Spurchaser
Well-known member
So the plan yesterday evening was to go fishing and cut out a little early and see if we could locate a gobbler for this mornings hunt. Well, sometimes things just fall into your lap, lol.
When we pulled in near the pond there were 3 gobblers and 2 hens. We drove on past, went across the dam and parked out of sight. Even while fishing those birds were hammering. We heard the hens fly up towards dark and the gobblers moved off but still gobbling their heads off.
We figured they wouldn’t go far as we waited until dark and left with no lights other than brake lights when we got to the gate.
We arrived at the gate WAY to early and walked a few hundred yards to where I wanted to set up. Now there are small pines we lease out for pines straw on either side of the road and a pond with hardwoods on the other side to the north and plantation style pines to the south of the lease pines.
We discussed before leaving that due to the loggers doing some select cutting that the brush in the big pines would be sparse and tough to hide even though some of those trees were huge. We decided to hug the hardwood side where the hens had roosted for the walk in and set up where the main road intersects with a little road separating the smaller pines.
This wasn’t my hunt, it was for my son Zachary. I set him about 3 rows in facing East with the hopes they’d be close and the cloud cover would hold. I backed up a few rows and plopped down to hopefully video and call. As it started getting a little pink on the horizon, Zac turned to me and was whispering something that my old ears couldn’t hear. He finally used hand gestures for me to crawl to him. Not more than 125yds away he pointed out the 3 gobblers in the trees.
I crawled back, got my slate call out and ready when the first gobble of the morning rang out! They awoke just as fired up as they went to roost last night. Now under most circumstances I don’t like to call to a bird on the limb, especially when it’s as open as it was. I decided to take a short video just to get some gobbling when 30secs later, one pitches down at 0659!! When that bird hit the deck the other two decided it was time as well. When their feet hit the deck I cutt and made about 3-4 yelps on the slate and checked their temperature. Three gobbles let me know we were in business! Another 3 note yelp and I played the call in my lap and got the phone out…they were coming and coming fast!
I got the shot on camera but you have to look close. At 0702 Zac shot and that’s when the fun started! The lead bird jumped on the middle bird that was flopping and the last bird decided it was time to start gobbling. I wish I’d kept the camera going but I shut it off to grab the call again. We had no intentions of shooting another bird, but just wanted to hear the gobbling and see what they’d do. The lead bird had enough beating up his dead friend and went one direction and the other bird came running straight at us! He got within 5yds of Zac who hadn’t moved a muscle and about knocked his hat off when he gobbled in his face, lol!! He eventually moved off to find his brother and they stayed out about 150yds behind us gobbling their fool heads off!
I crawled to Zac and we got his bird quietly celebrating and sat back down once we heard the hens fly down. The hens eventually worked their way to the gobblers and then we really celebrated! It was a GREAT morning to be in the woods!!
If you watch close you can see the first bird pitch down…he’ll be about center of the screen
I was back a little and the land rolled, but you can see the birds coming. The middle bird didn’t make it…
The end result…22.2lbs 10” beard and 1.25” spurs. A nice 3yr old!!
When we pulled in near the pond there were 3 gobblers and 2 hens. We drove on past, went across the dam and parked out of sight. Even while fishing those birds were hammering. We heard the hens fly up towards dark and the gobblers moved off but still gobbling their heads off.
We figured they wouldn’t go far as we waited until dark and left with no lights other than brake lights when we got to the gate.
We arrived at the gate WAY to early and walked a few hundred yards to where I wanted to set up. Now there are small pines we lease out for pines straw on either side of the road and a pond with hardwoods on the other side to the north and plantation style pines to the south of the lease pines.
We discussed before leaving that due to the loggers doing some select cutting that the brush in the big pines would be sparse and tough to hide even though some of those trees were huge. We decided to hug the hardwood side where the hens had roosted for the walk in and set up where the main road intersects with a little road separating the smaller pines.
This wasn’t my hunt, it was for my son Zachary. I set him about 3 rows in facing East with the hopes they’d be close and the cloud cover would hold. I backed up a few rows and plopped down to hopefully video and call. As it started getting a little pink on the horizon, Zac turned to me and was whispering something that my old ears couldn’t hear. He finally used hand gestures for me to crawl to him. Not more than 125yds away he pointed out the 3 gobblers in the trees.
I crawled back, got my slate call out and ready when the first gobble of the morning rang out! They awoke just as fired up as they went to roost last night. Now under most circumstances I don’t like to call to a bird on the limb, especially when it’s as open as it was. I decided to take a short video just to get some gobbling when 30secs later, one pitches down at 0659!! When that bird hit the deck the other two decided it was time as well. When their feet hit the deck I cutt and made about 3-4 yelps on the slate and checked their temperature. Three gobbles let me know we were in business! Another 3 note yelp and I played the call in my lap and got the phone out…they were coming and coming fast!
I got the shot on camera but you have to look close. At 0702 Zac shot and that’s when the fun started! The lead bird jumped on the middle bird that was flopping and the last bird decided it was time to start gobbling. I wish I’d kept the camera going but I shut it off to grab the call again. We had no intentions of shooting another bird, but just wanted to hear the gobbling and see what they’d do. The lead bird had enough beating up his dead friend and went one direction and the other bird came running straight at us! He got within 5yds of Zac who hadn’t moved a muscle and about knocked his hat off when he gobbled in his face, lol!! He eventually moved off to find his brother and they stayed out about 150yds behind us gobbling their fool heads off!
I crawled to Zac and we got his bird quietly celebrating and sat back down once we heard the hens fly down. The hens eventually worked their way to the gobblers and then we really celebrated! It was a GREAT morning to be in the woods!!
If you watch close you can see the first bird pitch down…he’ll be about center of the screen
I was back a little and the land rolled, but you can see the birds coming. The middle bird didn’t make it…
The end result…22.2lbs 10” beard and 1.25” spurs. A nice 3yr old!!
