Since Opening day, my brother-in-law and 2 of his turkey hunting companions have been after a gobbler on public land on the Eastern shore of MD. All season long, he kept telling me that they knew where it roosted (inside a fenced and off-limits area). However, they could hunt virtually right up against the fenced area and they were intent on calling this very vocal bird out into one of their set-ups.

After employing numerous tactics and schemes, setting up on two or more sides of the bird and so on, nothing worked and they were down to the last day. At around 7:30am, in the pouring rain, my brother-in-law decided to head back to the truck. On the way, he was walking past the fenced area and he yelped a few times and got an immediate response.

Taking note that this bird seemed to be close and on the ground, he quickly scanned the area, attempted to conceal himself and yelped again. The bird was very close and he noted something square in nature in the area of the gobbler. After examining it, he discovered . . . and admitted to me on saturday . . . that they had been hunting a PENNED TURKEY the whole time!! [][&:][&:]

Fortunately, they did get the opportunity later that morning to talk with a game warden who gave them some good ideas of where to hunt down there NEXT year!