Had one of those text book everything goes right mornings today. Got set up early in a pinch point between two adjoining fields, and as expected there were a couple birds roosted just off the field. I was hoping to encounter a big ol' Tom I'd seen in that area during the youth hunt.
I started off with some light clucks and purrs, and the birds continued to gobble. After a few minutes I mixed in a few yelps. I had a bird across in front of me, and one down to my left that sounded like they may have closed a little distance. I ramped up the intensity a little on my walnut ceramic pot, and as the bird to the left fired off I could tell he was approaching the field. I gave him another series, and put the call down. My cover wasn't great, so I knew I had to be ready if he came.
Shortly, what turned out to be a Jake entered the field around 200 yards across to my left. He milled around a little, and the bird behind him gobbled and I could tell he was in the field just over the crest of the hill. Two gobblers appeared, and I could tell they were locked in on my location (no decoys). They didn't run in, but they didn't waste any time making the 200 yard hike. The bird on the right put on quite a show gobbling multiple times (as close as about 50 yards), and also strutting and drumming a little. I decided to take that right-hand bird if I got the chance, and at 32 yards I took the shot.
At 7:23 AM I had my bird on the ground. He turned out to be a heck of a nice bird weighing in at 22.5 lbs with a 10.5 " beard, and 1.5" and 1.125" (broke the tip off one) spurs. It was a beautiful morning, and one of those hunts that turkey hunters dream of. Now it's time to start working on bird number 2!
