Team Lodge was hitting the Turkey Woods as the IL North 1st season kicked off April 13. Marc Stone of Waverly, IL. joined up with hopes of scoring on his first Gobbler.
I think he was happy to have help from Steve Berry and myself, as we coaxed in a big Tom that went 25 pounds on the scale. Thanks goes out to Steve for coming along and adding that extra touch. We hoped for a triple ... but we'll take one in the hand over four gobbling in the timber out of sight.
Really, ... shooting the game is certainly fun, but just enjoying the morning with good friends is what it's all about. Steve and I have taken our fair share of gobblers and coaxing this bird into range for Marc to harvest as his first ever bird will go down as one of my best hunts.
As you can see ... Steve is enjoying himself, while Marc says hello to Rick with the Outlaw Salute.
After the shot, ... Marc goes into the timber to find the bird ...
And finds it sports 1 3/8 inch spurs ... that's pretty good for your first bird or any bird for that matter.
Hunting with Marc Stone and Steve Berry that morning sure was fun. We had birds gobbling before daylight, ... and answering our calls in the early morning.
As we coaxed the turkeys from the edge of the timber ... deer appeared throughout the morning. I took time to pull the camera out a take a few photos.
Now, ... as Steve and Marc as my witness ... these three photos were taken April 15 ... about 10 minutes before Marc put the slam on his turkey. This Buck appeared in the corn stubble and I couldn't believe he still had his antlers. He's a solid eight pointer ... and hopefully by next season, he'll be even bigger !
Back at TheLodge .... Marc, Steve and myself are surprised by the weight of Marc's bird. It went to 25 pounds ... ( while I did guess it to be 24, Steve guessed 22, and Marc took the middle road with a 23 pound try. )
Thanks Steve and Marc for a great morning in the Turkey woods !