Post by whitetailaddict on May 9, 2007 10:00:38 GMT -5
On the morning of May 3, the day started off way wrong. I was in a new area, that hadn't been scouted. At daybreak a bird started gobbling so I headed towards him. When I was within about 200 yards, I picked a tree and sat down. Within seconds came the dreaded putts, of two overhead roosted hens. After 15 minutes of excited putting they flew out taking the Tom away from me. I circled a big loop around them, and waited. After about 15 minutes he started gobbling again, and they were working towards me. After 20 minutes of no gobbling he gobbled again, and they had went a different direction, and were now about 1/2 mile away. Deciding to leave them go for the day, I headed towards the truck to try and strike another bird. Hindsight being just that, I was thinking about them 4 jakes I let walk at 15 yards the morning before. Oh well. After stopping at 5 different places, I had not been able to raise a gobble. They had really slacked off on the gobbling, even though it was only 7:00. Off to spot number 6. Shutting off the truck, I got out and listened. After about 5 minutes I heard a faint gobble. After locking in the location of the truck on the GPS and loading the gun, I headed towards them. Cooperative they were, gobbling about every 5 minutes, allowing me to sneak towards them through the swamp. The swamp opened into some hardwood bottoms, and I felt as if I got any closer they may have been able to spot me. I picked a tree, big enough to hide my outline (yes it was a big tree) and sat. Immediately after their next gobble, I struck back with some yelping and cutting. They cut me off with the gobbles, sounded like a Tom and a jake, with hens. After 10 minutes of back and forth calling I seen the lead Tom at 100 yards, heading my way. I was silent from then on. When he got to the 50 yard mark, I cocked the hammer on the T/C Encore. He strutted to 30 yards but was behind brush now. The two jakes were at 30 yards also, but 20 degress off from the Tom, and wide open, but they caught something they didn't like. This alerted the Tom behind the brush also. So I started to swing towards the Jakes. As the sights got nearer the birds, I got my cheek down made sure I had the sights lined good, swung past the first Jake, then the first hen, and when the sight lined up good on the red head BOOM. Through the smoke and above I could see birds flying. After getting off to the side, I could see the Tom who had been following the whole procession flopping. He weighed out at 22# had a 10" beard with 1" spurs. I tagged him, loaded up my vest, and pulled out the GPS. Locked in the truck, and I had .72 of a mile walk to reminisce about what had just unfolded. Thanks to the Creator.