JoeA

Great job Daveco! Congrats. 2 hunters, 2 birds down!

ManofTheFall

Right now it's 7:07 and there is a lone hen in the field about 120 yards out.

ManofTheFall

I have a question. When it's raining do they not gobble as much? I haven't heard a single gobble yet.

ManofTheFall

I've had 8 hens come by so far. One of them had about a 2 inch beard. I still haven't heard any gobbling or seen any Tom's or Jakes for that matter.

ManofTheFall

It's now a rain snow mix.

daveco

If you have hens, you should have toms in the area. If it's raining, you may not hear distant gobbles, due to the noise the rain is making. Remember, too, birds may not gobble on a bluebird day, on any given day, and if they are henned up they may be less inclined to gobble, except on the roost.

ManofTheFall

I finally did hear some gobbling between 9 and 9:30 but that was it. I thought with all those hens passing through I would have had some action this morning but no such luck. I will be back at it tomorrow then after that it's hit and miss the rest of the season. Any advice for the second half of the season when you can go all day?

daveco

Good news for me; my Indiana buddy got his bird this morning. He's heading here Friday, and we will hunt together on the weekend and Monday. A week from Thursday, I'll be heading to Indiana. There's a property we will hunt in Indiana that has two toms, "George Bush" and an un-named 4 yr old bird. George has to be at least 3 yrs. old. I asked him how he knows the other bird is 4, and he told me that the bird always struts with its head not laying back against his body; he's watched it for the last two years. My buddy spends countless days, scouting, every year (his preparation is thorough, he even rakes a trail through the woods, just before season, to have a quiet way in.) Of course, I may get skunked, but it is nice to know it's possible we might get one of these birds in front of us.

JW

I am 2 days late but what rhe heck Happy Birthday to me.
Upper Michigan
Eastern
21 lb 10 oz
Beard 9
Spurs13/16 and 3/4
Pictures and stories to follow.
Passed on alot of jakes

Note:
Do not score this bird until I remeasure please. I always remeasure once I have the bird parts off.

Thanks
JW

DTC

Finally got it done this morning. This bird is kinda bitter sweet. I killed him off the place I've had leased for 20 years. It sold about 2 months ago but the new landowner has been gracious enough to let me hunt it. 26 lbs, 10 1/2" beard, and 3/4" spurs.