Got up at 1:00 AM this morning and drove 3 hours and 20 minutes to my old hunting grounds across the state. Set up on a field edge about 4:50 AM on a clear morning. But when it started breaking day---the fog rolled in. I heard no gobbling from the roost. The fog lifted a little and I saw a hen about 70 yards out in the field slightly to my right. As the fog continued to lift I saw about 10 hens and two strutting gobblers. I gave them a yelp with my mouth call and both gobblers sounded off---but had no intention of heading my way. The hens drug them off to my right to the larger part of the field which was out of my sight due to a big cedar tree. Being patient---you never know---I clucked and purred off and on for the next 45 mins. After the fog completely lifted and I could see nothing else---I eased over the cedar tree to take a peek. Low and behold I spotted the two gobblers about 125 yards away just stepping out of the wood by themselves. They started to head further away so I yelped. They immediately did a 180 and started my way. I yelped once more and then set up on the edge of the field so I could take them as soon as they got past the tree. When I got situated---I saw a hen about 45 yards away looking at me. I thought it was over. I remained motionless---but finally had to take a chance on moving to get my gun up. Fortunately I did not spook the hen---which was now working great as a live decoy. A few minutes later the gobblers came into view and I had to wait for them to seperate. As soon as they did---I floored my first for the year. It was around 7:00 AM. As it turned out he was about 45 steps away and a young bird. 1/2" spurs, 8 1/2" beard, 18lbs 7 oz.
Took him with my Mossberg 835, .685 Hastings Choke, #5 3.5" Rem HV Hevi-shot.