TN Larry
Well-Known Member
I took my son yesterday morning, and we only heard one gobble. We thought it was going to happen for his first chance at a bird, but hens took him the other way. It was exciting for him to hear one hammer so close.
I went solo this morning before church, and they gobbled good on the roost and right after fly down. I chased two early but they ended up going the other direction where I couldn't cut them off. I was about ready to head home at 8:30 when a bird gobbled on his own. I had one hour max to make it happen, or I'd be late for church. I got set up on him, called, and no answer. I didn't like my set up as it was below him, and he had to come over a steep hill but was my only option at that moment. He gobbled on his own a few minutes later so I jumped up to try to circle him. I ran into a bluff and couldn't get above him. I stood there pondering what to do and knew I didn't have much time by then before church. I then decided to called super, super aggressive. That tore him up, and I could tell then that there was at least two of them. I ran back to where I was to try to get up the steep hill above them as I was trying to get close and running out of time. I got part way up the steep hill but couldn't go any farther without being busted. They would not answer soft calling but would go crazy with super aggressive calling which is against the grain to how I usually call. They wouldn't budge and were about 80 - 100 yards away. I made another move and knew that I would be in good shape or bust them. They had moved around the hill a little when I got nearly to the top. I was afraid to go any farther so I set up and called again. They blew my hat off at about 75 yards and turned back my way. I had put a brush pile between us to try not to get seen. I never could see him, but he got to 50-60 yards behind the brush pile but wouldn't commit the extra 20 yards that I needed him to clear. He finally went back around the hill over a rise so I pushed hard to get to where he was at. It was perfect as I was about 30 yards from a point, and they had to look over to see me. I threw the soft calling out the window and got aggressive. They both cut me off. About two minutes later, I heard footsteps and here he came sneaking over the rise about 30 yards. I pulled the trigger, and there was a turkey that sailed across the hollow. I couldn't believe that I had missed and set there for a minute in disbelief as I'd just missed at 30 yard. I got up as I couldn't see over the rise where he fell and there he laid. It was then 9:30, and my hour was up. I had to book it to get back home, get him debreasted, and ready for church. I made it with 5 mins to spare.
It was one of my better hunts as they would absolutely hammer when I got aggressive. I didn't have anything to lose as I had to either leave them or try something else. I probably wouldn't have got that aggressive and would have tried to go a longer route to get in front of them if it hadn't have been for church. The Lord blessed me with this one this morning. I wish little man would have been with me, but I did some major climbing that he probably couldn't have done this morning. I am absolutely beat from climbing 3 big hills. My foot is not happy either, but I consider it some good physical therapy.
17.5 lbs
10.25" beard
3/4" spurs
I went solo this morning before church, and they gobbled good on the roost and right after fly down. I chased two early but they ended up going the other direction where I couldn't cut them off. I was about ready to head home at 8:30 when a bird gobbled on his own. I had one hour max to make it happen, or I'd be late for church. I got set up on him, called, and no answer. I didn't like my set up as it was below him, and he had to come over a steep hill but was my only option at that moment. He gobbled on his own a few minutes later so I jumped up to try to circle him. I ran into a bluff and couldn't get above him. I stood there pondering what to do and knew I didn't have much time by then before church. I then decided to called super, super aggressive. That tore him up, and I could tell then that there was at least two of them. I ran back to where I was to try to get up the steep hill above them as I was trying to get close and running out of time. I got part way up the steep hill but couldn't go any farther without being busted. They would not answer soft calling but would go crazy with super aggressive calling which is against the grain to how I usually call. They wouldn't budge and were about 80 - 100 yards away. I made another move and knew that I would be in good shape or bust them. They had moved around the hill a little when I got nearly to the top. I was afraid to go any farther so I set up and called again. They blew my hat off at about 75 yards and turned back my way. I had put a brush pile between us to try not to get seen. I never could see him, but he got to 50-60 yards behind the brush pile but wouldn't commit the extra 20 yards that I needed him to clear. He finally went back around the hill over a rise so I pushed hard to get to where he was at. It was perfect as I was about 30 yards from a point, and they had to look over to see me. I threw the soft calling out the window and got aggressive. They both cut me off. About two minutes later, I heard footsteps and here he came sneaking over the rise about 30 yards. I pulled the trigger, and there was a turkey that sailed across the hollow. I couldn't believe that I had missed and set there for a minute in disbelief as I'd just missed at 30 yard. I got up as I couldn't see over the rise where he fell and there he laid. It was then 9:30, and my hour was up. I had to book it to get back home, get him debreasted, and ready for church. I made it with 5 mins to spare.
It was one of my better hunts as they would absolutely hammer when I got aggressive. I didn't have anything to lose as I had to either leave them or try something else. I probably wouldn't have got that aggressive and would have tried to go a longer route to get in front of them if it hadn't have been for church. The Lord blessed me with this one this morning. I wish little man would have been with me, but I did some major climbing that he probably couldn't have done this morning. I am absolutely beat from climbing 3 big hills. My foot is not happy either, but I consider it some good physical therapy.
17.5 lbs
10.25" beard
3/4" spurs
