Took a decent Big Island Rio Sat am with a friend. We were up the side of Mauna Kea in an area called Kemole Cabin. We were trying to get into some less pressured birds. The hike wasn't too bad, and that we could hear a responsive bird helped.
We set up twice on him, moving uphill each time. He was going off in a small bowl upslope fromus,so he couldn't see us. That helped us get to 60 yds below him. Each time we soft yelped, he'd answer.Then he let oout one muffled gobble right before he hopped up on the ridge looking for the"hen". We waited and got to watch and hear himspit & drum for a few minutes behind some snags.
He went around toour left, and came out behind a pukiawe bush (looks like a juniper) at 17yds....that"heavy shot" hits hard! He went 22.75lbs, with a 6.25in beard. Onespur was 1.125" and the other was .875" the lave really keep the spurs rubbeddown.
Most of thetoms are responsive, but they're breeding now and the hens areREALLY jealous. I had hens cut me off, and twice a boss hen pulled an interested tom away from my calling. One was so raspy I could imagine her with acigarette hanning from one side of her break
"Not with my man you hussy! Go find yer owngobbler!"
Give'em a few weeks, and the action should get real good oncemany hens start sittingon their clutches. Will post pix assoon as I download them from my camera. I gota short video ofgobblers going off at first light. Very cool.
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Days Full Of Clays...
NWTF, DU, SCI
Kemole cabin Rio Grande
