I just got back from the west coast. I hunted in California, and took in some beautiful sights. Then I flew into Colorado to visit friends for a few days and went up into the Rocky Mountains, but was not able to pull off a hunt there. It was my first time visiting either of those states. I spent 2 weeks out west with my friends, and it was awesome!! :you_rock:
The weather in California wasn't very good, but we did have a couple of nice days. In a day of scouting, and 4 days of hunting, my friend and I hiked 26 miles through the California mountains. Most of it was uphill, and the trails were slick with claylike mud due to the rain. This Florida flatlander got his cardio on, that's for sure!! :lol: The first couple of days were rainy and cool, and the gobblers didn't like it any more than we did. We heard no gobbles at all, only a little bit of hen talk. On the third day of hunting the rain broke and the sun came out, but it was cold and very windy. Again, no gobbles just a little hen talk. We had yet to even see a bird. To top it off, this was heavily pressured public land that required no permit, and was used for camping, hiking and horseback riding, even during the hunts. But we were finding turkey sign and hearing hens. The gobblers couldn't be far away. As luck would have it, that afternoon more rain moved in along with colder weather. The mountain ridges we'd been hunting to get away from the crowds were forecasted to get snow, and indeed as we scouted that afternoon it started snowing. We figured the birds would move further down towards the valleys to escape the wind and snow, but that's also easier to get to, and that's where the people were. The only fortunate thing was this was during the week, so the crowds had died down from opening weekend.
The next morning was cold and still overcast. The birds didn't gobble, again. ::) But by 08:30 the skies started clearing, and we were set up in a beautiful spot on a tall hill, overlooking a creek bottom and the opposing hillside and ridge. By 09:00 the sun came out and warmed things up, and finally the birds started gobbling!! :icon_thumright: We heard 5 different gobblers that morning. The closest gobbler started answering my calls, getting closer each time he gobbled. Then we started hearing hen's clucking and yelping, they too were getting closer. Our eyes scanned the wood line, waiting for the birds to appear. Then the public land curse appeared, Walking Wally's!! First a guy with an orange vest on comes walking down the opposite ridge with his gun over his shoulder, no face mask or gloves, just bumbling along. I let him get out of sight, and waited for 5 minutes before calling. The tom gobbled at me, and the hens resumed their chatter. 10 minutes later I caught movement out of my peripheral vision. I eased my head that way, and once again it was a Walking Wally!! He came walking right in from the direction of the gobbler and hens, wearing camo pants, a gray shirt, no facemask, hat or gloves, gun over his shoulder. >:( He walked up to 15 yards away from us, and never saw us or the decoys. I finally threw my hands up in the air in exasperation!! Wally just kept on walking through. >:( >:( >:( That was the last we heard of the gobbler and hens. >:(
We let the area quiet down for 20 minutes but stayed there since we had heard 4 gobblers around us. Around 11:20 a jet flew over and a tom shock gobbled at it from the opposite ridge. I immediately called to him and he gobbled his approval! :icon_thumright: I let 5 minutes go by and yelped again. He gobbled again and was closer. Again I let 5 minutes elapse before softly yelping. He gobbled again and was closing the gap. Another 5 minutes went by so I floated out some soft yelps. The gobbler answered from the base of the hill we were on, but we could not see him yet. From where the gobble came from, he had to see my decoys. Now it was a waiting game. My friend and I had our guns up, pointing in the direction of the decoys. Statue still, our eyes scanned the area for the gobbler. Instead of coming up the hillside to the ladies, he instead stayed inside the woods as he ascended the hill. Perhaps due to the pressure these birds get from people. Finally I spotted movement to our right, as his white cap crested the hillside. I whispered to my friend, "Freeze!!" The gobbler came up the hill, but just enough for him to see. His head, neck and upper chest were all that were visible. He was only 15 yards away, and our guns were pointed in the wrong direction. :o I could see the beginning of a beard and it dropping down out of sight. He stood there looking around, but didn't want to commit. Since there was a nice breeze blowing, and the branches and grasses around us were moving, I started a slow move towards him with my gun. He took a couple of steps forward, then turned to walk away. I finished my move and got him in the scope. BOOM!!! California public land, mountain Rio down at 14 yards!! :fud: :turkey: :icon_thumright: He wasn't a big boy by any means, just a 2 year old, but given the circumstances and the weather, I'm very happy with him. :icon_thumright: He weighed 16.2 lb's, had a 7" beard, and .75" & .6875" spurs.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aav_zpsa8103fe8.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aav_zpsa8103fe8.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aau_zpsac9e3857.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aau_zpsac9e3857.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaj_zps26871f26.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaj_zps26871f26.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aak_zps68721fec.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aak_zps68721fec.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaaa_zps645e5582.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaaa_zps645e5582.jpg.html)
We also visited my friend's home town in northern California. I got to walk into the Pacific Ocean, we saw the giant redwood trees, and saw thousands of geese and ducks. It was an awesome trip!! I've now hunted in 10 different states, and killed gobblers in 8 of them. I have a goal of killing a gobbler in each of the lower 48 states before I die. Here are some California pics for y'all to enjoy.
