2025 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

[Lenny]

2025 BIG GOBBLER FUN CONTEST - Leaderboard

Post your story, pics and measurements here
This thread will be updated periodically throughout the 5 week season
Good luck to all

[Turkeyjohn]

May as well get the party started....
Had a great morning for an opener, cool, but not cold, no bugs yet, bit of a breeze, and no rain....got to my spot where I've taken 80% of my birds and didn't fail me this morning. Was set into the woods 515 or so and waited. Heard coyotes in the distance and worried that the hunt may be turning over to a coyote, but they settled down, but not before 3 birds behind me started sounding off....like right behind me....perhaps 50 yards... Only thing that saved me was the patch of evergreens that I was set into that would have blocked their view of me coming in or setting decoys...Either way they were sounding off....this went on for 20-30 minutes, music to my ears, only broken by the odd robin or whip or will announcing the day...
A bit before 6 they started settling down, getting quieter, I heard them fly down to my left and behind me, not sure if they were coming out or staying in the woods. Didn't take long to find out as I could hear Mr. Tom strutting with his spit and drum, not far from me and I can see him through the underbrush....So now the question is, going into the field or follow the treeline...? Watched him until he went into a roll of the field but could still hear him...and he was getting closer....Next thing I see is a half dozen hens moving into the field, but where's the Tom...Out of the corner of my eye I see him, he's in the woods with me moving to the decoys from within the woods....maybe 20 yards out...He gets to 15 and I turn....You can see that he realized "Oh ", let him have it from the old 870. paced off at 12 yards...21.86 lbs. 10 inch beard, 1 1/4 in spurs, Greedy Gobbler left 6 real hens for a chance at another only to get a face full of number 5s...
Only way it could have been better would have been if TurkeyWes had been there, but he'll get out I'm sure...and he can tote the gear in and out for old Dad,

TurkeyJohn

[Turkeyjohn]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Markster]

Way to get the party started John! Nice bird and great story.