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A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Farming and rural life discussion forum. Cooking, hunting, gardening, fishing, critters, etc.
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Bigschuss
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A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Bigschuss » Fri May 09, 2014 3:50 pm

Hey guys….I was able to connect this morning. It felt really good for a few reasons. Having hunted turkeys 1987, I decided this year to make things more challenging by carrying my grandfather's 50 year old Ithaca 37 Featherlight. He was a WWII vet and my hero in life. He passed away 2 years ago at age 87, and I miss him still. I always carry something of his when I hunt..a knife, his shirt, etc. The shotgun has a modified barrel so I knew I would have to get a bird in close…under 15 yards or so.

I heard him gobbling at about 8 AM and had him coming in by 8:30. He came in in full strut above me and to my right. I had to switch my shotgun to lefty, which is kind of cool because my gramp was a lefty (the reason he bought the Ithaca…it ejects shells straight down). He was at 20 yards when I first saw him and I couldn't move. But I didn't have to…he walked down the hill straight at me and at 10 yards he stepped right in front of my shotgun's front bead. Down he went.

It was a great hunt, and I felt like my gramp was with me. The bird weighed 20 lbs. and had a 9 inch beard.

The 2nd special thing about my hunt is that the is the first turkey I've killed on my own property. Since buying my house on 2001 I have spent the past 13 years making my woods more hospitable for turkeys…opening up the woods, making trails, reclaiming old overgrown fields, etc. We used to never see birds on the property. The past 3 years we have been starting to see some hens and hearing some gobbling. It's been a dream of mine to hunt turkeys on my own property. Glad to finally realize that dream.

Blair

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I wish coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be...
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dgrapes59
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Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby dgrapes59 » Fri May 09, 2014 7:06 pm

Nice turkey and even a better story with it!

I have hunted pheasants with my grandfathers old 1887 Winchester lever action shotgun several times, it had an extra special meaning connecting with it, I know what you are saying.

Thanks for sharing,
David

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Don McCombs
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Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Don McCombs » Fri May 09, 2014 7:13 pm

Nice bird, Blair. Congratulations.

Here's mine from this morning at 0715. 9.5 inch beard, one inch spurs.

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Don McCombs
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Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby ricky racer » Fri May 09, 2014 9:47 pm

Great looking birds there guys. Great story Blair. I have a .22 rim fire that my grandpa taught me to shoot when I was just a little tike. Everytime I pick that gun I feel something different than handling any other gun. The gun is nothing special just a J.C. Higgins bolt action .22 but you couldn't buy that gun from me.
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Stanton
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Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Stanton » Tue May 13, 2014 12:24 pm

Missed your post earlier, but read it today. WOW! Congratulations! I'm excited and happy for you for both reasons as you described. What a dream come true to hunt birds on your own place! I like the pic and the foggy morning. Makes for a great hunt in that kind of weather. I like it!! :coffee:

Got mine this past Saturday: viewtopic.php?f=41&t=83809
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Bigschuss
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Location: Savoy, MA

Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Bigschuss » Tue May 13, 2014 7:43 pm

Don McCombs wrote:Nice bird, Blair. Congratulations.

Here's mine from this morning at 0715. 9.5 inch beard, one inch spurs.

Image


Nice bird Don. Congrats to you as well!

Thanks for the kind words gents.

Blair
I wish coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be...
- Merle Haggard

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Buzzard Wing
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Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Buzzard Wing » Wed May 14, 2014 7:29 am

Awesome! Surely one of the largest turkeys I have seen.
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Bigschuss
10+ Years
10+ Years
Posts: 445
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 7:08 pm
Zip Code: 01256
Tractors Owned: 1984 JD 990
1953 JD 40S
1973 JD 300 Snowmobile
Location: Savoy, MA

Re: A Special Massachusetts Spring Turkey

Postby Bigschuss » Sun May 18, 2014 7:17 pm

Buzzard Wing wrote:Awesome! Surely one of the largest turkeys I have seen.


Thanks Buzzard. He was the biggest turkey I've shot in quite a few years. Made some nice turkey burgers and sausage out of the meat.
I wish coke was still cola, and a joint was a bad place to be...
- Merle Haggard


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