This season has been a bit tougher than last year as my dad and I killed 4 birds in two days opening weekend. Fortunately, our luck has changed, well at least for my brother and myself. Last Sunday my dad, brother, and I went to my grandmother's property and were greeted to gobbling on the roost but for the most part birds went quiet. We knew that if we sit in the field long enough, the birds would come in as we had pictures of birds in the field at all different times of day. We had three hens come in at different times and feed through the field and head off. My dad and brother were set up in the blind and I elected to sit the other side of the field as there wasn't enough room for all us in the blind. Finally, a little after 10 a Jake stepped in the far end and another bird behind him. My dad and I were texting to communicate and he said "Jakes, 2" so I assumed that it was two jakes. Eventually the two birds worked the low edge of the field and the Jake came to the decoys and the other bird stayed in the low end at about 40 yards and my brother was able to take the shot on what turned out to be a long beard. We could have doubled as I had the Jake at 15 yards but I have learned that they are "tomorrow's trophies today" so I let him head on out the field.
Fast forward to this Easter Sunday, my dad and I set out for the same location and knew we could hunt for a little while before we had to head off to early church service. There were four birds gobbling on the roost and all had gone quiet by 7:15. Eventually, we had a hen come in the field and start to feed around and about 10 minutes later, another hen stepped in and a few seconds later was followed by the long beard who we heard gobbling earlier that morning. The hen and gobbler stayed on the low edge and eventually the two hens fed up to within 15 yards of the decoys. The gobbler on the other hand elected to stay on the low edge of the field and stand there and strut at about 60 yards. One of the prettiest birds I've seen as he was standing in one of the few sunny spots in the field in full strut making him turn a copper color and was absolutely gorgeous. The bird stood there for about 10 minutes and finally decided he didn't like the jake decoy much anymore. He dropped strut and was heading out of the field so I took that as my opportunity to lay the hammer down on him at 45 yards. Ended up where I killed my bird was just about 10 yards from where my brothers bird fell as his feathers were still in field.
Now hopefully my dad can finally do some hunting on his own and get one for himself :). Hope everyone enjoyed this and everyone can have a successful rest of your season.
(https://oi1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/VaTurkeyBoy/F0358ECC-0986-4C9C-86AD-32A93230BB80_zps8bzf2jlz.jpeg)
(https://oi1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/VaTurkeyBoy/058D75B8-7412-4A4A-834F-CD89ED0F8353_zpsbdmvi0ip.jpeg)
My bird: 18.4 #'s, 3/4 inch spurs and 10.5 inch beard
(https://oi1152.photobucket.com/albums/p482/VaTurkeyBoy/076E1B02-D1DB-4A06-8047-E449359187DC_zpsjjisltfk.jpeg)
My brother's: 21.3 #'s, 1 1/8 inch spurs and 11 inch beard.
And yes my brother has told me multiple times he killed the bigger bird.
Good deal congratulations
Good job..congrats to both of you
Congrats!
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congratulations to you both
nice birds
congrats to you both
Very nice
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Congrats
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Well done
Awesome. Well done buddy.