catman529
Well-Known Member
Had the day off so I had to go all day. Got there around 5am and hunted till sunset. Yanahli WMA
Set up near a creek in a big field where I thought there might be a beard or two roosting. Turns out I snuck in pretty good - had a hen roosting in a tree 20 yards away. Total of 6 hens ended up in the field, heard gobbles before flydown, but they were all on private land.
Midmorning, went to last year's spot - car parked there, so I left - then ended up at some dead end not sure where to go and tired as all get out. After a short nap I started texting ImThere (Ricky) as he was hunting the area as well with no luck.
We decided to meet up and hunt a couple spots. Well we didn't see much other than some jakes cross the path but were gone before either of us could sneak up on one. Flushed a hen or two. Gobblers weren't easy to come by today.
Finally after hunting one area and some trouble with ricky's truck we went to the store for some refreshments and then headed back to my last year's spot because I knew it has good birds.
We found lots of good sign and fresh sign. Running and gunning part of the time and set up for a little while till the ticks got too bad.
Then it got towards sunset and we were headed to their favorite area to roost.... carefully rounding every corner so as not to get busted, then we rounded one last corner and dang, there were some birds in the field and they saw us.
After making a big loop around to possibly ambush, we found that one of the birds (a gobbler) was back on the other end of the field where I expect them to roost.
Snuck around back toward ole longbeard, start hearing a gobble or two, and I got set up on the field edge with him about 80-100 yards to the left out in the field. First he responded well to my calls and was strutting and making his way toward me. I decided to shut up but then had to put out a couple clucks and purrs... don't know why, but that set off an alarm, and he started to putt and walk away.
So I snuck through a bunch of woods to get to where he was headed. Found him down towards the other end of the field with a hen. they were headed my way... the hen was coming closer with him following. Got a good view of his thick long beard. Then without warning he turned away from the hen and started heading toward the trees to roost. Then the hen saw me - I didn't move, she just saw me and knew something wasn't right. Started to putt and walk away towards the trees... 5 minutes later, I heard them fly up.
Met back up with ImThere in the field and he had had another tom sneak up behind him in the woods but couldn't get a shot.
So I'd say it was a great day in the woods - logged who knows how many miles and at least 14 hours in the WMA and saw a lot of hens, a few jakes, and a very nice longbeard.
Too bad I won't be hunting tomorrow - I know where he's sleeping tonight. Hopefully he'll survive the other hunters before I can get out there again and find him, or heck any other gobbler.
Also found some pig sign... no doubt about it... pics coming soon
Set up near a creek in a big field where I thought there might be a beard or two roosting. Turns out I snuck in pretty good - had a hen roosting in a tree 20 yards away. Total of 6 hens ended up in the field, heard gobbles before flydown, but they were all on private land.
Midmorning, went to last year's spot - car parked there, so I left - then ended up at some dead end not sure where to go and tired as all get out. After a short nap I started texting ImThere (Ricky) as he was hunting the area as well with no luck.
We decided to meet up and hunt a couple spots. Well we didn't see much other than some jakes cross the path but were gone before either of us could sneak up on one. Flushed a hen or two. Gobblers weren't easy to come by today.
Finally after hunting one area and some trouble with ricky's truck we went to the store for some refreshments and then headed back to my last year's spot because I knew it has good birds.
We found lots of good sign and fresh sign. Running and gunning part of the time and set up for a little while till the ticks got too bad.
Then it got towards sunset and we were headed to their favorite area to roost.... carefully rounding every corner so as not to get busted, then we rounded one last corner and dang, there were some birds in the field and they saw us.
After making a big loop around to possibly ambush, we found that one of the birds (a gobbler) was back on the other end of the field where I expect them to roost.
Snuck around back toward ole longbeard, start hearing a gobble or two, and I got set up on the field edge with him about 80-100 yards to the left out in the field. First he responded well to my calls and was strutting and making his way toward me. I decided to shut up but then had to put out a couple clucks and purrs... don't know why, but that set off an alarm, and he started to putt and walk away.
So I snuck through a bunch of woods to get to where he was headed. Found him down towards the other end of the field with a hen. they were headed my way... the hen was coming closer with him following. Got a good view of his thick long beard. Then without warning he turned away from the hen and started heading toward the trees to roost. Then the hen saw me - I didn't move, she just saw me and knew something wasn't right. Started to putt and walk away towards the trees... 5 minutes later, I heard them fly up.
Met back up with ImThere in the field and he had had another tom sneak up behind him in the woods but couldn't get a shot.
So I'd say it was a great day in the woods - logged who knows how many miles and at least 14 hours in the WMA and saw a lot of hens, a few jakes, and a very nice longbeard.
Too bad I won't be hunting tomorrow - I know where he's sleeping tonight. Hopefully he'll survive the other hunters before I can get out there again and find him, or heck any other gobbler.
Also found some pig sign... no doubt about it... pics coming soon
