One for Gramps!

[sticknstring]

My grandpa drew a B tag this year and I was fortunate to go sit with him for a couple days. Monday was a lot of fun as we had jakes into the decoys on multiple occasions with the main flock being just 125 yds away for several hours. The toms wouldn't budge though and no opportunities were presented. Tuesday he hunted by himself in the same spot from 9am until 3pm and never saw a bird from the blind. With the birds still grouped up, it's really hit or miss.

He asked me if I wanted to join him Wednesday morning and of course I accepted! The blind was near a roosting area and I was a little worried getting in. We took the Ranger up the hill and droped off gear. I went to park it and came back to get setup. While putting a decoy out I heard the noise we all dread to her - turkey wings in the pre-dawn darkness. They were roosted only a little over a 100 yds away w/ little cover. Busted! About a dozen birds flew out, but a few still remained up the bowl edge and they started talking awhile later. Nothing showed however and once the wind ramped up around 11, we pulled the plug and setup 1/4 mile away to try and get out of the wind. Sat there for 5 hours without seeing or hearing a peep. The sky darkened at 4pm and we made the call to get packed up. I got the zipper halfway open and the heavens started to unload. Ice pellet storm! Might as well wait it out we figured. 10 minutes later, the sun was was out and it was calm. A few minutes later I heard a distant gobble! The hunt was back on. I let some sassy yelps loose into the gentle breeze and got a delayed distant response. 5 minutes later a loud gobble erupted 150 yds away from the direction we were setup that morning. I gave a few more yelps and put the call down. A few minutes pass and I see red heads cresting the hill! They stop and investigate at 100 yds. I spin the jake decoy a few times - the one hits half-strut and here they come! In the video, you can see our view out the blind and the view from the trail camera looking back at the blind. The two toms came head-on into the blind passing between the camera and the hen decoy and right up to the jake. I was trying to video with my phone to catch the show, but dropped the phone and lost a few years of hearing when the shotgun barked a foot from my ear! Then another shot rang out! I look out and see the two toms walking off slowly. He says he's out of shells - only put 2 in! For a second, I thought I was hutning w/ DonBo! I get another shell loaded and open up the far window and plug my ears this time! KABOOOM! I peak out and see a bird flapping! Awesome - congrats gramps!

I figured the trail camera had caught everthing, but was really disappointed this morning to to find out it hadn't triggered. Oh well, I tried. So just a few pictures & short videos from the blind and trail cam of our setup during the ice storm. This is the same property I'll be hunting in May so hopefully there'll still be a few around!

[DonBo]

Congrats to you and your Grandpa, but hey! Miss a couple shots one time years ago and I'm branded for life?

[Wallydog]

Congrats on killing a bird in horrible conditions.

I have to head out to mow for the fourth time!

WD

[sticknstring]

My lawnmower hasn't been started in 6 months. Really not all that sad about it though!

Sorry about the cheap rib Don. You've definitely redeemed yourself since then! A miss just prolongs our days spent in the field. Not much fun to fill up on the first day or two!

Grandpa's bird went 18lbs even w/ a 10" beard and 5/8" spurs. A few lbs on the light side for this area, but it's been a pretty tough winter too. Gotta love 2 yr old gobblers!

[Borch]

Congrats to grandpa!!!

[Archerysniper]

Congrat's Grandpa,and way to go SnS

[Gordie]

Congrats Gramps and stick,

The smile tells the story.