Which kept the birds in the bush .
I did see a small group of " green heads " as I checked field to field ...
Our Butcher's new dog didn't seem real interested in my turkey scouting and watched from a favorite relax spot by the buggy ...
Well , last night... a storm blew in at the North farms and when Randy and I headed up there this morning for our 2012 Ontario turkey season opener , we were surprized to see how much snow stayed !
The snow was good for us though , because it gave us a chance to see where the birds had travelled last to roost ... I was in a Blind at the " River Flats " and Randy set up two fields North of me in a fence row overlooking the "Sugar Shack" bush ( a bush I have taken some good birds from over the years ) .
I watched the sun come up and had 5 different gobblers making noise at the South East ridge ... Man it was beautifull music and I was thinking It wouldn't be long before I bowled over a beauty opening day Tom ! ... I never happend for me though ... One lone hen walked by at 10 yards , and I saw three deer , but all the gobblers flew down and headed further East with a larger group of hens ...
Meanwhile , Randy text's me and says he is having similar action ( multiple gobblers sounding off on roost ) ... Then I get a message saying ( Big Tom walking across the field ! ) ... Not long after I hear a single shot ! " bang " , followed by a quick text, confirming the tom was down ! ..... Sweeeet it's only 6:28 am !
Here are a few pictures from Randy's location ... Nice Tom ... taken at approx 35 yards with a tight group of 3 inch # 4 shot laucnhed from Randy's Remington 870 with extra full turkey choke .
Later confirmed weight as 22lbs , 10 1/2 " beard , Spurs at 1 1/4 , and 1 3/8 ... an awsome opening day Tom ! Congrat's Randy !
We pack up at that farm ... check a few other farms to get me on a bird , but no action ... We had breakfast and I drop Randy off for home .
I eventually make my way South to a farm that I can only bow hunt on ... I spotted a nice Tom skirting the fenceline into the bush , like this one ... ( The weather is totally different at this Southern Location , the sun is out , there is no snow ... I've gone from Insulated Coveralls to a regular Jacket and Vest now ! )
I set up deep in the bush in an area that had some intermittent openings ... I settled in for a long wait ! Hen calling approx every 20 mins ... I heard a gobble that sounded about 100 yards to my East , but then nothing ? ... Seemed like forever , and I was starting to drift off in the warm sun ,...then I hear some rustling and branch snap to my left ... I freeze ... my heart is pounding as a nice Tom walks towards an opening @ approx 20 yards .. he snuck in without even a gobble ! ... as he goes behind a small tree I get lucky as he pecks the ground with his head facing away from me ... I had my Relayer resting on a horizontal branch so the movement up to shoulder was minimal ... before the Tom can turn his head my way I send an XX75 / Interlock broadhead combo thru him broadside ! ... The shot looked high , and he blows out of there like his feathers are on fire , but with an obvious left wing defect ! ( I'm sure I have a right thru left side pass thru ! )
I try to calm down ... send Randy a text .. It's 2:56 pm ! ... I walk over to the point of impact > nothing but some turned up ground and a few feathers where the Tom was last standing ... I cant find my arrow yet ... I walk back and take a few pictures of my set up while I give the bird 20mins or so before I follow-up .
I was sitting here with my back against this tree , and my Relayer resting on the branch in front .
Over looking this cover ... ( an area with a game trail crossing left to right )
After 25 mins , I walk slow and find a small bit of blood approx 30 yards into his escape route ...
Yeah Baby ! ... I find him approx 50 yards further ! ... I'm stoked ! ... It took some cleaning up , but I get a few " last resting place " pictures in the bush !
I walk back toward my set up and find my arrow on the way ... Then take one picture of my Y25 Relayer ... another job well done !
Oh , and after monkeying around with the new tie on tag , I get a one picture of his spurs ... Yep , even RJ takes blurry pictures occationally !
I weigh him at 19lbs , 8 inch beard , and a set of 1 inch spurs ... Excalibur Y25 Relayer # 100 , Easton XX75 Aluminum arrow / 125 Grain Interlock Broadhead , Boo Custom string , Top Load Munch Quiver mount .
Man what a day we had ! ... We experience Winter , then Summer weather .. and took two nice opening day Toms approx 8 1/2 hrs and approx 50 KM's or more apart from each other ! ... A day we won't soon forget ! .... Fun game eh !
Limb hanger for sure! But I guarantee, his won't taste any better than yours. 
