to keep ya on your toes. i just love hearing that in the crisp morning air. I sure wish i would have started turkey hunting long ago, it is just way too much fun.

on another note either you have lots of clothes on or your trying to catch someone in weight ...lol. great job Bill.

[eshoremd]

congrats bill

and on a side note, rick, you must have missed the memo, gaining a few pounds is "the cool new thing to do"

[hatracked]

Congrats Bill

Im hoping I get to lay down a sparrow swamp tom in the am.Ive only carried the gun three times this season and I passed up several two year olds waiting on big boy. Im heading home in a few just so I can hunt my home court birds and the blueberry bosstom for a morning then its back downhere for three more days. Then barring any disasters its off to Md., then WV, and a possible Va hunt.

[jplittlebuck]

VERY nice job you ole turkey Terminator !!!