Title: Last California Bird
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 11:48:29 AM
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 11:48:29 AM
Walked up the hill in the dark this morning, season ends tomorrow. Figured it would be my last hunt here, we have a wedding to attend tomorrow, and won't get many points for hunting before it.
Not a gobble to be heard this morning. Dead still, and clear. Didn't figure much would happen. As it started to get light, I ran a few tree yelps, just to see if something was close...nothing. Thinking, nothing to loose, I slipped down a ridge as it was getting more light. Ran a box fairly loud just trying to strike something. Nothing.
Walked back and sat. About every ten minutes I'd run a series of calls. Third run, about 30 minutes in, gobbler cut me off. One gobble. About 5 minutes later he came strutting in. I gave him a minute or so as he beat the poor Jake decoy. No second bird, so I shot him as he stood on the decoy.
He was still flopping when a second Tom came from the opposite direction. He came in and thrashed the dead bird. Had his way with him, and wouldn't leave. Took a few pictures, and finally had to move deliberately to get him to leave.
Doesn't look like an upgrade. I'll put a tape to him shortly. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/10b1102e440d113aa74babab54744c92.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/28e6a836034ee8e0b931855fb73d238b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/24123238429bf6d74f28b20aadf1df43.jpg)
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Not a gobble to be heard this morning. Dead still, and clear. Didn't figure much would happen. As it started to get light, I ran a few tree yelps, just to see if something was close...nothing. Thinking, nothing to loose, I slipped down a ridge as it was getting more light. Ran a box fairly loud just trying to strike something. Nothing.
Walked back and sat. About every ten minutes I'd run a series of calls. Third run, about 30 minutes in, gobbler cut me off. One gobble. About 5 minutes later he came strutting in. I gave him a minute or so as he beat the poor Jake decoy. No second bird, so I shot him as he stood on the decoy.
He was still flopping when a second Tom came from the opposite direction. He came in and thrashed the dead bird. Had his way with him, and wouldn't leave. Took a few pictures, and finally had to move deliberately to get him to leave.
Doesn't look like an upgrade. I'll put a tape to him shortly. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/10b1102e440d113aa74babab54744c92.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/28e6a836034ee8e0b931855fb73d238b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/24123238429bf6d74f28b20aadf1df43.jpg)
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Title: Re: Last California Bird
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 11:57:28 AM
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 11:57:28 AM
And insult to a load of 9 1/2's, your buddy sends you off with this on your back!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/b3fd61faf5f551a1bbe40ed82a37f194.jpg)
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(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20220430/b3fd61faf5f551a1bbe40ed82a37f194.jpg)
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Title: Re: Last California Bird
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 02:13:07 PM
Post by: Hayudog on April 30, 2022, 02:13:07 PM
55 point bird. Not an upgrade.
Title: Re: Last California Bird
Post by: Mountainburd on April 30, 2022, 02:58:43 PM
Post by: Mountainburd on April 30, 2022, 02:58:43 PM
Congrats on a nice end to the season. Great pics!
Title: Re: Last California Bird
Post by: RutnNStrutn on April 30, 2022, 10:21:49 PM
Post by: RutnNStrutn on April 30, 2022, 10:21:49 PM
Great pics Doug!! 
Congrats on your second Cali bird.
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Congrats on your second Cali bird. Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Last California Bird
Post by: WildSpur on May 01, 2022, 06:06:56 AM
Post by: WildSpur on May 01, 2022, 06:06:56 AM
Nice. Good job!
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Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk