TNhunter
Well-Known Member
DISCLAIMER:
Like another post earlier if you don't like dead jakes stop reading.
This was a great opening day. My hunting partner and myself started at our usual opening day location. We heard 0 gobbles but had birds roosted all around us. When they all flew down they hit the far corner of a very large field. We moved to the location where we knew they'd be travelling. One big group of them got by us before we could cut them off. As we were trying to sneak down to the corner of the field a group of jakes came in on us. We were about 40 yards from the edge of the field. I wanted to double but from the angle where I was I couldn't get a clear shot. I heard my buddy say - man I didn't get a bird last year - and I don't want to let these slip by. Next time I heard him say he had a clear shot I told him to go ahead and take him. 2 seconds later flopping bird and all the other jakes were flogging him. It was on now - I was trying my best to get a clear shot. The birds finally were easing their way on across the field and toward the corner. I had 1 really clear spot but by the time they would get there they would be 60+ yards away. I had a small hole through some brushy crap and in between some trees and had one stop right in it. I took the shot - didn't even hit a feather. Lots of dead vines and twigs though. I stuck around about another hour and moved to a new location about 20 miles away. This time I was armed with my new home made fan decoy. I slipped down in the woods about 100 yards and set up. Within 10 minutes I had a hen raising cane across on the neighbors land. I was cutting and purring back and forth with her and a noise behind and to the right of me caught my attention. I eased my head around and there were 2 jakes (one a super-jake). There was NO WAY I was going to get moved on them to get a shot. I just sat patiently to see if they'd see Turkzilla down the hill from me about 30 yards. YEP - they started easing down the hill and walked right behind me to get there. They walked within 6 feet of me as they went down the hill. When I thought they'd made it far enough down the hill that I could move I did so. They went straight for Turkzilla. I had my gun raised and was ready to bust the super-jake. He stopped about 5 yards from my decoy and right behind 2-3 small trees. The wait was on. I needed him to take one more step. He finally reached his neck out and down to get something and that was the last thing he did. 18 yard shot.
19.5 pounds
5" beard
nub spurs
DISCLAIMER: The following photos are here simply for your enjoyment. I love photography and thought yall might like these photos.
Like another post earlier if you don't like dead jakes stop reading.
This was a great opening day. My hunting partner and myself started at our usual opening day location. We heard 0 gobbles but had birds roosted all around us. When they all flew down they hit the far corner of a very large field. We moved to the location where we knew they'd be travelling. One big group of them got by us before we could cut them off. As we were trying to sneak down to the corner of the field a group of jakes came in on us. We were about 40 yards from the edge of the field. I wanted to double but from the angle where I was I couldn't get a clear shot. I heard my buddy say - man I didn't get a bird last year - and I don't want to let these slip by. Next time I heard him say he had a clear shot I told him to go ahead and take him. 2 seconds later flopping bird and all the other jakes were flogging him. It was on now - I was trying my best to get a clear shot. The birds finally were easing their way on across the field and toward the corner. I had 1 really clear spot but by the time they would get there they would be 60+ yards away. I had a small hole through some brushy crap and in between some trees and had one stop right in it. I took the shot - didn't even hit a feather. Lots of dead vines and twigs though. I stuck around about another hour and moved to a new location about 20 miles away. This time I was armed with my new home made fan decoy. I slipped down in the woods about 100 yards and set up. Within 10 minutes I had a hen raising cane across on the neighbors land. I was cutting and purring back and forth with her and a noise behind and to the right of me caught my attention. I eased my head around and there were 2 jakes (one a super-jake). There was NO WAY I was going to get moved on them to get a shot. I just sat patiently to see if they'd see Turkzilla down the hill from me about 30 yards. YEP - they started easing down the hill and walked right behind me to get there. They walked within 6 feet of me as they went down the hill. When I thought they'd made it far enough down the hill that I could move I did so. They went straight for Turkzilla. I had my gun raised and was ready to bust the super-jake. He stopped about 5 yards from my decoy and right behind 2-3 small trees. The wait was on. I needed him to take one more step. He finally reached his neck out and down to get something and that was the last thing he did. 18 yard shot.
19.5 pounds
5" beard
nub spurs
DISCLAIMER: The following photos are here simply for your enjoyment. I love photography and thought yall might like these photos.
