Got drawn again for first season 4-20 to 4-26 Got to do a little scouting last weekend. Had a couple spots I set up blinds at.
Wed 0dark30 I sat in my pop up because rain and high winds were due later in day. Had birds roosted within 150 yards, but they pitched into an adjacent field and one of the Gobblers fell to my sister in law who was set up on far side. Birds split up and dispersed. Nothing came within range day one. Heard birds come onto far end of property to roost. 6pm
Today, again rain was spitting as I left house at 4:45 Due to rain again I chose pop up for more wind was forecast most of day. Birds I heard end of day were roosted where I figured. They flew down and moved off away from my location, figured henned up like day before, and calling did not break a bird off. I called every 20 min. or so just to see what response I may get. about 8:30 am I had a gobbler hammer back on my MadHatter 4 track Birdseye Maple copper over glass . Hit him again, and he was closing fast!.. with my hearing being what it is, I had problems determining where he was coming in from. I hit call again and he HAMMERS BACK just on my right coming up food plot. Put ear muffs on gun up and follow him thru window, then next window, just as I was bearing down, the wind blows my pretty boy nearly doing a 360!!! OFF HE RUNS! DANG! I screwed up??? He stops turns and struts right back to Pretty Boy...head comes up BANG! I send a Remington Nitro 12 ga. 3.5 inch load of 5s and he drops in his tracks! '22 in the books, WHEW!
figure 2.5 yr old 8.5 inch beard 20ish lbs 3/4" spurs Thanks DEAN! Great sounding call!! another "DEAD BIRD RODEO