Junior takes his Minnesota bird!

[Grayfox]

Well the kid rolled his third bird of the year tonight and another dandy it was. After he took his 2nd bird in Wisconsin last Wednesday, we ran to Minnesota on Friday and picked him up a tag for period C which started on Saturday.

We went out Saturday in the drizzle and heard several gobbles but they were a little further East. So we stuck it out and after a couple hours snuck around them and found out where they were headed. We watched them for quite a while and they just wouldn't budge. Just sat in the corner of the field with no way to get after them so we left to try another day.

I left a little early from work today and took him back. We saw them way on the South side about 1/4 mile away and worked along the North side until we were able to reach the woods to set up. We put the blind just inside the woods with two hen decoys just inside the wood line. We saw 3 toms on the far end of the field following 4 hens around with another tom and 2 hens on the other side of a creek. We watched them play around down there for 3 hours and hoped they'd return to roost on the North side of the field. About 6:30 the 3 toms started following some hens heading North and soon disappeared over a hill. We were watching a hen to the South and soon saw the lone tom heading toward her. They slowly started working along the field edge toward us. When they got within 100 yards the hen started heading out into the field and behind some thick brush. The tom started after her,in full strut and drumming the whole way. After he cleared the brush the other 3 toms must have started coming his way because he started slowly working our way while I did soft purrs. As soon as he saw the decoys he started our way. He started heading a little North and Mitchell asked me to stop him. I called softly and he stopped and stuck his head up and the gun roared. It started to flop a bit as I followed Mitch out of the blind. As I cleared the door he says something about three and I see the other 3 toms pummeling his bird. There was feathers flying everywhere. They stomped and pecked the heck out of him.

The bird ended up being 22lbs with a 9" beard and 3/4" spurs. One day after his birthday. He's pretty pleased with his late present. It'll be a couple more weeks before he gets another crack at em. The first pic is one with the other 3 toms giving his bird a beating.

Rob

[mws4dux]

way to go mitch, keep up the good work! Man I wish my birthday wasn't in november

[Borch]

Quite a season there Mitch.

Congrats!

[DonBo]

A great season for sure! Are we going to see any photos of Dad with a bird this year?

[Shu]

Great story, congrats!

[mrklean]

congrats great bird for your son

[sticknstring]

Quite the season for the young man!

[Wallydog]

Great bird JR

WD

[Grayfox]

Don,

You know, Mitchell and I both had tags for last week in Wisconsin and after he shot his Wednesday night, I went out Thursday by myself and Friday morning Mitch came out and sat with me in the drizzle but to be honest, the whole time I was out there I was thinking about running over to Minnesota to get him a tag so he could get back out on Saturday. I still enjoy hunting but I'd much rather see him do the shooting. After he gets out of school and heads to college I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll have to do the big brother thing and find someone else to take out and introduce to the outdoors.

I do have a tag for Minnesota and a couple for Wisconsin yet so you might just see my ugly mug on here yet!

Rob

[Powerstroke]

Congrats Mitch on another great bird. You guys really get after them and do your homework and its clearly pays off. Nicely done.

[DonBo]

Good answer Rob. You're lucky to have a kid interested in the outdoors. I'm sure you'd be a great big brother.