1.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

You all know how this works.


Get everything out of your system before I post the rules and an official sign-up thread in a day or three. This includes hate, love, joy, jealousy, a general sense of aggravation with the way things are, and that backed-up feeling. Whatever you have going on. Fire away. Stock up on cranberry juice, or do a happy dance. Your choice. Be ready for the contest to begin March 15.

I expect the deadline for sign-ups will be March 14 unless somebody tells me he is going to start hunting earlier...So tell all your friends to stop by and put their names in the hat when we begin taking names. If you want to hunt, I'll take your names on this thread and then put them on the Official Sign-Up thread as a convenience, just because that's the kind of guy I am.

2.) bluecat - 02/25/2016

I'm getting ready and getting excited.

Ordered new lower pound limbs for my Vector 35 (60 pound limbs) and they should be here in a couple of weeks. Got the Defiant 34 rigged up but need to sight it in now. I'll be happy to be the scorekeeper as well unless the consensus is/was "no way is that sob doing that again". :wave:

This year, I've pledged to stay awake in the turkey blind...

3.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

That would be great if you'd keep score. I have a full plate here, and that would be a little load off.

4.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

I think I might be motivated/in a situation to do more with the bow this year than the last couple. Not sure I can do as much run-and-gun as usual, so which stage of grief is "acceptance"?

We're not supposed to have great numbers this year, so my big question is whether I'll try to get the first bird with the bow...Which might lead to me spending the whole season with it, LOL.

5.) billy b - 02/25/2016

Did you say sumpin?:grin::grin::grin::wink

6.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

LOL...

I guess that depends on who you talk to...:-)

7.) bluecat - 02/25/2016

Somewhere I saved the information you provided on ticks. We need to make that it's own thread. I think I just heard on the news about more tick diseases. They really can impact a good turkey hunt or your life.

8.) crookedeye - 02/25/2016

9.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

Some days I think I have lyme disease...Among other things...Only half LOLing. It's not really something to be flip about.


Post what you have. This is a good reminder to me that I'm out of tick dope.

10.) Swamp Fox - 02/25/2016

[QUOTE=crookedeye;39833][/QUOTE]



LOL...


I'm signing you up against your will just for that, CE!


:wink

11.) DParker - 02/26/2016

I had lime disease once, but cured it with salt and cheap tequila.

12.) Jon - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;39828]That would be great if you'd keep score. I have a full plate here, and that would be a little load off.[/QUOTE]

A few more stray cats show up and have you running all willy nilly? Full plate :poke:

13.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=crookedeye;39833][/QUOTE]

Okay CE, I'm calling you out. I want to see some footage of your beasts in the basement - trailcam, gopro, phone video. I want to see some critters.

14.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=DParker;39839]I had lime disease once, but cured it with salt and cheap tequila.[/QUOTE]

After a lively discussion with the judges, some hurt feelings and a couple of f-bombs, we have reached consensus. We are giving that a double thumbs up.

:tu::tu:

15.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Jon;39841]A few more stray cats show up and have you running all willy nilly? Full plate :poke:[/QUOTE]


:-)

.

I'm expecting a record turn-out for the contest this year.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Well, that and I'm tired of Luv2 bugging me all the time to let him run a contest...LOL

16.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

I propose that a pic is required but getting a pic showing each measurement might be a little much for some of us lone wolves that can't hold a giant gobbler while holding a phone and tape etc. I'm good with a pic of bird and any other pics are appreciated but not necessarily required. What say you?

17.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;39847]I propose that a pic is required but getting a pic showing each measurement might be a little much for some of us lone wolves that can't hold a giant gobbler while holding a phone and tape etc. I'm good with a pic of bird and any other pics are appreciated but not necessarily required. What say you?[/QUOTE]

I'll just go ahead and subtract a 1/4" from the spur measurement and a full inch from the beard measurement from Luv2's bird as he has a tendency spice things up a bit. :wave:

18.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

I agree it's a difficult one-man job. But I like seeing pics of beards and spurs, and a small difference in spur measurement does make a yuge difference in score.

How about a pic with a ruler, tape measure or coin for reference? My dad's advice was that I should always have a dime in my pocket in case I need to make a phone call. LOL

Snap a pic of the beard or spur next to the reference if you don't have an assistant, and don't worry about holding three things at once. It's kind of the semi-honor system. :)


Also will mention this again: These are handy. The ones with longer legs are more versatile in the woods.

[url]http://joby.com/gorillapod#[/url]

19.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

Yepper, I bought one last year on your recommendation and then bought a smart phone adapter. I carry it in my pack at all times. Just need to remember to throw in a tape measure.

20.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

This is pretty cool if the scale's any good. I got excited for a minute when I first saw it because I thought somebody had been clever enough to find a way to clip the end of the tape to the base of the beard or spur, thus freeing up one hand, but no.






I think it's Primos that makes/used to make a simple turkey tote with measurements marked on the loop. No scale. That's what I use. It's pretty handy.

21.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

Maybe it's HS that made the tote I have. Can't find it online right now.


Maybe it's too low tech these days...LOL

It's in some of my pictures. One thing I like about it is you can use it to hang your bird up on a limb for pictures, or in camp.

22.) Hunter - 02/26/2016

A little pre-season phone video.....

