HuntingNet.com Forums - JD's Mtn. Gobbler Adventures!!!(Might b long)

Ok guys i bin meaning to do this before now but i bin a little busy. I just thought it would be cool to chronicle my first full year of turkey hunting for ya'll. So if no one objects, here i go....

April 7

Went out scouting in an area i havent seen for years. Used to hunt elk there when i was a kid with my dad, but had never givin the turkeys a second thought, till now. Got up there mid morning with the wife and 2 kids in the truck. Told i was gonna hike up the draw a ways and see what was around. This is Colorado so a draw here consists of two ridges probly 1200 to 1500 ft. tall with a creek running thru it. And since its up around 8500 ft. in elevation the pines and oak brush almost choke the slopes, but the bottoms open up nicely so i was hoping.
Anyway now that the stage is set, i went on my little hike......

Before i got ten feet off the road i say a track, big one too, set my snuff can on it and the thing was a solid inch longer. So now im really watching and listening, alert to all thats around. i slowly walk up the draw, calling and listening as i go. In an hour i probly only walked 400 yds. but i was taking my time. I could see a storm coming in as the sky darkened, so i decided to head back to the truck. After a 100 yds or so i stoped and cut one lose on my box call. Much to my surprise i got a gobble back! Now you must understand i hunted some last year but got nothing, so this was huge to me!
I stood there in amazement as he gobbled again! Now i just knew someone else was up there gobbling, so i just stood still and listened. And yet another gobble, this time much closer! So i backed up another 100 yds and cut another cut lose. He was still comin! So i ran to the truck and told my wife i had one comin in. Since this is her first year i wanted her to see this. We hunkered down and watched as this big ole gobbler come charging down the draw at us! Now i get out my HS Srut Hen Box and go to work. He started to close the gap....60...50...40...30 Yds when he was in plain view of us we both just set there in aww as the rain started to pour down and he circles between us an the truck. Giving my oldest boy a sight to see gobbling less than 20 feet from him, before retreating up the ridge. I was in aww, a told not soon to forget.........:D

April 10, Opening mornin

Wife and i get a sitter and are all geared up for the hunt, wake at 4:30am to 2 inchs of snow on the ground. Drive an hour to our hunting spot, through 4 inchs of snow and the temps 25 deg. Get headed up the draw and do the regular stop call and listen....nothing. Walk to where i went the previos day without a peep. The air is cold and still so you can hear a mouse fart at a 1000 yds., so we must sound like a heard of elephents in a tator chip factory!
We set up under a tree on some dry ground and get a snack, its around 7:30 now and were tryin to get a game plan. We decide to walk slowly back to the truck and try the next draw over. About the same place i was when i heard him the first day, he picks up of the hillside and flys right over the top of us to the other ridge! Scares the livin crap out both of us! he was probly 80 feet in the air as i watched him go over. Once we get our wits about us i begin to get set up and hope maybe hell come back.......but your guessed it, three hours later and nothin. Went home empty handed and sick at heart...............[:o]

April 12

Went out in the afternoon this time nice day but still snow on the ground. Went to the same area again lookin for ole tom. Got him to call back on the way in this time so we set up and wait. He was gobbling a storm again and im just sure we got him. Wifes coiled up with her Winchester with new sight and choke and i know this ole boy aint got a chance. Then he just stops.........i mean like ya flipped a switch. Probly sat there in silence for an hour before we started to venture up the draw. Sure as im typin i find where he was at...probly 100 yds up the draw on a little knoll. Could see where he was struttin in the snow and the whole nine yards! I was so disgusted with myself! Did i call too much? Not enough? heck i didnt know? Then while i was in my great train of thought tryin to decide what to do...............yep you got it! Big ole tom just glides across the draw above us and lands in some trees across the draw. I looked at my wife and i think she was waiting for me to wing shoot it or something:D I just glassed the hill for a few minutes then headed to the truck without a word, her tryin to contain her laughter the whole time. This is some education im gettin...............

Well theres the first chapter. I hope it doesnt bore everyone to tears :D