Twin Lakes Chapter Officers Randy and Mary Phelps had a very successful opening day of the Kentucky Wild Turkey season.

Mary took her gobbler about 8:30 AM, on the west side of the Phelps’ farm. He weighed 25 lbs and sported a 12-1/4” beard.  Randy took his gobbler about 8:45 AM, on the east side of their farm. His gobbler weighed 24 lbs and sported a 10” beard.  Both Randy and Mary started out, each in their own blind, and both heard multiple birds gobbling, but none of the gobblers they were working would come in. Randy and Mary decided to “run and gun” since the gobblers were not cooperating.

Since Mary had back surgery in 2004, sitting against a tree, is very uncomfortable, so she is, primarily, a ground blind hunter so that she can sit comfortably on a stool. When Randy heard Mary’s shot, it was not anywhere near her ground blind, so he thought someone else was hunting on their farm. 

The gobbler, that Mary was pursuing, was on a ridge top that had a 60 degree incline. Mary had to use the stock of her shotgun, and her shooting stick like ski poles, to help her up that steep knob. When Mary got eye level with the top of the knob, she spotted the gobbler, with several hens, behind some thick brush.  Mary waited for him to step out in an opening in the brush, and shot him while standing on the side of the knob.

Randy’s bird was about 70 yards behind his blind.  He left his blind and crept within 30 yards of his gobbler, waited for him to step in an opening in the brush, and shot him. Those leafy bug suits really work well, for sneaking up on quarry.

Within the first week of both the Kentucky, and the Indiana turkey seasons, Randy and Mary filled all their turkey tags.

Heartland Chapter Women in the Outdoors member Lindsey Boone bagged a "Triple-Beard" gobbler while hunting in Heart County, KY on May 9, 2010.  Lindsey took this bird with her Mossberg 2005 JAKES Gun of the Year.  Beard lengths were 10-1/2", 4-1/4" and 4-5/8".  Congrats on the fine bird, Lindsey!

Wilderness Trail Chapter member Bo Spencer took this gobbler while hunting on the family farm in Anderson County, KY on Saturday - April 24, 2010.  Using a Three Little Birds Game Calls Zebrawood Slate Call seemed to do the trick in luring this bird in for a good shot. This gobbler weighed 23 pounds, had an 11-inch beard, and spur lengths of 1-inch and 1-1/8-inch.  No one was more thrilled than little Marley and Graham.

Wilderness Trail JAKES member Seth Joest (12 years old) bagged his first gobbler while hunting in Henry County, KY during youth season.  This bird weighed in at 15 lbs, beard length was about 4-inches.  Even though it was a smaller turkey, Seth didn't care. . . he got a gobbler!  And, an NWTF member for life!  According to Seth's parents, David & Ruth Joest, all he wants to do is turkey hunt now; if he misses a banquet, he's upset.  Congrats, Seth, on your first gobbler!  We hear Ruth attended her first banquet this year - maybe a future WITO!

State Secretary Finally Gets First Gobbler!

State Chapter Secretary Kim Passeretti had Lady Luck finally on her side while hunting in Cumberland County on Thursday - April 22, 2010.  This gobbler weighed in at 22.4 pounds, had a beard length of 9-1/2-inches and 1-inch spurs. Kim had been watching, and taking photos of several gobblers for about 2 weeks and knew she had a chance of taking one of them.  As luck would have it, this bird came walking across the ridge top right into Kim's sights.   

London Longspurs member Bob Passeretti bagged this gobbler early on Thursday - April 22, 2010, (Earth Day) in Cumberland County.  This bird weighed in at 24.3 pounds, both spurs were 1-1/8-inches,and the beard length was 10-1/2-inches.

Bluegrass Chapter JAKES member Mary Alexandria Taylor (age 7) took her first turkey on April 3, 2010.  She was on her second turkey hunt with her dad, Tommy Taylor, and his friend Eric Conway, who filmed the hunt.  According to Mary, turkeys were everywhere.  She only fell asleep once, then her dad woke her up to tell her turkeys were on the way.  When a little turkey got close, she told her dad that she did not want to shoot a jake.  Mary remained patient, and when the big gobbler was near, she pulled the trigger when her dad said "SHOOT!"  Mary's gobbler weighed 23 pounds, had a 10-inch beard and 1-1/8-inc spurs.  Dad says he is proud. . . Mary just had fun!  Great job, Mary!

State Chapter Vice President Alex Lea walked the Victory Walk through the Pines, Palmetto and Cabbage Palms of Florida with this Osceola taken on March 20, 2010, while hunting on a cattle farm close to Lake Kissimmee, south of Orlando, FL. This gobbler weighed in at 20.6 pounds, had a 10-1/2 inch beard and only one spur that was 1-5/8 inches long.  Alex was using a Savage Model 24 Over-and-Under (12-gauge under a 223 caliber rifle).  Congratulations on your Florida trophy, Alex!  As usual, Alex has a very interesting story about his flight down to Florida.  If you get the time, ask him!

State Chapter President Ken Dozer harvested this 8-point buck on November 20, 2009, while hunting in Hardin County.  The buck was 18-1/2" wide, main frame 8-pointer - brow tine on right side was broken.  Main beams were both 20 plus inches; G2's were both close to 9", the G3's were both close to 10", and would green score in the low 130's.  According to Ken, the buck ran over a hill down (approximately 150 feet) to railroad tracks, crossed the tracks and dropped into a creek bed which was another 250-300 feet down.  Assisting Ken with the recovery were best friends Scott Davis (Central KY Chapter President) and Scott Keplinger (Central KY Chapter Banquet Committee Member).  

Double Eagle Chapter member Perry Johnston bagged this 8-point buck on November 18, 2009, while hunting in Scott County, KY on opening day of Firearms season.  Perry took this buck with his 280 Ruger M-77.

Rockcastle County Chapter's JAKES member Trevor Mahaffey (14 years old) took this buck while hunting with his dad (Tony Mahaffey) in Jackson County, Kentucky, on October 17, 2009.  The buck scored 142 and had a 9-point rack.