Gould's Trophy Room 2008

Brad Fulk - RSO

Rio Sonora Outfitters,  LLC. - PO Box 1030 Hereford, AZ 85615 - (520) 803-9210

Mike Murray (C) and a hunting group being shuttled to and from Casas Grandes, Chih. on RSO's hunt out of El Paso, TX.

Our Gould's hunts typically start when the birds are breaking up out of the winter flocks. This season we started on April 18th with hopes we would not be too early and catch the birds wintered up.  In 2007, that's exactly what happened, the birds broke up in late April, but we persisted and pulled off more than 100% success for the season. Well, this was the second season back to back, where the birds were late. Even though we scheduled our our hunts later, our first group of hunters were seeing up to 40 gobblers in a flock on both ranches!  The birds were not as vocal as the cold weather lingered on and on this season, but finally toward the end of our hunts the birds were back to normal and could be heard in all directions.  After the second year of the birds being late, we will move our hunts back  several days for 2009.

RSO had some changes to plan for during the 2008 season, including over 40,000 acres of a new ranch lease that RSO partner, Mike Murray outfitted. We began scouting this property in June of 2007, and pre-scouted the ranch extensively prior to the hunts.  As the season turned out, the scouting really paid off as our  first two groups of hunters finished their hunts in 1.5 days!  During the first hunt, archery clients Doug Spencer and Dan Lee spent a total of  45 minutes in a Double Bull blind and took two great longbeards, of which Doug's bird is currently the new pending WORLD RECORD GOULD'S for archery overall NWTF score.  Congratulations Doug, and to you Dan for getting the kill on video!!!  Did you guys ever think you would travel so far and finish your hunt so quickly?? This bird makes the second WORLD RECORD GOULD'S entry for RSO clients, Doug's bird, along with Richard Tharp's WORLD RECORD GOULD"S taken with a Knight muzzeloader in 2006.

Overall our hunters exceeded 100% this year as they did in 2007, with 34 hunters taking 41 longbeards in Chihuahua.  The conditions in the mountains were as dry as I have ever seen it, the water and feed was critical this year, resulting in reduced bird weights compared to the past. We took a few birds that were 22-23 lbs., however most were averaging 19-20lbs.  Fortunately, a couple weeks after the hunts were over the property received 1-1.5" of rain, which created green feed for the hens on the nest.  RSO will be hunting some new un-hunted property again next season that is adjacent to the Oscuro which means older age-class birds.

Continued,

With the addition of new property comes the opportunity to take larger older age-class birds, as seen this year on the Oscuro Ranch. The birds in this remote area see an occasional cowboy checking cattle or building fence on the ranch, but a hunter wearing a vest toting a turkey gun and  striking a call is completely foreign. We also added more hunting access near the Mesa Ranch, to be utilized for hunters wanting second birds. As an Outfitter, this is important when hunters are afield hunting for their first bird and it also allows us an additional place to take birds in order to manage our annual harvest and maintain high hunter success.

We had a great year and had the opportunity to meet many new friends again this season which is something we all look forward to each year. We had some great times in the field, learning new methods from each other and adding a few more tricks to use in the future. It's common to hear the Gould's are the most impressive looking and magnificent  turkey of the species that occupy some of the most spectacular terrain imaginable. I to, feel the same and am fortunate to return each spring to the rugged and remote terrain of the high sierras chasing gobbles. It isn't long after the season comes to an end, that I can't wait to hear my next distant gobble!

Rowland Roberson (L) and Bennett McGehee did well in 2008. The first evening out Rowland set up on the highest part of the ranch (8200") with his bow and took his bird soon after being dropped off. Bennett ended his hunt in a large canyon as we called his second bird up the creek, strutting all the way into 15 steps.

Here are a couple of archery birds taken by Kirk Ebarb (L) owner of River City Outdoors and Mike Tussey owner of Oceola Outdoors and staff of  the Hunters Journal. These birds all were taken on film and will appear on the on their upcoming shows.

Jim Colville (L), Gerry Duasza (C) and Jude McNally all with great birds!

Scott Andrews (left photo) and hunting partner, Joe Trammell with one of Scott's two birds, and Joe with his two birds taken on La Mesa Ranch

Our second group of hunters on the La Mesa Ranch (back L-R) Greg Cave, Billy Ray Oglesby, Tim Mercer, guide, Jimmy Vincent, and Ken Woodruff (front L-R) Scott Andrews, Joe Trammell, Gerry Duasza, and Jeff Gray.  Three hunters in this group took two birds each and we finished the season hearing 12-13 different gobblers from where we shot our last bird! This was a fine group a people, like our others, and skilled turkey hunters.

These hunters are part of Mike Murray's group on the Oscuro Ranch. Mike's hunts went by fairly fast as all but one hunter finished on the seacond morning, and he took a second bird!

Retired Outdoor Writer, Jim Robbins with his first Gould's.

Billy Ray Oglesby (L) and Greg Cave with a couple long beards they called in.

Barnabas Koka, NWTF Regional Director (R) and below with his friend Ryan Fiaca with two nice birds.