It's Spring Turkey time in Florida

FLPINERAT · March 19, 2018, 01:48:57 PM

No fried turkey but had a great time "talking" to a couple of birds.

Gobbler reminded me why it's advantageous to have the gun in your hand and not a call when he periscopes his head above the undergrowth. Missed opportunity #1

Did get to video a cool game of hide and seek with a hen who was looking for a few friends. She got really mad when I had to shut up or get busted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCxlWAzbVac&feature=youtu.be

petefrom bearswamp · March 19, 2018, 04:25:24 PM

Thanks for the vid.
do you have any of the burmese pythons there in the pan handle?
If so i wonder if they can make a turkey dinner out of them.
Are skeeters a problem in the spring?

Magicman · March 19, 2018, 04:53:22 PM

She knew exactly where you were or at least where you should have been. Nice video. ;D

Ron Scott · March 19, 2018, 06:22:45 PM

Good video!

FLPINERAT · March 19, 2018, 07:22:19 PM

pete..most of them are still down in south FL, little too cold farther north. There's been an occasional sighting or trapping but very seldom. The moccasins and rattlesnakes keep you on your toes though!

The skeeters are ferocious! I still don't know how we managed prior to the thermal cell invention. Bathing in spray was common..turkeys don't rely on smell like deer. They say if they did, you'd never kill one.

magic..hopefully I gave her a complex, if so I'm still way behind.

thnks Ron.

Mooseherder · March 19, 2018, 08:43:34 PM

Baby Sandhill Crane time. They walked past as I was about to cook some chicken.
SandhillsMarch2018 - YouTube

coxy · March 20, 2018, 06:40:31 PM

they gobble every morning i put my daughter on the bus it makes her so mad by the time may gets here they have had all there fun they need to open season the middle of april till the middle of may

WV Sawmiller · March 20, 2018, 08:32:41 PM

Coxy,

Same here last several season the major mating season was already over by the time DNR opens Spring gobbler season. I like to go but am not very good at it. Most I killed were by accident like walking up on a bunch and shooting a jake or maybe sneaking up on one on the roost and shoot him as soon as he pitches down without ever calling - I have no shame in such matters. Most of the time when I call I find how creative they can be at eluding me. Of course that is fun too and it is nice to be out in the woods at daybreak to watch and listen to the various critters.

timberking · March 21, 2018, 09:02:43 AM

About a month from heading west for Rio's

caveman · March 22, 2018, 05:23:27 PM

We saw a few Oceola birds yesterday while driving around practicing land judging with the FFA team. This morning I heard one gobbling down by Catfish Creek in Haines City before we started today's practice. The blind mosquitoes here were the worst I have ever seen. It was hard to breathe they were so thick last night. Thankfully they do not sting.

FLPINERAT · March 22, 2018, 05:31:01 PM

We got into them one time like that camping at Lake Istokpoga. You could not open your mouth, chased us back to Zolfo Springs.

starmac · March 22, 2018, 06:42:20 PM

I am wondering if blind mosquitoes are the same thing we called knats?

FLPINERAT · March 22, 2018, 08:24:38 PM

Hhhmm..not sure??

We call em chizzywinks also.

N Fl has little gnats. They are bad too right now.

I call em kamikaze bugs. They'll fly right into your eye from 20 ft!

Autocar · March 28, 2018, 11:39:52 AM

I always enjoyed hunting Florida turkey it was nice to get away from the cold up here. But anymore the drive just turns me off and the snakes never bothered me when I was younger but after my trip to Texas it creps me out how many Big snakes you guys have out there.Still alot of fun anymore I hunt Indiana and haven't bought a license here at home for a number of years. Just got tired of no respect. You could park at a spot five in the morning walk in and around eight someone will walk right in ending everything.

Yoder409 · March 31, 2018, 07:58:55 PM

Quote from: timberking on March 21, 2018, 09:02:43 AM
About a month from heading west for Rio's

About a month from heading west for Merriam's ;D

Yoder409 · March 31, 2018, 08:00:31 PM

Quote from: caveman on March 22, 2018, 05:23:27 PM
We saw a few Oceola birds yesterday while driving around practicing land judging with the FFA team. This morning I heard one gobbling down by Catfish Creek in Haines City before we started today's practice.

If you ever need any help subduing those Osceolas down there, you give me a holler, mmm k ?? ;D ;D