Montana 2021

[hobbes]

Congrats on your first Osceola now go out and kill a real one ! Just couldn't resist . My first Merriam's in the New Mexico Mountains was a jake too ! He came in gobbling with two others and was a big bird and the strutter never once thought he was a jake lol Got lucky my first Osceola had an 11 inch beard and 1 3/8 hooks. But only weighed 13 pounds and he was pretty beat up hardly any tail feathers left I almost didn't shoot thinking he was a jake until he turned and I saw the beard . When I brought him to they check station they all said nice you got a jake until they saw the hooks and beard on him.

I did a little drive thru scouting today that ended up being a lot farther drive than I thought. I saw 3 or 4 hens and one gobbler on private and saw some interesting WMA land. I think the wife and friends stuff is really going to take up the rest of the week. We had other plans today for Universal but that fell through this morning and got bumped to tomorrow. Today would have been my window to hunt if I'd known in time. I'll just have to be satisfied with the jake for now.

 

[timbrhuntr]

So did you only get to hunt the one day ? I almost feel sorry for you ha ha !!! When I went the WMA was only open until noon so I could get there at 3 am and get in line at the gate catch a few winks and then when it opened hunt until noon. Then go pick up the wife and kids and go eat or hit the beach. Worked out very well as they slept in anyway. First year I killed the first morning but the second year it took a couple days longer with the high water level.

 

[hobbes]

So did you only get to hunt the one day ? I almost feel sorry for you ha ha !!! When I went the WMA was only open until noon so I could get there at 3 am and get in line at the gate catch a few winks and then when it opened hunt until noon. Then go pick up the wife and kids and go eat or hit the beach. Worked out very well as they slept in anyway. First year I killed the first morning but the second year it took a couple days longer with the high water level.

Yep, just the one day. I'll have a better plan next time but this turned into the wife's trip and my teenage son's spring break. I'm not complaining because I'll be hunting April and May a lot.

 

[hobbes]

I did enjoy just sitting around on a mild Florida evening yesterday.

A "Fat Bottom Betty" from Ybor City in Tampa


A decent beer


And what would a trip to Florida be without oranges from a big fruit stand.

 

[hobbes]

Today wasn't as relaxing but it was mostly fun at Universal.

 

[rooster440]

I’m a whiskey drinker but love coffee, how’s that beer? Looks interesting.


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[hobbes]

I’m a whiskey drinker but love coffee, how’s that beer? Looks interesting.


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It's okay. It's fairly mild but went pretty well with the cigar.

 

[hobbes]

My gosh, I hate the beach:

 

[hobbes]

We fly out of Florida tomorrow back to Montana. It's been a fun trip but I'm ready to go home. I'm going to try to fly to Illinois this fall and visit family and bowhunt whitetails. That may be my only other out of state trip this year.


The sunset at Madeira Beach was nice last night.




We did finally get some seafood yesterday evening.



And some authentic tacos at lunch today.

 

[hobbes]

BACK IN MONTANA! We landed in Helena at 9:30 Mountain last night.

Of course I have a list of things to attend to already. I'll get back to prepping for Montana spring hunting ASAP.

Montana Turkey Distribution Map (It could use an update)


Montana Bear Distribution Map


Bears aren't concentrated quite as much as turkeys, and I know very little about them.

 

[timbrhuntr]

You better I need as many spring turkey fixes as I can get and if I can't get to Montana I at least need some pics of it with dead turkeys in them lol Also from Nebraska. Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota

 

[hobbes]

You better I need as many spring turkey fixes as I can get and if I can't get to Montana I at least need some pics of it with dead turkeys in them lol Also from Nebraska. Kansas, Wyoming, and South Dakota

I'll have Montana but may not make it anywhere else, but you can bet I'll try.

 

[hobbes]

It looks like I'll go listen for gobbling early Saturday morning in a new location that I've not hunted before. A friend sent me some photos from his scouting trip in the area last week.


I'll likely hunt it with him on the April 10th opener. I'll probably hunt the second weekend with my two sons. I've got a couple buddies coming in between the last week of April and the first week of May that I'll hunt with for their first Montana hunt.

 

[hobbes]

Did someone mention spring? I had a dream that I was somewhere nice and green and warm last week.

 

[hobbes]

It's not really last minute, but I've come up with a plan to hunt KS WIHAs in May to try and complete a single season Grand Slam. I hunted KS back in 2015 and my son and I both killed a Rio. I'll look for a Rio then an Eastern on the east side of the state.

 

[timbrhuntr]

Single season slam that would be cool. Are going for the jake slam sorry couldn't resist that slam ! Some times I just can't help myself .

 

[hobbes]

Hopefully no more jakes.

 

[hobbes]

Found some strutters this morning.

And a good sized herd of elk that was made up of cows and a lot of spikes that had at least one spike.

 

[hobbes]

 

[hobbes]

Elk Herd crossing the road