Message Board: WOODHAVEN Custom Calls / Hunting / Turkey

Bow vs. Shotgun turkey hunting

TTBenelli — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:00:54 GMT

Hello everyone. Just trying to heat up the forum here. I'm looking at trying my hand at using my bow to harvest a turkey this year. I'm just curious to see what all of you think. Don't get me wrong I thoroughly enjoy harvesting a bird with my Benelli. I want to add another dimension to enjoy this great sport.

Tim

Pistol grips and red dots

TTBenelli — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:01:47 GMT

Just wondering if any of you use a pistol grip and a red dot sight on your turkey shotgun set ups? If so what set up do you have?

Anybody Hunt Turkeys in Fall?

Chief Many Longbeards1 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:28:38 GMT

any of you fellow woodheads hunt turkeys in the fall?
i am getting psyched. fall archery 2 weeks away and fall firearm 5 weeks out.
different game in the fall than spring, but as far as i'm concerned it's just as much fun.
i have had pretty good success in the fall, mainly concentrating on roost sites at sunrise and sunset and have bagged a couple nice toms around mid-day at harvested crop fields.

i finally got logged back in as chief1 after numerous attempts failed to retrieve my password for original screen name of chief many longbeards.

NY Hunting Season

Chalk N' Talk — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 23:25:03 GMT

Well the season in New York was tough, however; I was able to shoot a nice three year old on the second to last day of the season. Three bad hatch years in a row resulted in less birds across the landscape. It is nice to know when a bird gobbles he will probably be older, but part of me still likes to hear a lot of talk and gobblin' on the roost. Looking forward to next year already.

Anybody score out west

FloridaCracker — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:29:57 GMT

Since I seem to be doing most of my hunting this year vicariously through others where are the late season stories and pics.

Ohio Spring 2011 Success

TTBenelli — Sat, 14 May 2011 07:40:34 GMT

First of all, Thank you Scott Ellis and your sig. diaphragm call. I harvested two great long beards this spring despite less than favorable weather using your call. The call is pure turkey. Hens and gobblers alike were coming in to my set ups. Especially thanks for your great calling you-tube videos as they were highly helpful.
My first bird was 21.5 lbs, 11" beard, and 1.25" spurs.
My second one was 22.5 lbs, 13" beard and 1.25" spurs.
Pics to follow.

Tim

Got one!!

kybeardbuster — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:30:51 GMT

It was a bad rainy season here in kentucky but i got lucky and killed one on the next to last day of the season..22 lbs..10 3/4 inch beard..1 inch spurs..I shot him at 10 yards..

2010 Gobbler

nate829 — Thu, 12 May 2011 15:28:11 GMT

I got my 2010 gobbler back from the taxdermist this week. he is the largest bird I have ever killed. The mount looks great. I still have not harvested a longbeard yet this season. I did call a nice longbeard in for a friend of mine using the red wing and my cherry classic crystal. I got him interested in woodhaven calls after that hunt. We still have 3 days to go here in Ohio. I'll be bummed if I don't get a longbeard this spring, but calling one in for a friend and getting my 2010 gobbler back from the taxidermist has cheered me up.

Nathan

Wrapping it up

jyoung — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:26:39 GMT

Well, this is the last weekend in Mississippi then I'm heading to Indiana for a hunt and wrapping it up in Kentucky on my way home. Good luck to all!

Jonathan

2 down one to go..

Platinumwindow99 — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:37:24 GMT

#1 21 lbs 10.5" beard w/1.25' spurs... #2 22 lbs 10" beard w/1' spurs.. one tag left..

Neck breakin!

Scott Ellis — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:19:39 GMT

Glad to hear and see everyone's success-some great stories and photos. Thanks for sharing!

any woodhaven hunters near milwalkee wisconsin

Greg Keeton — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:39:58 GMT

i will b working in milwalkee for the next 3 months looking, for someone to talk turkey with.and get some advice on which areas that has left over tags.thanks

Last few days of season!

allenbgood — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:27:46 GMT

Here in Alabama the season ends this Sat. the 30th. I plan on hunting hard Thurs., Fri., and Sat. I have only taken one bird this year, (my first gobbler) but have worked several other birds just couldn't close the deal. I think the weather has the birds really acting strange this year, little to no gobbling in the areas I have hunted in. It is not looking good on being able to take another bird before season ends. I know the general area that at least two gobblers are in, they have just been silent the past several weeks. I guess I will just focus on these areas and set up and stay making soft calls every so often and maybe one of the gobblers will come check me out. It is hard to stay in one spot especially when nothing is responding to your calls. I don't really know what else to do in this situation. If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated! I am washing my camo and leaf suit right now getting things ready for tomorrow. I also have to clean my gun and do a whole slough of other things before going. Good luck to everyone else, hope you all tag out!