The area we hunted.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014ae_zpsbafd9393.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014ae_zpsbafd9393.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014af_zps5e6f27bc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014af_zps5e6f27bc.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014al_zps28457d19.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014al_zps28457d19.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aa_zpsb6f08c39.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aa_zpsb6f08c39.jpg.html)
A herd of Tule elk on the side of a hill.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014az_zps2c34c1fa.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014az_zps2c34c1fa.jpg.html)
Giant redwood trees!!! :o :o :o
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014at_zps78f5679a.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014at_zps78f5679a.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014au_zps18de429f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014au_zps18de429f.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aam_zps7df7a946.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aam_zps7df7a946.jpg.html)
The Pacific Ocean
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aac_zpsd7db4bd4.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aac_zpsd7db4bd4.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aae_zpsb900b119.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aae_zpsb900b119.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aan_zps052ea645.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aan_zps052ea645.jpg.html)
Ducks and geese
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aag_zpsb7f7014e.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aag_zpsb7f7014e.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaf_zps2612483b.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/Cali2014aaf_zps2612483b.jpg.html)
Nice! :icon_thumright:
congrats on a darn hard hunt. great story and great pictures thanks for sharing.
cool pic's
Congrats, great pics! :icon_thumright:
Congrats. Sounds like you had a blast......
Oh man , I would love to try that !!!
Nice pics! Looks like a jake to me though...
mudhen
Awesome job bud! Great pics!
Congrats on the bird...Nice pics!
Congrats, Jim. Great pictures..
Congrats
Nice, congrats!
Thanks guys, it was a heck of a trip, and a hard earned gobbler!
Quote from: mudhen on April 10, 2014, 08:59:32 PMLooks like a jake to me though...
mudhen
I knew someone would make that comment. :lol: Like I said Mudhen, he wasn't a big boy by any means, but he wasn't a jake. I've never heard of jakes that weighed 16.2 lb's, had 7" beards or spurs bigger than nubs. I see what you are talking about by the fan. But I've also killed a mature Osceola with 1-3/8" hooks and an 11" beard that had even more of a jakish fan than this Rio does. I got a kick out of posting the pic of that Osceola's fan on another forum and asking if people thought it was a jake or a tom. ;D
Stunning! Great job on working the birds!
Awesome hunt and great pictures! Congrats on the Cali bird! :icon_thumright:
Congrats!! :icon_thumright:
congrats on the bird, and great pics!
Great hunt, story and hard earned trophy!
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on April 10, 2014, 10:25:27 PM
Thanks guys, it was a heck of a trip, and a hard earned gobbler!
Quote from: mudhen on April 10, 2014, 08:59:32 PMLooks like a jake to me though...
mudhen
I knew someone would make that comment. :lol: Like I said Mudhen, he wasn't a big boy by any means, but he wasn't a jake. I've never heard of jakes that weighed 16.2 lb's, had 7" beards or spurs bigger than nubs. I see what you are talking about by the fan. But I've also killed a mature Osceola with 1-3/8" hooks and an 11" beard that had even more of a jakish fan than this Rio does. I got a kick out of posting the pic of that Osceola's fan on another forum and asking if people thought it was a jake or a tom. ;D
Welcome to Cali, land of the super jake!!
