Jacob took the day off and as it worked out, it was a great decision.....I've been in this spot 6 times this year. And with the exception of Stefanie's longbeard on opening week-end, we've been skunked (jakes are a no no).
Today started like most the others, leave at 4:45 and be in the woods before flydown.....When we got to our hunting spot, the birds were gobbling like crazy to every sound.....I was just here 3 days ago and heard one distant gobble.....I've hunted this place for 10 years and should have known when they're treed halfway down the property, they always flydown in the big lower meadows.....For whatever reason, I decided to hunt the oak woods with decoys (something I almost never do).....Sure enough, they fly down into the big meadow. They gather up the hens (7) and 1 gobbler pushes off 5 west and the other 2 longbeards follow 2 jenny's south. The 5 jakes follow them too.....Within 30 minutes, the woods go completely silent.....At this, I told Jacob to be ready for a long day, but I also told him that the fact the 2 longs only had 2 jennys, they may come back to my early morning calling.....At least an hour and a half goes by when Jacob says, don't move.....A single hen is working her way up to us.....She sees the decoys, pays little attention, but doesn't leave either. In fact, she is curious about the 2 leafy things sitting in turkey loungers....lol....She gets within 15', but then goes to our left and jumps up into some dead falls.....Putts a couple of times, a couple of soft yelps, and she moves up hill....We fall asleep....Then like out of nowhere, 2 thunderous gobbles right below us....We literally almost jump out of our seats (the heart must still be good.....lol)....We look down and there are the 2 big toms and they've spotted the DSD jake & hens.....As toms almost always do, they went right after the jake.....The only problem was and despite the fact the jake is only 30 yds away, they were only inches apart....No shot....After 5 minutes, they move away from the jake and behind a huge oak tree.....I can shoot, but Jacob can't.....In fact, I wasn't even carrying a gun.....They are behind the oak strutting & drumming for another 5 minutes, when I decide to call.....They both gobble, but don't move.....More time goes by and I call again.....Both gobble, but again they don't move from behind the tree.....It appears they are now getting bored, when I soft clucked again....This time the front tom comes out from behind the big oak and Jacob is ready.....Boom!.....And down goes the double bearded beauty.....In the excitement, the other gobbler decided to come over and beat up his buddy.....Bad decision, I tell Jacob to give me his shotgun.....And down goes number 2.....Doesn't get much more exciting than this.....What a hunt!
.
Today started like most the others, leave at 4:45 and be in the woods before flydown.....When we got to our hunting spot, the birds were gobbling like crazy to every sound.....I was just here 3 days ago and heard one distant gobble.....I've hunted this place for 10 years and should have known when they're treed halfway down the property, they always flydown in the big lower meadows.....For whatever reason, I decided to hunt the oak woods with decoys (something I almost never do).....Sure enough, they fly down into the big meadow. They gather up the hens (7) and 1 gobbler pushes off 5 west and the other 2 longbeards follow 2 jenny's south. The 5 jakes follow them too.....Within 30 minutes, the woods go completely silent.....At this, I told Jacob to be ready for a long day, but I also told him that the fact the 2 longs only had 2 jennys, they may come back to my early morning calling.....At least an hour and a half goes by when Jacob says, don't move.....A single hen is working her way up to us.....She sees the decoys, pays little attention, but doesn't leave either. In fact, she is curious about the 2 leafy things sitting in turkey loungers....lol....She gets within 15', but then goes to our left and jumps up into some dead falls.....Putts a couple of times, a couple of soft yelps, and she moves up hill....We fall asleep....Then like out of nowhere, 2 thunderous gobbles right below us....We literally almost jump out of our seats (the heart must still be good.....lol)....We look down and there are the 2 big toms and they've spotted the DSD jake & hens.....As toms almost always do, they went right after the jake.....The only problem was and despite the fact the jake is only 30 yds away, they were only inches apart....No shot....After 5 minutes, they move away from the jake and behind a huge oak tree.....I can shoot, but Jacob can't.....In fact, I wasn't even carrying a gun.....They are behind the oak strutting & drumming for another 5 minutes, when I decide to call.....They both gobble, but don't move.....More time goes by and I call again.....Both gobble, but again they don't move from behind the tree.....It appears they are now getting bored, when I soft clucked again....This time the front tom comes out from behind the big oak and Jacob is ready.....Boom!.....And down goes the double bearded beauty.....In the excitement, the other gobbler decided to come over and beat up his buddy.....Bad decision, I tell Jacob to give me his shotgun.....And down goes number 2.....Doesn't get much more exciting than this.....What a hunt!
.
