2025 Turkey harvest pics

[Esteban]

Idaho bird. 4 Jake’s opening morning. Roosted some more in a different spot and got 4 toms in the decoys.
View attachment 869514
15 yards
Rage X-treme broadheads
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Smoked breast
Meat Church Texas Sugar

That looks delicious! Also pretty crazy that second turkey behind you never took off...I guess that's what happens when you shoot a bow eh?

 

[roosiebull]

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Montana bird! Franchi 12 gauge #9 TSS

He came in completely quiet behind me and a buddy. Some fancy maneuvering got me a shot at 15 yds as he was leaving haha!

As far as I know it’s a Merriams but he does have really brown tips and judging by pics almost looks more like a Rio? I’ve never shot anything other than Merriams so really don’t know.. Is there any sure fire way of telling the difference??

It certainly looks like a Rio. I know that they both live in some areas. Southern Oregon I would see both, some pockets of birds were almost 50/50 rios and merriams. Regardless, sounds like a fun hunt and great bird

 

[wyogoat]

Got Wyoming done today with a solid Merriam. Pulled in his two hens and he had to follow. They didn’t want a lot of calling today and found that out the hard way…
And had to get a second pic in the snow on the hike out.

 

[Actionsqueak]

First turkey. Called him in off private!

 

[TheGrayRider]

My older brother and I got to hunt together for a week in South Dakota. His first Merriam’s jake last week. Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider.

 

[butcherboy]

Wish I would have taken some pictures when I cooked up my daughter’s bird this past Friday. Cut the breast into cubes and soaked in pickle juice for about an hour and a half. Dipped in milk and egg mixture then into seasoned flour. Fried in rendered pork fat. They were delicious and didn’t last long. I saved the legs and thighs to make a pot pie later.

 

[retrieverman]

I’ve only ever killed Rios at my place in NW Oklahoma, and I decided earlier this year I wanted to start hunting other sub species. I got on a lease in SE Oklahoma a couple months ago that has a decent population of easterns. I called this one in and was able to check an eastern off my hunting bucket list on opening evening last Wednesday.

 

[Jellymon1]

Tagged out in Washington over the weekend, public land. Tons of Turkeys around this year. 20 and 33yds. Stoeger 3500 12g shooting 3” long beard xr #6’s through a Carlson longbeard xr choke. Patterns almost too tight under 35yds. First time using a red dot, so much better.

 

[S.Clancy]

Good opening week.

 

[blazingangel09]

Me (boonie hat)
Weatherby Element Turkey 20 ga
Comp n choke turkey
Verdict #9 TSS
SIghtmark Core Shot
30 yards

Buddy (ball cap)
Weatherby Element Turkey 20 ga
Jeb's Headhunter
Verdict #9 TSS
SIghtmark Mini Shot
5 yards

 

[Carr5vols]

Got a question for someone who knows...going to be turkey hunting a new state this year and they require a head to be attached to the breast for transport...how in the world do you breast a bird and keep the head attached. All the other states i hunt you just breast it and chuck in cooler once tagged.

 

[TJudeB]

Me (boonie hat)
Weatherby Element Turkey 20 ga
Comp n choke turkey
Verdict #9 TSS
SIghtmark Core Shot
30 yards

Buddy (ball cap)
Weatherby Element Turkey 20 ga
Jeb's Headhunter
Verdict #9 TSS
SIghtmark Mini Shot
5 yards

The dude on the right is for sure a virgin....

 

[Jellymon1]

Got a question for someone who knows...going to be turkey hunting a new state this year and they require a head to be attached to the breast for transport...how in the world do you breast a bird and keep the head attached. All the other states i hunt you just breast it and chuck in cooler once tagged.

We leave a small section of skin attached to one breast which is attached to a strip of skin which includes the beard and head. Pull the feathers off that piece of skin, breast goes in one ziplock, head/skin/beard goes in another, tied tight to keep separated. Stupid rule.

 

[ShortMountain91]

Got 1 so far in Tennessee. Knocked a 2nd one down yesterday but couldn't find him. Hate when that happens.

This one 8 yards with 3.5" Longbeard XR #5s out of a Beretta A400.

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[tkhuntsman]

My son and I got it done today on a nice public land MT bird today

 

[Netherman]

Opening day in MI. 12ga 870 with 3.5 longbeard #5 XR 30yds.



I've got a 4 year old itching to go and a 2 year old that thinks he's 10 so am going to have to check into a new shotgun sooner rather than later. Liking the looks of some of the guns you guys have. Wondering if there's a line/age between 410 and 20ga as it seems like 410 life might be short lived.

 

[Upwolf]

Soggy Wyoming Bird on a cold morning. Came in strutting and running to a decoy at first light.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Killed 1 in TX and another in TN so far. The second one never made a sound, I could see him strutting in the woods and had to crawl about 75 yards and then was finally able to pull him in to about 30 yards for a shot.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

Apparently they haven’t been gobbling much at home in AL since season began. Crow got this guy stirred up enough to get on him yesterday morning. Light cluck and purr while he was in the tree. Flew down 80 yds away. Another soft calling series and he strutted all the way in to 20 paces. Never gobbled on the ground, spit and drummed a half dozen times all the way in. Steven’s 410 with Vortex Venom shooting #9 Federal TSS. Bang flop.

Had two different birds gobble 1-2 times this morning on the limb and only once on the ground. Couldn’t get on them and seems to be the story this season on our place.


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[Johnson27]

He snuck in without gobbling or strutting. His fan was missing a lot of feathers, but I'm still am happy to take him as my first shotgun turkey.
22.6 lbs
10" beard
1" spurs