Tumbling Toms

[ANYFISH2]

Well we had 3 gobblers walk to the North of us about 80 yrd.  They seemed to have someplace to be to the west of us.

All is quiet right now.

Good luck to all that are out.

[featherslayer 1]

16 hours ago, ANYFISH2 said:

Good luck Donbo and Scoot(s) #1- #16.

Plan on a little last minute scouting this afternoon, set up the blind about dark, and I am ready to rock and roll.

Really haven't seen a lot of birds the last few days,  hoping the weather have just kept them in woods where I couldn't see them.  Otherwise, they may make for a challenging season.  That wouldn't be the worst, I have had very quick seasons recently, my might be rusty.

 

Well Team I put one down this morning, now to wait for the wife to get up and take some pictures. I had toms all over the peice I hunted this morning, but only a few hit the fields edge and went back in again. I seen years that they will stay in the cover and not come out so I set decoys out in the field and in the clearing in the woods and thats where they come to. Even when I was scouting I only seen a few toms on this property but the place was loaded with them. Good luck to my team members and will get pictures soon

[Scoot]

My brother shot a nice tom this morning, 45 minutes into the season.  Does that do our team any good?  10" bear, 7/8" spurs, and 24 lbs. 11 oz.  A big fatty for sure! 

[ANYFISH2]

Way to go featherslayer, do you have any measurements yet?

Can't wait for the pics!

The birds seem to be acting the same here.  Heard what I believe to be 5 different gobblers near us this morning. Seen three fly down, and 2 more about 8 ish (think they are 2 of the first 3) with 3 hens, all staying  in the cover.

Not much gobbling after fly down.

Congrats to your brother scoot, nice bird.

My daughter Abigail, has the first up honor today. 

As you can see the excitement has been to much so far!

[Scoot]

WTG Feather!!!

[DrJ]

Congrats Featherslayer.What a beautiful morning to be out. I have a week to wait. Good luck to all......

[featherslayer 1]

Thanks guys, well here he is and the weight was 23.47# 1" spurs and a 10.5" beard

[ANYFISH2]

Nice bird!!

Way to get us started!

[Scoot]

We had 18 Birds come to roost in the trees 50 yards to the north of us last night.  However they took their sweet time to get there and it was the last few minutes of legal shooting light when they got there. They hopped up in the trees and paid no attention to us. Dang!

[Illini Walli]

great job on a great tom

[ANYFISH2]

Oh where, oh where have the turkey's gone!

Seen one turkey at 8 and didn't so much as hear a gobble the rest of the day!  The wind I am sure didn't help today.  They proving to be quite the challenge for me so far.

[ANYFISH2]

Well, is there an award for the smallest jake?

[Borch]

16 minutes ago, ANYFISH2 said:

Well, is there an award for the smallest jake?

Well he'll be tasty.

[ANYFISH2]

A fryer he will be!

[Borch]

They always taste better than a tag sandwich.

[ANYFISH2]

Today started off without much confidence in what the day would bring.  Yesterday I could not locate a bird, they were completely silent, and didn't show themselves either.  I started the day thinking there wasn't a bird on the property(honestly)!

I had moved the blind yesterday afternoon to a traditional roost spot that I hoped the birds would use if they had been hiding silent along the river.  I snuck(stepping on every twig I could)into the blind about 5:20.  All was silent, except for the strong breeze through the trees, all the way to sunrise at 6:30.  Already the the ants in my pants were getting the best of me!  The heck with patience, it didn't work yesterday, I am going to go find a bird!  The last gobble I heard yesterday was at 8am, I was thinking I have hour and a half to find a bird willing to speak.

I start off to the north, walking along the road, after 200 yds or so I stop and call, nothing, repeat 4 more times, and nothing. After I reach the northern most half of the property I decide I will head to an opening in the woods, there is a trail that connects to the neighbors to the north.  I had seen birds there(neighbors) every noon hour this week.  My thought is that either they where coming off of our property to thiers or I could call them off of thiers maybe (disclaimer: they don't hunt or allow access so I wasn't attempting to steal birds from anyone).

I arrive in the opening and find a comfy jack pine to sit against, set the decoy out about 10 yards and start a calling sequence, nothing.  Just a minute later, I hear a very faint gobble from the south.  I wait a minute, and listen, nothing, I grab the box call as that seems to pierce the wind better, make a short call, and immediately I get an audible gobble from the south, much closer. I also here one on the neighbors as well as a faint gobble to the SW. I wait and listen some more,  hit the call again, he cuts me off and is closer yet.  Time for me to shut up.  I wait, watch, and listen.  Not a minute later, he gobbles, I can't see him but it sounds like he's in my lap!  Shortly I hear rustling leave to the northeast, here he comes peeking around an oak tree.  Now he had been coming from the south so I am positioned that way and now he is straight east, I wait for him to look away so I can adjust a little (switch from shooting left handed to right handed), but I didn't pick the right time, he spots me takes two steps closer, looks at me funny, turns and briskly walks off.  I try to call again and he gobbles as well as other the from the neighbors. It's  now 7:05.  Already better than yesterday.

After he leaves, I try and plan my next move.  Make a call every 5 minutes or so without any responses.  Not real sure what to do, I decide to stay put here for the morning or at least as long as my rear-end could handle it.

About 7:25 I here leaves rustle directly behind me, I slowly turn and look just see a red squirrel scurry along.  Then I hear leave again, from where he came from.  I get this feeling I need to adjust, so I do as I make a call, no response.  Leaves are rustling louder and louder.  A red head appears through the Jack pine bows, then another, and another, ect... now there are 4 jakes working their way toward me and the decoy.  They are well in range, but I take my time to identify a beard, and soul search a little about shooting a Jake on day three.  Well, I have really been wanting a smaller bird, one that will fit in my fryer, to deep fry.  I hoping one the kids would get that, but my mind is made up! The jakes work closer and do their little bob and weave act, the biggest looking bird gets to about 15 yds, and I let the shotgun bark.

Now, I hope, I get bumped out of the top 4 birds for the team, as his score of 26 and some change isn't going to contribute much!

He isn't the biggest bird, actually my smallest, but he was a very worthy adversary this week.  The birds have made me have to really think my moves over.  They been more difficult than past seasons.  Again, the challenge is addicting, I am proud to call this young guy my bird.

 

 

[DonBo]

Nice story Anyfish.  Absolutely no shame in taking a jake.  Way to get out and make something happen.

(BTW, I fixed your pic)

[ANYFISH2]

Thank you

[Scoot]

WTG Anyfish!  Certainly no shame in taking a jake! 

[Borch]

It's all about the hunt.  Sounds like a great day!  Congrats! 

[DrJ]

Way to go Anyfish2. Every bird is different but every one is a trophy. Some come easy and other years they might not come at all. I'm sure he will taste like a trophy right out of the fryer. Congrats on your jake.........

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck Dr J!

 Looks like your up to bat, I hope you have a successful season.  Keep us up to date on how your season is going. 

[Cheetah]

Leaving today for the black hills.  Hope we have better luck than last year. 

[ANYFISH2]

Good luck cheetah!

[Cheetah]

Seeing lots of jakes but few mature toms. Passed a few shots now on jakes.  Most have no beard and gobble really well.  Uncle got a nice gobbler today.  We have a good pattern figured out where some like to roost and pass by so I'll sit there tonight.   Hope to get one soon.  Poor weather coming.