Well fellow beard chasers since its the off season I thought I would share some of my turkey hunt with yall! I read this forum almost everyday and yes the season started off very slow her also. (southern Ontario)
I took the first week of the season off from work, which was a dissapointment. The birds would gobble once or twice on the roost and then lock jaw. Possably henned up I' m not sure. Four different mornings that week I called in coyotes (two double and two single) maybe that was part of the reason I had silent birds.
I' m very lucky to be able to walk ten min. from my back door to hunt. This allows me to get out almost every morning before work. This can be a problem though when there is a bird coming to the call and you have slip away undetected to head off to work[:' (]
One morning about the end of the second week it all came together. While slipping silently over a winter wheat field in the predawn darkness a lonely gobble rang out. The excitment was instant, I quickened my pace and found place against a big old rock maple at the point of a 25 ac bush that followed along a ravine.
A few strokes of my slate call and the games had begun! This bird was hot and it didn' t take to much coaxing to keep his attention. The bird was roosted 150-200 yds away and I thought he would take the shortest route to me (along the ravine) WRONG. This character goes way out of his way to put on a show (and try to make me late for work) Mr. gobbler heads out to an adjacent field and spends the next 45 min. struting figure eights and double gobbling. Let me tell ya 45 min is along time when your watching Mr. long beard in full strut. Patiently I waited and periodaclly would cut on my mouth call. That sure would drive his temperture up.
Finally at 25yds I took my shot I think it was only a five min. walk to the house.
Stats 18.5lbs 9 inch beard 7/8 spurs and One happy hunter
I will try to inclued a photo, but I' m not sure I have never done this before