Turkey Time!

Well it was the first day of the spring hunt and I was chomping at the bit to get out of work and go do some gobbling. Of course we were behind and a 8 hour shift was out of the question. Luckily we had to stay only a hour past and at 4:30 I was buzzing for the farm. I planned my attack as I reached the edge of the field and began changing into my gear and walking up the west fence row. My plan was to head to the north end of the farm where there’s a little cove that is separate from the rest of the fields by a small stretch of woods about 130yards long and about 30 yards wide. We dub this the finger woods because it looks like a big finger. What it creates is a safe haven where deer and turkeys can do there stuff with a sense of security. My plan was to cross the finger woods into the cove and follow the woods to the east and set up on the tip where some grass was burnt in grass fire. I will add that I did all my calling (minus a few purrs) without the add of a reed, slate or box. The whole thing was coming from me, which I’ve been perfecting for a couple years.

As I reach 50yards to my destination I see a head popping up on the north end of the field. Very quickly I set a decoy up and do some light calling. I wait for about 15 minutes and slowly move to my spot. I reset my decoy and return to calling. After about 15 minutes of calling I start to here some puts to the west, where I just came from. I turn and see a small Jake 40 yards behind me. Seeing my movement he turns and heads the other way putting all the way. I wait 2 minutes and start calling. From the woods to the west of me a here gobbling. I continue calling, which is returned with more gobbling, each one getting closer. I stop calling when I see a black ball come out of the woods 80 yards away. He opens up in full strut as soon as he sees my decoy. I set my gun up to and begin using my push butting call, to give a light purr. Despite having brush between us he folded right up about 60 yards from my decoy, he must of seen my movement. He loops around me just out of range. He has at least an 9" beard. He continues east until he is out of sight. After 10 minutes I here him gobbling, he is clear to the end of the field. Thinking that this may be my last hunt for a while, I decide to go after him.

The field where not cut and I knew that I would able to use the contour of the land to go undetected. I basically followed his path slowly moving on my hands and knees ( about 150 yards). I would softly call as I moved, which he would return with a gobble, finally I reach the end of the field. He is set 100 yards in a woods that boarders the fields. I set up on a maple that sits 15 yards out side in the field. I begin calling again, he returns with a gobble. I decide after about 5 minutes of this I was going to quit and see if it will draw him out, it worked. Slowly he comes closer to me, I am unable to see him because of a large blow down in front of me. Then he appeared just to the left of the blow down. I am not comfortable with the shot, there is just to much brush in the way. He gobbles for about 5 minutes then turns and heads the other way slowly. I quickly move to the right of the blow down to try to pull him over. After my first call I see a head pop up and a bird comes straight to wards me. I notice a beard, but its not the big tom I have been chasing. Instead it is a Jake with about a 5" beard. He is coming straight at me and I am unable to make a move to the tom that is still not far away. I have to either take a chance that the jake would not bust me or take the jake. It become clear that the jake has honed right on me and is heading right in my lap. I decide one in the hand is better than a big tom in the woods, so I prepare to down the jake. He comes withing 20 yards then angles behind a stump. I set the bead of my 10ga on the other side and as soon as he clears the stump, just 15 yards away, I touch it off, game over.

A lot of work for just a jake but it was one of the most exciting hunts I have experienced. With many obligations coming in May my hunting time were going to be few and far between. It was now or maybe never. So the big tom is still out there, next year maybe another inch or two will be added to his beard.