My dad & I hunted the family property this morning.
We went to one end where I had seen a gobbler the Sunday of juvenile, but did not hear a peep. Dad stayed there, and I went to the other end of the property. We had taken his vehicle, and he isn't fond of it going through very rough places, so I parked and walked the rest of the way back (1/2 mile probably). It wasn't too bad, because it helped keep me warm on the walk back (the thermometer in his SUV said 24).
I didn't hear anything, so I sat on the first of two food plots and did some blind calling. After 45 minutes of nothing, I headed to the back field. As I walked out the back of it, one answered my cut/cackle sequence back to my far right. He wasn't on our property, but still close enough that I knew I was in the game.
He answered again a time or two but actually sounded as if he were going away, and then went quiet. I decided that the game was over and started to head back, but eased out of the edge of the field closest to where he had been and called again.
He answered me again, and this time didn't sound so far. I went toward him a little and started to go further, but then decided to stay right there. It's very thick in there, but I knew they were used to going this way to the field as there was fresh scratching on the trail. One more call sequence was greeted with an immediate, closer gobble. I hushed and started trying to determine his likely path through the scrub brush.
He didn't like the silent treatment, and gobble several more times as he made his slow trek. Finally I caught movement, and then saw another one. The one in back was in full strut. I kept watching the lead bird, and soon saw a nice beard on it as well. They were within 40 yards, but there was no chance at a shot with the junk between us.
They acted like they were going to skirt me from right to left, so I gave them 3 soft clucks. They froze and craned their necks looking for me. The lead bird turned toward me and approached cautiously. At 20 yards, he stepped into a slight clearing, and I could see his body and his head very well. But, there was a branch that was perfectly across his waddles and mid neck (my aim point), so I waited and begged (under my breath) for him to take two more steps.
He must have been seeing something he didn't like, because he froze for what seemed like an eternity. My arms were starting to shake. The strutter just continued his dance while standing in place, oblivious to anything else.
Finally the lead bird cleared the obstacle, and I took the shot at about 18 steps.
10" beard, spurs were 1 1/8" and 1 1/16", and he weighed just under 18 lbs.
No pics, as I just could not remember Ren's steps 3-5
!
I actually have most of the hunt on video, but with the thickness, you can't make out much other than the gobbling. And, the footage stopped about 10 seconds before the shot. I had it mounted to my gun, and the recoil may have messed it up.
Isn't it odd how I really didn't mind the walk back?
With dad's bird opening day, and now this one, this has been our best opening week in a few years. We have one pegged tomorrow morning on public land that we're going to give a go.
We went to one end where I had seen a gobbler the Sunday of juvenile, but did not hear a peep. Dad stayed there, and I went to the other end of the property. We had taken his vehicle, and he isn't fond of it going through very rough places, so I parked and walked the rest of the way back (1/2 mile probably). It wasn't too bad, because it helped keep me warm on the walk back (the thermometer in his SUV said 24).
I didn't hear anything, so I sat on the first of two food plots and did some blind calling. After 45 minutes of nothing, I headed to the back field. As I walked out the back of it, one answered my cut/cackle sequence back to my far right. He wasn't on our property, but still close enough that I knew I was in the game.
He answered again a time or two but actually sounded as if he were going away, and then went quiet. I decided that the game was over and started to head back, but eased out of the edge of the field closest to where he had been and called again.
He answered me again, and this time didn't sound so far. I went toward him a little and started to go further, but then decided to stay right there. It's very thick in there, but I knew they were used to going this way to the field as there was fresh scratching on the trail. One more call sequence was greeted with an immediate, closer gobble. I hushed and started trying to determine his likely path through the scrub brush.
He didn't like the silent treatment, and gobble several more times as he made his slow trek. Finally I caught movement, and then saw another one. The one in back was in full strut. I kept watching the lead bird, and soon saw a nice beard on it as well. They were within 40 yards, but there was no chance at a shot with the junk between us.
They acted like they were going to skirt me from right to left, so I gave them 3 soft clucks. They froze and craned their necks looking for me. The lead bird turned toward me and approached cautiously. At 20 yards, he stepped into a slight clearing, and I could see his body and his head very well. But, there was a branch that was perfectly across his waddles and mid neck (my aim point), so I waited and begged (under my breath) for him to take two more steps.
He must have been seeing something he didn't like, because he froze for what seemed like an eternity. My arms were starting to shake. The strutter just continued his dance while standing in place, oblivious to anything else.
Finally the lead bird cleared the obstacle, and I took the shot at about 18 steps.
10" beard, spurs were 1 1/8" and 1 1/16", and he weighed just under 18 lbs.
No pics, as I just could not remember Ren's steps 3-5
! I actually have most of the hunt on video, but with the thickness, you can't make out much other than the gobbling. And, the footage stopped about 10 seconds before the shot. I had it mounted to my gun, and the recoil may have messed it up.
Isn't it odd how I really didn't mind the walk back?
With dad's bird opening day, and now this one, this has been our best opening week in a few years. We have one pegged tomorrow morning on public land that we're going to give a go.