Allen

Fooled.

jdude — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:26:22 GMT

well I was sure fooled this morning, I was hunting some public land, workin 2 long beards (so i thought) got em in at 30 yards when I realized I had wasted my time calling to 4 jakes that had full gobbles. They come into 15 yards hung around the decoys then after 20 minutes decided they would pack up an hit the trail, fun to watch for sure...still after that last tag bird.

Tough Season!!!!

kershawbuck — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:15:29 GMT

Well after scouting all of Febuary and March I thought I was ready. But not for this!!!!!!! Youth day I was out with both my girls and fell . My wrist was hurting but not that bad so we kept hunting. Ended up getting on two long beards but they where henned up so we called it a day. The next Saturday I had my wrist x-rayed and they found nothing. Went to a diffrent hospital on Monday and again they found nothing but as the weeks went on the more it hurt!! Well went to Carolina ortho on Tuesday and they found a fracture ! Now Im in a cast! All this time I could not carry a gun becasue I could not hold it up. And now its even harder! So all I have been doing is calling for other people. We have killed 7 birds so far and its been a awesome season but looks like I might not get a bird this year????? Really bummed but either way it has been a great season!!

good luck to all of you!!

MS Public Land

jyoung — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:09:02 GMT

Killed this bird yeaterday at 7:00 on the dot. 9 1/2 inch beard and 1inch spurs.

Jonathan

passed up.

jdude — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:30:53 GMT

well guys im on my last tag, went this morning, and the birds was just hammerin like crazy... I set up on a bird and he flew down in the oppostie direction from me but I stuck it out with him for about 20 min. or so then he decided to brake an come my way, he came in around 25 yards I got a good look at him, maybe 8 or 9 inch bird with short spurs so I passed him up, not the bird I wanted to tag out on.

My Dad and my son Jake!

Scott Ellis — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:44:32 GMT

Had a great hunt last weekend. Two longbeards came right down the barrel to Jake and his .410 but I couldnt get them stopped to give him a shot. They were two birds from different directions and once they met in the middle the were racing to get to me "the hen". Jake is only 4.5 so there will be plenty of time for my little huntin buddy. Dad did manage to smoke one of them. It was a great day!

Tag No. 1 filled!!!

Chief Many Longbeards — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:39:36 GMT

got a nice eastern in wc illinois this morning.
hunted til quittin time at 1 pm yesterday without hearing a single gobble in the cool and very windy conditions.
hit a new spot today and i knew where they roosted, but it would take a long hike to circle the roost area and come in above them to set up.
the big boss sounded off early and i eventually saw him about 75 yards away. a couple other toms were gobblin and the hens were really gettin cranked up with loud yelps and cutts when he pitched down first.
he started struttin away from me but i hit a soft yelp on a woodhaven buzzcutter, he spun around and triple gobbled and began easin up the hill toward me.
he went behind a big oak about 50 yards away, which let me shoulder my gun. he stepped out and stopped, so i made another soft yelp, he closed to 40 yards and i let him have it.
11 1/4 inch beard, 1 3/8 spurs and stretched the scale to 24 pounds.
one down and two to go.

First Gobbler!

allenbgood — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:00:44 GMT

Here are some photos of my first gobbler. I harvested him today on 4/10/11 at 11:00 a.m. in Marion County. I have only killed a jake before today, so to say I'm excited is an understatement. I have been chasing this one bird now for about two weeks. He would answer my loud calling but would never come in. I made up my mind to only try soft calling and it payed off. I made soft yelps, clucks and purrs every 5-10 minutes and he couldn't handle it. I alternated between my cherry classic crystal call and my legend slate call. The slate was the last one he heard. I was going to hunt him at day break this morning but when I got out of my truck, while it was still dark, I hit the panic button on the key chain, and woke every animal up this side of the Mississippi state line. So I got back in the truck and went to the opposite side of the land to see if I could find another bird. I did locate one on roost but he wasn't in the mood to play, so I left him. I ended back up at my first location at about 10:00 and took him at 11:00. He had a 10 inch beard and 1 inch spurs and weighed 26 lbs.

