Got my PA bird this morning.
Our season basically runs through May. I've got some work and family stuff eliminating 3 of the 5 weekends on my season. I made it known that the first unlucky Jake that came by was going in my freezer if I had anything to say about it. A long beard would be fine, but a jake would do nicely.
This morning was my third day hunting. I've had some birds going and had a close encounter with a coyote but no shots taken until this morning.
I got in and set up by 5:30. Dawn came on and I heard 2 gobblers on 2 opposite hills from me. Pretty distant and off the property. So I began to call every ten minutes.
At 6:30 I decided to crane my neck around the tree I was sitting against to take a look behind me. Seriously, At about 20 yards behind me I saw a turkey picking this way through the brush. I don't know how he didn't see the movement but he hadn't. Then another, then another, 5 jakes in all.
They're hard behind me on my right. My gun is on my lap and pointing left. They're at 15 yards kinda angling away.
I got my hammer back and started to think . . . fast. I figured I'd wait until the last bird got around on me so at least all 5 of em wouldn't see my swing. But suddenly the first bird's head popped up alert. He had seen my deeks down in front of me. Hallaluya!
The whole group (following the leader) curved out around a dead fall off my right front. When the lead 4 were behind the dead fall and number 5 was watching the leader intently I started to get the gun around. At no time were these birds more than 20 yards away from me!
I'm now holding on the decoys and watching the group come around the dead top.
They were all 4 to 5 inch jakes so I figured the leader was as good as any. When he cleared the brush i let fly.
Down, Dead, Right there.
They may be jakes but they are still sooo fun.
That's my 16 bore standing there with me.
I gathered up my stuff, took some pictures and got ready to get out of there and the whole time one of his buddies was about 80 yards away calling and calling trying to get back together.
I'm sure if I'd have had another hunter there we could have called him back in.
Saw 2 strutters in the field at the bottom of the hill on my way home.
Got him home cleaned and in the freezer and still made my 8 AM meeting!
Now that's a good day of work!
Greg
Our season basically runs through May. I've got some work and family stuff eliminating 3 of the 5 weekends on my season. I made it known that the first unlucky Jake that came by was going in my freezer if I had anything to say about it. A long beard would be fine, but a jake would do nicely.
This morning was my third day hunting. I've had some birds going and had a close encounter with a coyote but no shots taken until this morning.
I got in and set up by 5:30. Dawn came on and I heard 2 gobblers on 2 opposite hills from me. Pretty distant and off the property. So I began to call every ten minutes.
At 6:30 I decided to crane my neck around the tree I was sitting against to take a look behind me. Seriously, At about 20 yards behind me I saw a turkey picking this way through the brush. I don't know how he didn't see the movement but he hadn't. Then another, then another, 5 jakes in all.
They're hard behind me on my right. My gun is on my lap and pointing left. They're at 15 yards kinda angling away.
I got my hammer back and started to think . . . fast. I figured I'd wait until the last bird got around on me so at least all 5 of em wouldn't see my swing. But suddenly the first bird's head popped up alert. He had seen my deeks down in front of me. Hallaluya!
The whole group (following the leader) curved out around a dead fall off my right front. When the lead 4 were behind the dead fall and number 5 was watching the leader intently I started to get the gun around. At no time were these birds more than 20 yards away from me!
I'm now holding on the decoys and watching the group come around the dead top.
They were all 4 to 5 inch jakes so I figured the leader was as good as any. When he cleared the brush i let fly.
Down, Dead, Right there.
They may be jakes but they are still sooo fun.
That's my 16 bore standing there with me.
I gathered up my stuff, took some pictures and got ready to get out of there and the whole time one of his buddies was about 80 yards away calling and calling trying to get back together.
I'm sure if I'd have had another hunter there we could have called him back in.
Saw 2 strutters in the field at the bottom of the hill on my way home.
Got him home cleaned and in the freezer and still made my 8 AM meeting!
Now that's a good day of work!
Greg
