my 1st turkey of 2019, rain soaked jake

Well left house at 450 this morning with a good steady rain. Changed to pouring rain before I got half way to farm. Told my self well I here now, dumb arse so might as well get wet. Took quad back to about 200yd from my popup chair I have setup for rainy days. Got there by 545 all wet. Shooting time came end went with no sound of anything. Couple ducks came by then a deer. 650 a hen comes out about 50yds, I really check for a beard but couldn't see any. So wet bird going to look black. It fed for a bit then back in bush, it was in range but hen. 10 min later comes back out still no beard feeds out into field out of range. Rain and wind just going stronger. It feeds out to about 80yds. I figure well I forgot my hen decoy now I have a live one, keep looking at bush line for tom to come out. Make a couple calls in hopes of drawing a tom out of bush. It feeds for 30 mins out front getting closer. Coming right at me. I notice a spot on chest. Keep looking for beard, gun down. At 30yds it turns a bit to the side, and there is a small beard. Now gun is down and it has a beard. Bring gun up slow but tent side is in way now. I have to lean out a bit and can't get gun to shoulder properly. Take shot and it is history. now I can barely move my arm, it hurts to type this.

trying to add picture. I guess I still can't figure out how to post pictures. I used to be able to.

Damm you are hard core . Sure you didn't get any today. Had already decided not to go out this morning tent or no tent but the rain thumping the roof at 3:30 this morning confirmed I had made a good choice.
Congrats on the bird
lets see that rain soaked bugger. Nice thing about hunting in the rain even Jakes weigh 30 lbs.

Congrats!

Sweet!!

fins, don't blame you, it was really crappy out. Txt a buddy at 550 told him that he can me a DA now for sure. He txt back said him too. Weirdest jake I ever got. 4" beard, 3/8 spurs. Tom tail and weighed in as my second biggest bird, with just meat. I have gotten a lot of Toms a lot smaller. I'm still cold from the hunt. Good luck out there guys.

From your description what makes you think its a Jake?
Short beard means very little. Beard rot and winter damage shorten a lot of beards.
The tail is the marker
I think you got a Tom there buddy

could be beard rot, but it the spurs that are making me think jake.

Congrats. Only feathers I saw this morning were sticking out of my pillow. Cheers

with that cold rain might just be spur shrinkage
Pretty sure its the tail that tales.
all inline TOM
center 2 longer Jake

still trying to download picture

Got my first turkey, i spooked them all away going in and managed to call him back to me after about 40min came marching along like someone set his tail on fire amd i rolled him at 10-15 yards

Also how do i post a picture, just says cannot download this type of file

I broke down and bought a Killer B jake decoy. Rain on Friday but I decided to try it out anyways. I set up where I thought the birds would end up trying to shelter them selves from the rain. an hour went by and I was about to pack it in. I was just sitting there day dreaming when I saw a tom about 10 feet from my decoys. Boom!!. Killer B jake decoy did it's job. That tom was just about to jump on the decoy. Hunt in the rain guys. Think like a turkey. They don't like the rain either. Worked for me. 10 inch beard and 1 inch spurs. Good Luck yall

Matt, congrats on your first bird.

daddy that sound like a really nice Tom.

Well I found my breaking point. Got up 430 Sunday checked weather, snow and 1C, went back to bed. Not supposed to hunt turkey in snow and cold. Did go out for a walk about in afternoon. Nothing to be seen, thought might catch one out sunning itself in the field. Checked 3 different bushes. Lots of ducks and deer.