Long beard #4!!

jdude — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:02:36 GMT

well this has been an awsome season, called this bird in to my buddy that got me hooked on Turkey hunting to begin with, glad I got to pay him back by callin in his 1st bird of the season.

P.S. im on the right, Dougie fresh is on the left.

*once again "He got bit by the RED VYPER"!!!!

-Bird details: 9 1/2 inch beard , 3/4 spurrs, 17 pounds (nice 2 year old)

Longbeard #3

jdude — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 23:02:45 GMT

Everyone this is a hunt I will never foget. If you remember I posted a prayer request for Jeffery page . he had major cancer surgery a while back and is still recovering. Yesterday Jeffrey had to go back an have more tests done to make sure the surgery had workin. but this afternoon on a very windy day in south Ga. I had a chance to take his son J.P. turkey hunting due to his dad Jeffrey not being able to go due to .

Ladies an gentlemen I give you J.P.'s 1st bird his dad is sure smiling right now.

-bird details: 4 beards, 1-11inch, 1-8inch, 1-7inch, 1-6inch . ......1 1/8inch spurs, 18 pounds.

P.S. woodhaven im proud to say I called this great bird in using the "red Vyper" this is the 4th bird this year i have called in with it...as i have said before "he got bit by the "VYPER"

#3 and #4 down

btreezen2 — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:57:25 GMT

4-3-11-I killed this longbeard Sunday afternoon. I sat down about 4:30 and made a call on the Legend Glass about 5:30. This bird came running into the decoy without saying a word...Killed him 5:55 pm. 10" beard 7/8 spurs....sharp spurs...he is #3 for me this year.

4-4-11- I killed this one about 7:30 this morning. Gobbled his head off. He got hung up at about 60 yards in some thick stuff so I let him walk away and went right where he was. Made 3 yelps on the Vision Crystal and he gobbled 40 yards from me. Came down the hill and shot him at 20 yards. 10" beard left spur was 3/4 right spur was 7/8...by himself. This is #4 for me this year.

by myself this mourning

TNturkey hunter — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:24:01 GMT

i woke up this mournin thinkin my buddy might wake up and go hunting so i wait untill 7 am. he never shows up so i hit the woods, i get up on the ridge call, heard nothing. walked about a hundred yards called again and heard three in the feild below me, so i make my set up on the bench in the ridge. i called a couple of times and they gobbled every time. but when they got to edge of the bench and i could see them i saw that they were all three jakes. i waited untill they left and walked up the ridge about 300 yards and called i heard one gobble. this one was real excited i could tell he was all by himself. i set up on the side of the trail and called 2 times within 5 minutes he was walking up the holler so i had to turn about a quarter of the way around the tree.i managed toget turned around while he was behind a little bush, then i picked out a spot let him walk into it cut on my copperhead and dropped him in his tracks. he had a 10 1/8 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs and weighed 20 pounds. will post pictures later.

first turkey down

TNturkey hunter — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 16:01:30 GMT

We got to the public land at about 6 30. we walked up the hill and i owl hooted all i heard was crickets, so we walked down the ridge top about 100 yards and tried again this time we heard several gobbles. i had my buddy and his girlfriend with me we were trying to get her her first bird. so we set up on them and they started coming up the hill they scrathed around in front of us for about an hour, as they got closer i noticed that they were all jakes. it didnt matter to us since it was going to be her first one, there were twelve. three broke off and they headed straight for our decoy. they came up seperated a little and she dropped one in its tracks. we were pretty excited that we had a bird down on opening mourning on public land and that she decided to skip work so she could get a chance to kill her first turkey.

SC Gobbler Down

Scott Ellis — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:30:33 GMT

Here's a pic of WH's own Kevin Kirkpatrick. Rob Keck and Kevin teamed up on Rob's fine SC low country eastern.

LONG BEARD NUMBER 2 !!!

jdude — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:28:32 GMT

All i have to say is thanks the good Lord for 9:30 am college classes !!! we took this bird this mornin and man was he hammerin !!! the "RED VYPER" strikes again !!

Hunt details: this was a public land bird, started hammerin at the owl hoot at 6 45am , hammered no less than 30 times on the roost. he hit the dirt 60 yards infront of us. and struted,spit and drummed his way into my buddies 30 yard shot !! 7:15 am the hunt was over !!

P.S. im on the right.

