cramerhunts Report post Posted March 14, 2017 I was fortunate enough to be able to hunt Florida this year and to have a great start of the season. I sure hope it can continue like it started! I flew down to Orlando on Thursday and quickly drove the couple hours south to meet up with good friends Ben and Charley of Swamp Gobbler Outfitters. These guys are a class act and some of the best turkey hunters I've ever had the pleasure to be around so I knew we'd be on birds in no time. With a short night behind us we headed out to get in position in the dark and it wasn't long until that magical sound filled the air. Ben sweet talked a big old tom into our position just like it was laid out on a map, however I never felt comfortable with the shot and we watched as the bird slowly slipped away. We changed our set up and gave it a little longer before picking up and doing a little running and gunning. After a while we struck up some loud mouth hens buried in the thick stuff so we eased up to the edge of a field on the other side of the thick stuff. We set up next to some short palmettos with the hopes of calling in the vocal hens and having them drag along a gobbler. Shortly after getting in position a gobbler sounded off and it was definitely separate from the hens. Next thing I know there is a big swamp gobbler headed straight at us. One quick shot from the 20 and it was all hugs and high fives. I didn't have a return flight for the next few days so I was fortunate enough to tag along with the guys when they called in three long beards the next morning, one of which the other hunter was able to take. We then did some predator control, some fishing, some scouting, some filming, some hog hunting, and just about everything you could think of. A total and complete blast, truly an epic hunt! I'm stoked with my black wing turkey, he ended up with 11" beard, 1" & 1 5/16" hooks, and weighed 18.2 pounds. I can't thank Ben and Charley enough but hoping I can get them out west someday to try and return the favor some. 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattys281 Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Thanks for sharing the adventure and congrats on your bird! Sure looks like some pretty country. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couestracker Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Awesome Phil, congratulations! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DUG Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Congrats Phil !!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Awesome!! What a great trip! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues79 Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Holy hooks! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
creed_az_88 Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Dang that looks like a blast good job Phil. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Allforelk Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Great show! I need to start redirecting some of my funds to out of state adventures. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Love it! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your hunt with us! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ8 Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Awesome! Great start to the Spring gobbler season! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRKHNTR Report post Posted March 15, 2017 Fantastic nice bird and nice spurs. my favorite bird to hunt is the Osceola 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peloncillo Report post Posted March 15, 2017 You did good. Looks like another great hunt. Congratulations Keven 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigj23 Report post Posted March 15, 2017 As always an enjoy to watch. Great video Phil. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
208muley Report post Posted March 15, 2017 After my goulds hunt this year the Osceola is the only bird I need for my slam. Can I ask how much the hunt was? How many days? And what is included in the hunt, lodging meals etc?? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted March 15, 2017 208 Muley, I am in the exact same boat as You, I have the 2nd hunt in 35A. Then time for Ocseola, Good luck. .BOB! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
