Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 30

Thread: Upstate Turkey field report

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Anderson
    Posts
    953

    Default Upstate Turkey field report

    The turkey forum is pretty dead. Personally, I haven’t done jack in two trips. Did hear some birds gobble one morning but getting very few pics. Anybody having much luck? Hearing/seeing more or less birds than 2020? Hope this warm weather changes my luck this weekend. Turkey poets here’s your chance...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    GreenHood
    Posts
    13,833

    Default

    So far it’s exactly the same as last season,
    Struck out opening morning, killed the second afternoon of the season.

    I did hear a bird opening morning, gobbled twice on the roost and that was it.
    I’m supposed to be calling for someone Saturday morning, they claim to have a good spot so I’m looking forward to it. He’s a veteran deer hunter but has never killed a turkey, maybe we’ll get lucky
    Houndsmen are born, not made

    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    I STAND WITH DUCK CUTTER!
    Quote Originally Posted by JABIII View Post
    I knew it wasn't real because no dogbox...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    GreenHood
    Posts
    13,833

    Default

    And I’m ready for Sunday when I can tote a gun again
    Houndsmen are born, not made

    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    I STAND WITH DUCK CUTTER!
    Quote Originally Posted by JABIII View Post
    I knew it wasn't real because no dogbox...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Greenwood
    Posts
    996

    Default

    Hunted opening day had one gobbling like crazy and he walked by me at about 75 yards acting like I wasn’t even there. Didn’t go on the frosty mornings, went yesterday for my 1st official weekday retirement hunt. Almost didn’t go-weatherman said low of 43 and when I got up was 37. Setup in an area always good the 1st week or so. Called with not much going on until about 7:30, was thinking about moving when one gobbled about 200 yards out. I answered and 10-15 minutes later he had cut that distance in half. I answered and he is there strutting about 60 yards out. I realize I’m getting a cramp in my leg-medicine I’m taking this is normal. He goes behind a briar patch and I shift my leg, bad move he starts putting and walks off gobbling. About 30 minutes later I look down the road in opposite direction, and one is in full strut about 80 yards off, I call when he turns away and he drops from full strut and walks away-WTH?? I hang out til about 9:30 and head for the truck, about 1/2 way there I stop at the top of a big hill to catch my breath, getting ready to call and one gobbles about 60 yards away. I scramble dropping vest, decoy and all my other crap except diaphragm call get setup against a tree looking down the road bed. He gobbles again and I answer, he immediately answers and I see him in some thick cedars at 40 yards, not in road bed. I hesitate to shoot at that range as thick as it is. He’s gone from my sight In an instant, I call again he answers and is moving. I see a clearing at 20 steps and he comes right into it. Boom, never flinches when he hits the ground. 21+ lbs, 11 1/2” beard and 1” Spurs. Pretty exciting morning for me even though it was a cold start. Good 1st retirement bird, going fishing tomorrow.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Horry, SC
    Posts
    5,516

    Default

    Not in the upstate but it's looked good so far. Toted a gun twice and killed 2, I'm looking forward to the next couple years. I had a good hatch on my places the last two springs and am seeing good numbers.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    charleston
    Posts
    8,600

    Default

    Our club had a good hatch- there were tons of poults running around- so far the season has been sub par for the members averaging 1 killed per 10 hunts.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Upstate
    Posts
    2,919

    Default

    Upstate has been on fire for me. Been twice killed first time out, watched a buddy kill second time out.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    In the thick of it.
    Posts
    6,348

    Default

    They've been on fire in Horry. I killed (2) 4 yr old birds as quickly as I wanted and I haven't been since. I know that if I get the opportunity to pull the trigger again that I will and I am not ready to hang up my vest for the year. Last year, I called in a Edgefield bird on opening day for my FIL and never laid eyes on another mature bird for the rest of the year.

    I'd like nothing more than to watch my (3) small kids take a bird, but they have little interest in going.
    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Go Tigers!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    where you aren't
    Posts
    2,287

    Default

    In purgatory.......

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Greenville
    Posts
    4,803

    Default

    How does one age a turkey to 4 years?

    Been once- killed one. Birds were on fire.
    Carolina Counsel

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Certified Piedmonster
    Posts
    8,859

    Default

    Less birds but I've seen a couple die.
    Quote Originally Posted by cajunwannabe View Post
    Man is merely a two legged locust, devouring wild lands, developing and prostituting wildlife and fisheries under the guise of "use of the resource" for tremendous profit and moving on. Will it ever end?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Blythewood, SC
    Posts
    6,009

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Carolina Counsel View Post
    How does one age a turkey to 4 years?

    Been once- killed one. Birds were on fire.
    Ask 2th. He knows all about it. It has something to do with spur length and beard length.
    When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home. -Tecumseh-

    Quote Originally Posted by Griffin View Post
    You're also one of select few clemings with sense.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    The Mire
    Posts
    4,149

    Default Upstate Turkey field report

    Stupid amount of hunters in the Sumter National Forest. Down right dangerous.
    Last edited by britton40; 04-07-2021 at 10:01 AM.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,442

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Carolina Counsel View Post
    How does one age a turkey to 4 years?

    Been once- killed one. Birds were on fire.
    Ever seen the rings on a tree trunk crossectioned?? Same deal with a Gobblers butthole. Just count the rest rings.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Posts
    379

    Default

    Northern Spartanburg county the bird numbers are the same. I killed a tom opening day and my 7 yo killed one Easter am. This can't hunt for ten days is bull.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Upstate
    Posts
    2,128

    Default

    I’m gonna have to agree with the can’t kill for 10 day crowd. If it’s that damm important ( I feel dumb for even typing this) don’t open the season til the 10th. I’ve got properties in 4 different counties. Taking a bird off 1 then going after another one the next day 25-50 miles away ain’t gonna change anything.

    As far as turkey aging, I killed an old double beard bastard that I had pics of from 17-19 before I killed him in 19. He was a long beard each season so considering he was a jake at some point, his minimum age was 4. His spurs were barely over an inch and didn’t show to be no granddaddy of the spring woods. He did weigh 23# and had a 11.5 inch main beard tho.
    "George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British, he shot them."

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    7,444

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Carolina Counsel View Post
    How does one age a turkey to 4 years?

    Been once- killed one. Birds were on fire.
    They don’t. Pure speculation
    .
    80-20 Genaration

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Anderson
    Posts
    953

    Default

    I actually went this morning and the birds gobbled good. Got on a bird about 8:00 on an old ridge logging road in some mixed timber. Fairly thick. Had set up a jake and hen in the road and I was about 15 yards back in the woods with good cover. Made a few calls and had a different bird gobble in the opposite direction. I turn around, and he gobbles 5 or 6 times on the way to my set up. About 5 minutes after I first heard him I see something red move behind a cedar about 35 yards out. He steps out on the road with trash between me and him, sees the dekes, then...put, put, put...he gone. I sat there cussing myself for putting those freakin' decoys out. Too thick to shoot him where he stepped out. Needed five more yards. I'm encouraged by the number of birds I heard and discouraged in my lack of execution.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    SPARTANBURG
    Posts
    2,358

    Default

    Killed opening day and youngest son killed yesterday,so on lockdown till the 11th , but numbers are way off from normal .
    If it aint got 8 toes & a green head,it aint a duck.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Campobello
    Posts
    3,033

    Default

    My son killed a nice one over the youth weekend. I hunted the opener and the day after and saw plenty of hens and jakes. Numbers don’t seem to be off in my part of the world.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •