Hot off the press! I finally got a picture of my “great nephew’s” bird, and it was worth waiting for. Tristen Ansel downed a gobbler bigger than he is, and of all the birds the Ansel clan has taken this year, his has the longest beard. It was 11 inches long and weighed in at 23 pounds, with 1 inch spurs. How many 10 year olds shoot a record class tom their first time out? Of course it helps to have a grandpa, and a dad, that are champion caliber callers.
Grandpa Darryl told me that this bird came into their set-up so fast, that he never had time to pick up the movie camera. They used a hen and a strutting tom to fool the old bird, and Tristen put a great 18 yard shot on his trophy tom. The dog-gone fan is big enough to make a ground blind out of. Tell your dad to get the pictures and story a little faster next time ok?
When you consider that so far we have filled 7 0f 8 turkey licenses it is phenomenal. Michigan success rates average about 35% for tagging a bird, which make our year “over the top!” Tomorrow morning I’m going out with my son-in-law Tony, and see if we could possibly make it 8 for 8. Now wouldn’t that be sweet? When you think that two 10 year olds, a first time female hunter, and a overweight 62 year old were part of that “tom dropping” group, it makes it even more amazing. I can’t wait for the morning to see if we could possibly make it 8 for 8.
Mike
Your family has had an incredible turkey season!!Kind of like a dream season!It’s been fun to read your success stories and see the great pictures! I can hardly imagine seeing a turkey That big! Congrats to Tritsen and all the Ansel clan who’ve enjoyed success!
I hope the morning went well for you guys, and our families are definitely on a roll. We only have one tag that hasn’t been filled out of 5. I can’t believe it.
And that is one huge bird. Congrats to the little hunter.
Luck on #8. You guys really have had a great turkey season, a lot better then us for sure.