While licking my wounds after 3 unsuccessful attempts to bag a Tom turkey here in SC, I took my jonboat for a tour of the pond to see what's happening. Even though ole' longbeard is still dancing with the ladies, I've got the sweet smell of bream on bed and all 4 wood duck boxes are full of eggs! Yep - and would you believe he gobbled getting on roost tonight when I pulled the boat up on the bank. Go figure!
- Dave 4.5 acre woodland pond constructed Feb 2011 - began fill Aug 25 - full pool Nov 18 - fish stocked Oct 25: 1200 Shellcracker; 3800 bluegill bream; 500 channel catfish May 2012: 500 LMB May 2012; 50 "permitted" sterile grass carp.
Try watching him fly up for bed. Pinpoint the exact tree it roosts in. Go in the next morning way ealier than you want to (at least one hour before legal light). Go slow and quiet and sit under the tree he roosted in. Be quiet and wait for daylight.
I did this 2 years ago with my daughter. She fell asleep while we were waiting for daylight. The turkey gobbled at first light and scared the heck out of her. He was 20 feet above us. I felt her jump
Oh well, she got even.......He flew down right to our decoys and she hammered him. 1 minute hunt!
Great photo's, your lucky to have them nest there, they're on my pond all the time but never took to the nest box, too many trees around for them to nest in.
...still no gobbler. Anyway, here are some pic's of the eggs & a box. Box is courtesy of SC Dept Natural Resources, D.U., and SC Dept of Corrections.
- Dave 4.5 acre woodland pond constructed Feb 2011 - began fill Aug 25 - full pool Nov 18 - fish stocked Oct 25: 1200 Shellcracker; 3800 bluegill bream; 500 channel catfish May 2012: 500 LMB May 2012; 50 "permitted" sterile grass carp.