I killed a nice 3 yr old bird Saturday that was the result of a string of events that had to play out just right.
After getting on a wad of birds that we have hunted all year in Wilson County, only to be whooped by the hens once again, we did some prospecting of other properties that the fella we go with has access.
After checking 3 other spots, even setting up at one for a bit before the next guy over started running his chain saw, we drove down one secluded road to check another set of fields. Instead of just a "drive by" like we normally do, I asked the fella to pull over and let me listen a bit since the wind was calm.
I heard a bird gobble 2x, but he wasn't where we could hunt. He was way back up a pasture on the side of a hill. With the way I could hear him, I thought I should be able to see him. Got the binocs out, and sure enough he was at the very top in strut next to the wood line that ran up the hill also. The old fella said we could hunt the woods. So, we drove back around, and dropped him off at his house, because he said he was too tired to make the walk. My dad and I walked up the logging road that came up the back side, and got fairly close.
Dad stayed back, and I made my way only hearing faint gobbles a time or two. I thought I needed to get to the top of another hill when I ended up almost getting busted as I was slipping up the hill in the woods. I thought he was over the crest, but instead I could see him strutting 70-80 yds, in the field. I was about 60 yards from the fence. I just stood there behind a cedar, with my seat still over my head and shoulder. After some leaf scratching, soft clucks and yelps, the hen that he was with (I hadn't seen her) made her way toward me with him in tow. They crossed the fence, and she proceeded to walk to 25 steps to my 10:00 position and stare a hole through the green and brown blob standing behind the thin cedar tree. He was back another 25 steps of so, and I really wanted him to come a little closer. However, when she did the 180 turn, I was afraid that she was gonna blow the game, so I took the shot as he was just standing there with his head up searching for the other hen. 21.12 lbs, 9 1/2" beard, and 1 in spurs.
The second hunt was this morning. No gobbles were heard. We ascended the hill to a small food plot. Dad stayed there and I went to the back of property. I hadn't no more than sat down when I heard him shoot at about 6:05 central. He had a hen deke out, and had called softly just a time or two, when he glanced over to his right and a 2 yr old strutted through the open gate we had just walked through maybe 20 minutes earlier. We had to have walked right by him when we came up the road going up the hill. 17 lbs, 8 1/2" beard, and 3/4" spurs.
Give me luck any day!
After getting on a wad of birds that we have hunted all year in Wilson County, only to be whooped by the hens once again, we did some prospecting of other properties that the fella we go with has access.
After checking 3 other spots, even setting up at one for a bit before the next guy over started running his chain saw, we drove down one secluded road to check another set of fields. Instead of just a "drive by" like we normally do, I asked the fella to pull over and let me listen a bit since the wind was calm.
I heard a bird gobble 2x, but he wasn't where we could hunt. He was way back up a pasture on the side of a hill. With the way I could hear him, I thought I should be able to see him. Got the binocs out, and sure enough he was at the very top in strut next to the wood line that ran up the hill also. The old fella said we could hunt the woods. So, we drove back around, and dropped him off at his house, because he said he was too tired to make the walk. My dad and I walked up the logging road that came up the back side, and got fairly close.
Dad stayed back, and I made my way only hearing faint gobbles a time or two. I thought I needed to get to the top of another hill when I ended up almost getting busted as I was slipping up the hill in the woods. I thought he was over the crest, but instead I could see him strutting 70-80 yds, in the field. I was about 60 yards from the fence. I just stood there behind a cedar, with my seat still over my head and shoulder. After some leaf scratching, soft clucks and yelps, the hen that he was with (I hadn't seen her) made her way toward me with him in tow. They crossed the fence, and she proceeded to walk to 25 steps to my 10:00 position and stare a hole through the green and brown blob standing behind the thin cedar tree. He was back another 25 steps of so, and I really wanted him to come a little closer. However, when she did the 180 turn, I was afraid that she was gonna blow the game, so I took the shot as he was just standing there with his head up searching for the other hen. 21.12 lbs, 9 1/2" beard, and 1 in spurs.
The second hunt was this morning. No gobbles were heard. We ascended the hill to a small food plot. Dad stayed there and I went to the back of property. I hadn't no more than sat down when I heard him shoot at about 6:05 central. He had a hen deke out, and had called softly just a time or two, when he glanced over to his right and a 2 yr old strutted through the open gate we had just walked through maybe 20 minutes earlier. We had to have walked right by him when we came up the road going up the hill. 17 lbs, 8 1/2" beard, and 3/4" spurs.
Give me luck any day!
