Shew. What an odd season. Has been fun, but has been frustrating.
Had a WMA draw early in the season and was on birds each day, but I was unlucky one day and he was lucky the next. No joy.
2 pieces of private and the public I hunt have been like a ghost town. No gobbling at all, none. At least not when I was there. Family would be there and have several talking, I would go the next day, with them, and nada. I have seen plenty of sign and put my nephew and BIL on birds - they saw 11 that day! And they killed one.
Last Sunday was the last day I could help my daughter get her first (she can't hunt again due to commitments) and we had one just out of her range. Never offered her a shot and I was as nervous as the first long beard I ever called in. It was awesome. I could have killed him easily, but kept hoping he would clear some bushes in her way and close a little distance. I let him walk hoping he would return, but he did not.
So today starts out like every other day this year, total silence. My brother had to leave about 9 because his grandson was in trouble at school, so he left. I told him I was sticking it out for a while. About 9:30 I heard a half gobble-I thought oh great, another gobbling jake. He followed up with a full one and the game was on. He walked around me in a half circle, I was pretty sure he had heard me call but he did not gobble to my clucks and purrs. He gobbles again and I realize he is walking past me and I get a little more aggressive with my mouth call and this time he responds. He gobbles again closer, then further, then closer - so I know he is strutting (not in visual range). I stop calling as he knows there is a hen looking for love and sure enough he clears some thick brush to my left in full strut about 10 minutes later. He gets to a good shooting position and won't come out of strut. I cluck and he just spits louder! I cluck a little louder and nothing. He raises his head just a little and the bead is on him and the little 20 puts him down for a dirt nap.
Pretty boring trophy wise, just a 9" beard, 3/4" spur 2 year old, but he felt good toting out.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170419/be7ea36e99425f65a39d0d71f23444a9.jpg)
In the lounger.
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Congrats!
Congratulations :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
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Better than nothing. Perseverance pays off
Congrats.
I hunt north Florida also, been a rough season.
congrats! way to hang in there.
Congrats! :icon_thumright:
Looks like he really likes that chair! :funnyturkey: Congrats!!
Very nice gobbler,congrats!! :happy0064: :happy0064: :happy0064:
Congratulations! I'm in NE Florida on the FL - GA line. It's been a rough season over here too.
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