Wrapped up anotherTurkey season

Well as you know I got drawn for Mississinewa Res. for the first 3 days of Turkey season. As it turns out I only needed the first day.
I got off work at 5 a.m. made the hour drive down, to my surprise no one was in my first spot. So I got out and prepared to take off to the woods, when it happened. Gobbles and lots of them across the road from where I was going to hunt. Playing the odds I started off towards the gobbling, when I thought I was close enough I got set up. All the birds gobbling flew down the opposite side of the woods they were roosted in. 3 hours later all that I had seen was a hen and she came from one end of the field all the way to my decoys.



So I made the deal with myself, I'll move over across the road and set up and wait til 11:30 a.m. Then I'll go home and google where I heard all the turkeys gobbling so I can get on them in the morning. So I pulled all my crap together and off I went. I got to my spot at 10:30, I got my dekes set out and got my chair ready, cut some branches and generally made a huge commotion in the corner of the field I was setting up in. Just when I was getting ready to sit down, I saw a Turkey in the field next to the one I was set up in. So I started with some soft cutting, used sparingly and pushing the sound away from where I thought the birds would come from. Well less than 15 min later I hear something walking through the leaves to the corner of the field. I start straining to see beyond and through the briar patch that is between me and the sound. Finally I see a head and neck walk out to the edge of the field. He never made a sound just came in and looked at all the fine ladies in the field. I started to slowly move the shotgun barrel over for the shot and at 15 yards that's darn near impossible. He didn't really see me move but he did start to smell a rat so when he turned back towards the woods I swung on him put the red dot on his neck and dropped the hammer. All I saw was leaves and brush getting blown to shreds then I heard the "I'm down, death flapping" and I got up and claimed my prize.

A 2 year old Tom weighing in at 23 1/2 #'s, with a 10 1/2" beard, and 3/4 " spurs.

and just like that my seasons' over........ you can uncross your fingers now.

First outing

This year started off great......as far as equipment goes. I ended up going to Max for my first outing this year. I got to the lake in the really dark hours. It was cold, clear, and calm, by the time I left it was just cold and clear. I couldn't hook up on anything casting and since it was a test trip I put on the trolling motor and did some trolling. Only then did I hook up a largemouth bass and a decent walleye.
I was fishing 20' of water trolling at 1.5-1.9 mph and my lures were running between 9-13 ft. The warmest water I found all day was 55.4 degrees brrrrr.
All in all I had a good day until I got blown off the lake. All my equipment started up and ran well and I'm ready for the season to kick into full swing.
I did get drawn for the Turkey hunt this year so this week will be the week of little rest. Hunt, sleep, work and get up and do it again for three days. Well gotta mow some lawns so I can just enjoy the week, and the hunt without yard work looming over my head.
Yeah who am I kidding I couldn't care less if the lawn needs mowed if I get to go Turkey hunting. Anyway wish me luck this week and as always I will post my hunt so watch for it by the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Here's the pic.
MMMMmmmm he was tasty.