!st long beard of Ga. season

jdude — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:56:13 GMT

First longbeard of Ga. season. 12.5 inch spurs 1 3/8 spurs 22 pounds better pics comin soon !!! the Red vyper bit him !!!

Chambers County Turkeys

btreezen2 — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:13:55 GMT

Second Day of 2011 Turkey Season...Morning started off weak these birds came in silent...Bird on the left had 9-3/4 inch beard and 1-1/8 spurs...Mine had 9 inch beard 3/4 spurs and he was the strutter....We said 1,2,3 and killed both of them on the Legand Glass.

Same turkeys....

3-28-11 I went behind my house and hooted nothing. So I put She-mobile in the food plot anyway. I sat down tree yelped...GOBBLE bout 80 yards. Fly down cackle....He pitched down 60 yards...Clucked and Purred twice...drummed the rest of the way into 20 yards from me, 5 yards from decoy and I put the hammer down...10inch beard 3/4 spurs....I was using the VISION signed by Mike....I hope my luck continues it has been a very exciting season so far.

good scouting trip

TNturkey hunter — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:03:33 GMT

went scouting this mourning on my place in TN, sat down hit the crow call and heard one bird on my right and one on my left. they werent to far away so i decided to back out and look on a diffrent part of the farm. i went to the big feild and saw 4 more gobblers strutting with about 10 hens. and on the way out saw 3 jakes standing on the trail, pretty good mourning in my book.

better than nothin.

jdude — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:52:36 GMT

sorry it took so long to post. Opening day of Ga. turkey season was this past sat. (march 26th)...yes i killed a bird( just a jake though ) but it will make a great wing bone, taste good fried up and also a new fan for my decoy .

some details on the hunt well got up at 6am in the woods at 6:45am called 6 hens and 2 jakes across water. funny part was I shot the "struting" jake i took an 8 yard shot an cut him a back flip the hunt was over at 7:23am . Thanks for making such great calls. Still waiting on the long beard !!

Double-Up on Some Osceolas 2011

FLAhotdog — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:10:02 GMT

Myself and my buddy took 2 Osceola gobblers within 3 days on public land. Season is off to a good start early!!

Snakes !!

kershawbuck — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:15:05 GMT

Well I was out scouting yesterday on some new land I got . And was walking thru the pines and almost stepped on a copper head!!!!!! And needless to say I did the chicken dance!! LOL ... I really hate smakes !!!! He was not huge maybe 2 ft but big enough!!!!

He wont be there on Saturday when I go out for youth day !! LOL

March 19 Gobble Report !

kershawbuck — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 13:55:43 GMT

Went out and scouted this morning and heard the most gobbles I have ever heard on our club!! There was one group bunched up and when they all gobbled together it sounded like a lion roar!! I went to other parts of the club and it just seemed like they where all excited today!! Next week is youth day in Chesterfield Co . So I plan to take both my girls out on the club In Jefferson !

any luck in bama?

fayettevilleboy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:40:14 GMT

anyone have any luck on opening day in alabama?

Are the birds cranked up in MS

Drumstick — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:08:59 GMT

I've been stuck offshore for 2 weeks, got one more to go. I'm jumpin stumps to get home and hear some thunder buzzards. Anybody have reports from South MS. I appreciate it. This is the worst time of the year to have to work, ha.

Turkey Time!!!

jyoung — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:26:52 GMT

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!! Headed up to my camp in Mississippi tomorrow to do a little last minute homework for my Saturday hunt. GOOD LUCK to all who will be hunting this weekend!

Jonathan

Gobbled this morning

kershawbuck — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:17:09 GMT

Birds where Hammering this morning on my club in SC!! Youth day in two weeks and I cant wait to be out there!!!! Getting so excited!!!

Close call in Mississippi!

jyoung — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:21:21 GMT

This past weekend was youth weekend in Mississippi. We got on three birds and was able to call one in. Had him at 45 yards and he did not like what he saw(or didn't see...ie... the hen) so he started heading away. the boy I brought was not comfortable with that shot and I was not sure if his gun could make that shot so we let him go. Got back on the same birds yesterday, but no luck. I think the weather had a lot to do with that. Considering the bad weather we had, it was a really fun hunt.

Jonathan

Birds are out roaming!

allenbgood — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:40:05 GMT

I have noticed the last several days the turkeys are moving around here in Alabama. I have seen quite a few out in fields and out in open areas! I have even seen a couple long beards out by themselves. It is getting close here just 10 days and counting! Can't hardly wait!!!