I've got maybe 10 jakes that have topped 16 lbs, heaviest being 17 lb 10 oz.
Almost all of them had .5"+ spurs, connected to the bone, and 5-7" beards.
I have no idea why we seem to have so many of them out here, but I think our mild weather allows for a long breeding window. We will have poults on the ground any day, if not already in some areas.
But, for sure, it's whatever you want it to be!!
mudhen
Congrats on your bird. I love the pictures.
Congrats, Great pictures
Sounded like a great trip was had congrats to you.
Congrats on the bird! That California land sure isn't the concrete jungle you see on the tube. Beautiful land.
Quote from: mudhen on April 11, 2014, 07:36:18 AMit's whatever you want it to be!!
mudhen
:deadhorse:
Mild weather? You're talking to someone from Florida!! :lol: Even here, super jakes still have classic jake fans. As I said, I shot a limb hanger Osceola that had more of a jake fan than this Rio, and fooled everyone on the forum I posted the pic on. Beards are not the measure of maturity, and sometimes fans aren't either, there are many oddities in the turkey world. Jakes don't have a 3/4" spur. Spurs are the measure of maturity. I'll call my gobbler a late hatch 2 year old, because that's what I believe he was. :thanks: You can call him a jake, or super jake, or anything you'd like to.
Or you could have just said congrats!! ::)
The picture below shows a jake on the left and a gobbler on the right.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Hunting%20Pics/jakegobbler_zpsc7192619.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Hunting%20Pics/jakegobbler_zpsc7192619.jpg.html)
Thank you to all of the rest of you guys though! It was an awesome trip, and I am happy with my gobbler that I worked my tail off to get. :thanks:
Congrats Rutn! Sounds like a well deserved bird.
Has MT been marked off your list? If not and you plan a hunt here, be sure to get in touch with me. I don't have any sure bets, but I can get you pointed in the right direction if your going to hunt public land. I may even be able to get out and help you run a Merriam's down.
Thanks Hobbes!! I haven't been to Montana yet. But it's definitely on the list. I have a couple of old friends that I'm gonna visit when I go hunt there. I'll be in touch with you before I head out there. :thanks:
Great story.. a lot of hard work paid off.. well deserve bird.
:you_rock:very nice,congrats
Very Nice and Great Pics.
Cool pics and congrats on the bird! That'd be quite an accomplishment to kill a turkey in every state.
It's a crazy goal but as long as I stay healthy, and get lucky :lol:, I have a good shot at doing it. I'm probably going to hunt NC this year as well. That will leave me 39 states to go. I think if I can hunt at least 2 new states a year, and sometimes 3, I can pull it off.
One thing is for sure. Traveling to hunt has been a lot of fun, and I've met some wonderful people and seen some incredible sights! That is part of what prompted me to set this goal. I will have been able to travel all around the United States and see our beautiful country. That in itself is reward enough, and if I'm lucky enough to get a turkey in all of the lower 48 states, then that will just be icing on the cake!
Sent from my 1950's rotary phone using Tapatalk
Looks like the area between Susanville and Fortuna.....
Nice work on the birds.
Man-o-man, I can totally understand suche a hunting adventure you've done. Congrat's all the way! Turkey hunting from coast to coast is awsome!
Thanks guys, it was definitely an adventure!!
Quote from: duckkillerclyde on April 12, 2014, 07:40:14 PMLooks like the area between Susanville and Fortuna.....
I'm not familiar with that area. My friend toted me around. I know we were north of Sacramento.
Congrats, sounded like a good trip. :happy0064:
It was a totally awesome trip!! I even sound like I'm from California!! ;) :lol:
Seriously though, it really was. Got to visit 2 new states, go to take in new sights, hiked in the California mountains, saw the redwoods, walked in the Pacific Ocean, got my first California gobbler, got to hang out with good friends, and hiked in the Rocky Mountains!! :you_rock:
Great story and nice pictures too!
Awesome. Congrats.
Thanks guys!
Sent from my 1950's rotary phone using Tapatalk