The morning broke clear and wind free,and as I eased my way into the roosting area under the cover of darkness a gobble rang out right where they were the day before!As I set-up confidence beamed because the day before the birds passed just out of gunrange through a small clearing in the orchard and this time if they passed through it again, as I had a hunch they would, I was plenty close enough for a good shot!I leaned back against a big black walnut trunk facing in the direction I figured they would fly out and hit the ground!It was early so I rested my gun on my padded rest on my knee and let the predawn darkness give way to the lightening of the sunrise!Through it all 2 gobblers were hammering it out with one gobble matching the other as daylight approached!Nothing is ever a sure thing in the turkey woods but because of the daily habits of most turkeys we as the hunter prepare and set-up to that end,and this hunt was no different!I' d hunted these birds 2 times before and on both occasions the birds took the same route away from the roost after hitting the ground so consequently I chose to set-up on this travel route!Much like field gobblers these orchards present the very same problems with the birds being able to see great distances,sparse cover to manuever,and often times after experiencing pressure the birds will pitch right out in the middle of these orchards and do nothing but strut and move little!It can present a difficult calling challenge also because these birds can see so well in these low cut orchards that often times they get pretty cautious not seeing the hen they just heard!Decoys work early and on the younger birds but most of the older monarchs just like to hold there ground and display!
Anyway I took a gamble and set-up close to where I thought the birds would hit the ground,but before I did I set-up 3 hen decoys at the end of the clearing about 50 yards to my left figuring maybe it would either help get them started in that direction or steer them between the clearing and me if they got a little nervous!I' m a right handed shooter so I tried to make sure that the birds would be on my left as I set-up and obviously this day it worked.As flydown approached the hens began getting a little ansy to get down as there soft treetalk began to get a little louder and more intense,so with the decoys on the ground I let them no I was there with a few yelps of my own!I gave 2 short series and let it play out!3 birds pitched out simultaneously and landed not more than 5 yards from the dekes all being hens!They must of been able to see the dekes from the roost and for a split second I thought to myself here we go again they are going to get by me![:@]Then all of the sudden 4 more hens hit the ground about 60 yards to my right and began easing my way seeing the hens to my left!Exactly the situation I wanted!!Just about a minute later a gobbler landed in the exact spot the hens to my right had pitched out in and began doing double time catching up with the hens that were working my direction!When he hit the ground I could see his beard swing out in front of him and the adrenalin rush started!Doesn' t matter how many times I' ve done it watching a good longbeard close the distance is an absolute rush to me!!
4 or 5 other birds pitched out to my left over with the first hens and I' m sure the other gobbler was there also which did nothing more but add to the realism of the situation.Nothing like having live decoys and on many occasion I' ve had not only hens but gobblers call in other birds to my set-up!
Anyway all my attention was focused on the birds approaching from my right and as they closed the distance traveling to all the other birds they were going to have to travel right in front of my gun barrel!I just slowly moved my head down on my stock already having the gun on my knee and waited just a few sceonds before one of the hens popped out in my row I had my gun pointed down!The fourth hen went through and I knew he was next!The dark unmistakable blob appeared from one side of row of trees to the other and for a split second the first thing I saw was his beard sticking out from behind a tree!He stepped out at about the 20 yard mark and took about 3 steps forward as he spit-n-drummed.When he did I gave him the same 3 loud yelp series I gave while they were in the roost and he raised his head to his demise!!
I' ve been in this same situation before and I used to give a loud cluck but after having a couple gobblers spook I find that a loud yelp in tight works more effectively,in that they will give a quick look before suspiciously moving out!The load of # 4' s were true and as I walked up to the tom I looked back at the walnut I was set-up against appreciating the fact that good camo and obviously the ability to sit still can make or break a hunt in these open ground situations!
All in all it was a terrific 2003 season as I was fortunate to be part of 21 successful hunts this spring and have over 40 toms in gun range!Not every hunt was as easy as this particular one but thats the nature of the sport and meeting those challenges is part of the fun to me!In alot of cases there is no one sure fire call or answer that works everytime we face obstacles in the turkey woods,but adjusting to those challenges and an awareness to know what to do really comes from experience afield,and even then ole ghostbird as Bogobble says can leave us scratching our head!!Here' s a pic of this bird and a few other hunts this spring!!Enjoy all!
10 5/8 beard,1/18 spurs,19lbs
Here' s #3..and story..
