Well, this morning started off a little scary (actually a lot scary). Jacob & I were taking the usual route to Julian. As we passed Witch Creek, a car with his high beams on crossed over into our lane. At the last minute, I swerved to the right into the gravel, and he missed us (still don't know how). After that, the rest of the morning was going to be a blessing no matter what happened.
Tuesday in the same spot with Stefanie, we never heard a gobble on the roost. This morning was the polar opposite. It sounded like 4 or 5 jakes and at least one older tom were going off. I don't normally call to birds on the roost, but we never heard a hen. So I thought it was worth taking a chance on getting them on the flydown. Unfortunately, there were at least a couple of hens with them and they flew down the opposite direction. And once they hit the ground that was it.....Never heard another gobble till 3:00 pm.....At about 11:00 am, we had 2 big jakes come into the decoys. They were super leery of the strutter and single hen, but still walked within 20 yds of us. As has been our rule all season, Jacob passed on them. 4 hours later, I was snoozing again when Jacob says, "I see a longbeard". This time, he had 2 hens with him. Despite very soft calling and him gobbling, the hens again took him away.
Another hour goes by (4:00 pm) and we hear a gobble from across the valley. Got louder on the slate and he's gobbling back. Knowing this property well, I sent Jacob to the north. Many times from this angle, they will come up thru the oak thickets on deer trails. It is now 4:15 pm, and I'm wondering if we have time (shoot time is 5:00 pm now). I hear nothing for about 20 minutes, then here come the gobbles again. He's a lot closer and he's heading Jacob's direction. What I didn't hear was Jacob on his glass call. I look down at my phone and it's 4:50 pm. I'm thinking he's hung up, when I hear KAPOOW!....I walk down there and Jacob is grinning from ear to ear.....He had just called in his 1st longbeard.....Beautiful gobbler.....19-10 lbs, 8 1/8 beard, & 1" spurs.
Another glorious day in the turkey woods. The good lord was watching over us today.....
.
Tuesday in the same spot with Stefanie, we never heard a gobble on the roost. This morning was the polar opposite. It sounded like 4 or 5 jakes and at least one older tom were going off. I don't normally call to birds on the roost, but we never heard a hen. So I thought it was worth taking a chance on getting them on the flydown. Unfortunately, there were at least a couple of hens with them and they flew down the opposite direction. And once they hit the ground that was it.....Never heard another gobble till 3:00 pm.....At about 11:00 am, we had 2 big jakes come into the decoys. They were super leery of the strutter and single hen, but still walked within 20 yds of us. As has been our rule all season, Jacob passed on them. 4 hours later, I was snoozing again when Jacob says, "I see a longbeard". This time, he had 2 hens with him. Despite very soft calling and him gobbling, the hens again took him away.
Another hour goes by (4:00 pm) and we hear a gobble from across the valley. Got louder on the slate and he's gobbling back. Knowing this property well, I sent Jacob to the north. Many times from this angle, they will come up thru the oak thickets on deer trails. It is now 4:15 pm, and I'm wondering if we have time (shoot time is 5:00 pm now). I hear nothing for about 20 minutes, then here come the gobbles again. He's a lot closer and he's heading Jacob's direction. What I didn't hear was Jacob on his glass call. I look down at my phone and it's 4:50 pm. I'm thinking he's hung up, when I hear KAPOOW!....I walk down there and Jacob is grinning from ear to ear.....He had just called in his 1st longbeard.....Beautiful gobbler.....19-10 lbs, 8 1/8 beard, & 1" spurs.
Another glorious day in the turkey woods. The good lord was watching over us today.....
.