[video=youtube;8ULWeHFpOZI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULWeHFpOZI[/video]

23.) Hunter - 02/26/2016

If I get to hunt this year, it will be the last week of the season but you can put me on a team if you wish :wave:

24.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Jon;39841]A few more stray cats show up and have you running all willy nilly? Full plate :poke:[/QUOTE]

Speaking of cats Swampy, when li'l bluecat shows up, take a picture for me.

25.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;39852]This is pretty cool if the scale's any good. I got excited for a minute when I first saw it because I thought somebody had been clever enough to find a way to clip the end of the tape to the base of the beard or spur, thus freeing up one hand, but no.







I think it's Primos that makes/used to make a simple turkey tote with measurements marked on the loop. No scale. That's what I use. It's pretty handy.[/QUOTE]

A hanging scale. Brilliant. :wink

26.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

I thought so. :-)

Lil Miss Bluecat is at the top of the list of names for new cats, if any appear. :wink

It was a blue cat---really a pure gray---who was the little slut who basically started this mess a few years ago, leaving her kittens all over the place, LOL. Another put me through the wringer with vets. I've had better luck with my black cats.:wink

But don't get me started on who's needed what care, and who's running the asylum...:dig:

27.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Hunter;39854]A little pre-season phone video.....

[/QUOTE]


Nice! And that IS green!

28.) Dan-o - 02/26/2016

I'll play!

29.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

No, no, no...


:wink



:wave:

30.) bluecat - 02/26/2016

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;39862]I thought so. :-)
Lil Miss Bluecat is at the top of the list of names for new cats, if any appear. :wink
[/QUOTE]


If it's a male, make sure he is hung like a horse.

31.) Swamp Fox - 02/26/2016

LOL...You're assuming I could or would want to check.

I think the politics of the herd here lean against any new male cats. Think [I]Game of Thrones, [/I]only furrier...

Even Darrell and His Other Brother Darrell, two of the originals, had to leave the kingdom after Mr. Maestro and his tribe settled in...Mr. Maestro is Top Cat of all he surveys.

But that's more than you wanted to know...:wink

32.) bluecat - 02/27/2016

Have you pitched your compound and occupants as a reality show?

33.) crookedeye - 02/27/2016

swampy you must not show any weakness to mr. maestro..show youre dominance by making advances toward the female cats..

34.) crookedeye - 02/28/2016

....

35.) Swamp Fox - 02/28/2016

LMAO!

It's only taken four or five years for Mr. Maestro to let me scratch him...And that's pretty much limited to at breakfast-time only...I'm still not allowed to look him in the eye...

36.) Swamp Fox - 02/28/2016

[QUOTE=bluecat;39880]Have you pitched your compound and occupants as a reality show?[/QUOTE]



I'm way ahead of you. I already have a page and a half of potential names for the series...:wink

37.) DropzOfWild - 02/28/2016

You're one helleva guy Swampy, I'm in!

38.) crookedeye - 02/28/2016

you guys got to remember this is the PRE- thread of the official turkey sign up thread.. according to the rules you must sign up on the official turkey sign up contest thread..

39.) Swamp Fox - 02/28/2016

That's right, but I'm willing to bend the rules in cases where somebody checked in on the pre-thread and then never made it back before March 14...I mean, I know everybody who's anybody checks in here daily, but say somebody's grandma got sick, or they won the lottery...Those would be a couple of the excuses I would accept...

40.) crookedeye - 02/28/2016

a lawless turkey contest isnt a turkey contest.. aka Donald Trump...

41.) crookedeye - 02/28/2016

besides..its a winner take all..

42.) crookedeye - 03/12/2016

what is youre alltime favorite turkey call?? i have alot..but the one i like and use more than the others is an old knight and hale slate for some reason i can purr and cluck on it better than the others..combine that with a tom teaser mouth call things get crazy...

plus i cant forget about the hoosier daddy line of calls..that guy could really make a call sing...

43.) crookedeye - 03/12/2016

i tried ordering from hoosier daddy calls was a copper over glass pot call..well after about a month with no call i finally got a pm that said, they were having trouble getting the copper out of the copper mine so i had to settle for a slate call..

44.) crookedeye - 03/12/2016

i guess the slate mines were producing that yr..

45.) Swamp Fox - 03/13/2016

LOL...

I have a scratch box or two that I'm pretty fond of when the going gets tough. A few box calls that I rotate. A slate and a glass with graphite pots that Primos sold about 20 years ago (!) are always with me...I know a few diaphragms I like and a few I don't, but I have no great love for collecting them like I do other calls, LOL.

Your question is like choosing your favorite hot model...So I'm just listing stuff...LOL

This year I'll make another stab at lightening my pack and carrying fewer calls for "just in case." :wink:-):grin:

46.) Swamp Fox - 03/14/2016

Turkey teams to be announced later tonight. Deadline for sign-up is just around the corner.


What are the odds we can get 2-6 more hunters signed up before all hell breaks loose?

47.) Swamp Fox - 03/16/2016

In case you missed it, here are the teams. I'll put up a Kill Reporting thread soon, which is where you should post pictures.

The contest runs March 15-May 31.



Team 1

Dan-o
Crookedeye


Team 2

DropzOfWild
Swamp Fox


Team 3

Hunter
Bluecat