Title: Breaking the seal
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 22, 2020, 06:34:11 PM
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 22, 2020, 06:34:11 PM
Finally got a bird to play this morning. It was about the weirdest thing ever. First of all, it's one of the coldest mornings I've ever been out. Like, bitter cold. To the point I thought my eyelids were going to freeze. After deciding not to call at all until the birds hit the ground, I fear I'd made a fatal mistake. Having said that, being so close to them on the roost wasn't going to do my buddy and I any favors. Sounded like there were 5-6 gobbling in that little wood lot and several on the neighboring farms. Birds pitched down and walked away. They got quiet and we started contemplating whether I should've used decoys this morning instead of opting not to.
Had to pee and this is where things got super stupid. We get up, both go whiz in different directions as we debated what to do. We figured if we went across the edge of the field and got into the woods on the other side, we could loop back to the field edge and try to draw them in. Didn't make it there. Started across the field and as we neared the woods, I could see 2 birds at the gate. Told my friend to get down. Eased up with my binoculars and now there's 7. Two toms, one hen and 5-6 jakes appeared when it was all said and done. Figured calling was pointless but threw out a series of yelps anyway. 3 jakes turned and came under the gate. Next thing we know, they're all coming. Another series of yelps and they picked up the pace.
My buddy had never shot a bird before so I told him to pick one and I'd bat cleanup but def wanted him to score. He shoots and that's when it really got weird for me. All the birds jumped but the second tom pretty much ran down the gun barrel as were laying down in the field. So yeah, it was grueling. 2 sets of yelps, 2 dead birds. His was a bit farther but mine was flattened at 27 steps on a dead run at me. Why all the others scattered into the woods and he chose to meet the Angel of Death is beyond me. But, here he is.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200422/941932a5f54e387486aed656941a06cc.jpg)
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Had to pee and this is where things got super stupid. We get up, both go whiz in different directions as we debated what to do. We figured if we went across the edge of the field and got into the woods on the other side, we could loop back to the field edge and try to draw them in. Didn't make it there. Started across the field and as we neared the woods, I could see 2 birds at the gate. Told my friend to get down. Eased up with my binoculars and now there's 7. Two toms, one hen and 5-6 jakes appeared when it was all said and done. Figured calling was pointless but threw out a series of yelps anyway. 3 jakes turned and came under the gate. Next thing we know, they're all coming. Another series of yelps and they picked up the pace.
My buddy had never shot a bird before so I told him to pick one and I'd bat cleanup but def wanted him to score. He shoots and that's when it really got weird for me. All the birds jumped but the second tom pretty much ran down the gun barrel as were laying down in the field. So yeah, it was grueling. 2 sets of yelps, 2 dead birds. His was a bit farther but mine was flattened at 27 steps on a dead run at me. Why all the others scattered into the woods and he chose to meet the Angel of Death is beyond me. But, here he is.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200422/941932a5f54e387486aed656941a06cc.jpg)
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Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: hookedspur on April 22, 2020, 06:46:19 PM
Post by: hookedspur on April 22, 2020, 06:46:19 PM
Congratulations buddy
Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 22, 2020, 07:21:25 PM
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 22, 2020, 07:21:25 PM
Quote from: hookedspur on April 22, 2020, 06:46:19 PMThank you sir.
Congratulations buddy
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Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: Coop1082 on April 22, 2020, 09:50:22 PM
Post by: Coop1082 on April 22, 2020, 09:50:22 PM
Congrats buddy!
Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: Dr Juice on April 23, 2020, 02:59:12 PM
Post by: Dr Juice on April 23, 2020, 02:59:12 PM
Congrats brother. 
Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: callaway71 on April 23, 2020, 03:28:16 PM
Post by: callaway71 on April 23, 2020, 03:28:16 PM
Congrats!
Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 23, 2020, 04:09:40 PM
Post by: wvmntnhick on April 23, 2020, 04:09:40 PM
Thanks fellas. He's not huge and I'm sure he'll get bumped off our list when it's all said and done but I was happy.
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Title: Re: Breaking the seal
Post by: honker22 on April 25, 2020, 01:36:02 PM
Post by: honker22 on April 25, 2020, 01:36:02 PM
Awesome hunt! Congrats
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