yotebuster Report post Posted April 13, 2014 I'm living in a new part of ND after my 4 years in AZ. This is my first tag in the new area. Checked out a piece of public river bottom I found on google earth the night before and found a Tom and four hens. Put them to bed that night and was surprised to not find anyone there this morning. Set up about 250 yards across a little field from them before light with my fiancé. This was her first experience with turkey hunting. The birds flew down and instantly quit gobbling. I called a few times and noticed them feeding our way. I wasn't set up well as all of my turkey decoys and turkey loads were back at my hunting cabin in central ND so I was using an elk diaphragm call instead and no decoys! I didn't even have shells so I scrounged a 2 3/4" #6 pheasant load and a couple 3" BB steel goose loads out of the tool box of the pickup that morning. Turns out I didn't need much because as they fed closer the started flanking by at about 80 yards. I turned the calling up a notch and got the lead hen all worked up. They walked by about 2 yards in front of us and the gobbler was about 12 yards out. When I moved to put the gun on him he lifted his head on cue. My 2014 season was done in about 15 min!!! He has 2 eight inch beards, first time I've ever seen two beards that are this full. Didn't have a chance to weigh him unfortunately. I actually think he's a Merriams. ND has both eastern a and Merriams, and I think most of our turkeys are a interbreed of the two. We had a little time to kill so we took our pups for a shed hunting hike, didn't find any sheds but we did run into a bull moose that still had a horn. He had a pretty small home range from what I could see so maybe we can get back in there once he drops the other side and find em. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Critter Report post Posted April 13, 2014 Nice tom. Awesome experience. I hunted in ND my whole life and have taken a few birds up there. It is a great place. Cool you got to see a moose also! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted April 13, 2014 That bird rocks! Cool hunt, congratulations. What'd your girlfriend think of it all? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bbd1234 Report post Posted April 13, 2014 Nice thunder chicken Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted April 13, 2014 Cool Bird. I got 2 tags . Gotta wait a few weeks ,just had shoulder surgery 3+ weeks ago.....BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 13, 2014 That bird rocks! Cool hunt, congratulations. What'd your girlfriend think of it all? She thought it was pretty cool! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 13, 2014 Cool Bird. I got 2 tags . Gotta wait a few weeks ,just had shoulder surgery 3+ weeks ago.....BOB! How'd you get two tags Bob? Didn't know you could do that in ND? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted April 13, 2014 Congrats that's a dandy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted April 13, 2014 They had left overs in 4-5 units. I hunt 51 and there was about 50 leftover, and they were good for anyone. I called and confirmed it first. What unit were You in? Just curious..Thanks ......BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 14, 2014 />They had left overs in 4-5 units. I hunt 51 and there was about 50 leftover, and they were good for anyone. I called and confirmed it first. What unit were You in? Just curious..Thanks ......BOB! This was in 27. First time for me applying there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted April 14, 2014 I been up here 3 years driving truck in the oilfield. Last year was My first tag and did a lotta work By my self . Found 4-5 places to hunt ,but alotta Jakes. finally killed a long beard on 4-5th day. Congrats again to You......BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
randyolson Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Congrats on your nice bird!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted April 16, 2014 4" of snow in Minot this morning. Can go tracking!........BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Very nice bird and cool your fiance was by your side as it all went down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
