Well two mild winters in a row up here in Ontario have bird numbers on the rise. Don't think I've ever had so many Toms to chase in my area. Due to work and family schedule and some brutal spring weather my hunting time was cut down but still enjoyed several hunts and all had good action. Actually didn't have one hunt this year where I didn't have birds work into range or very close to being in range, of coarse they all were not successful due to them staying behind brush or coming in behind and not being able to get around on them but that's turkey hunting, exciting none the less but every single hunt we were in the game with birds!! Pre season scouting had the anticipation on high level as all my usual spots were holding birds and not the usual one or two most had multiple Toms out and about. Started out with a bang on a soggy opening day (April 25th) with the old boy, got in early and had some birds roosted withing a few hundred yards. They stuck with their hens but after having them do a complete circle around us we had the hens skirt the DSD's, the two big boys in tow came in for a closer look though and we were able to connect!
Day two (April 26th) the old boy and I set up in a good spot good and early. Had a single gobbler roosted in a small bush across a field from our setup. After some sweet talk he came out into the field and proceeded to strut and gobble to about 120 yds away, back and forth he strutted and gobbled but didn't want to budge so I shut up, he couldn't take it any longer and started to make his way across the field, he was going to skirt us to the left so I gave a couple yelps and he angled towards us, he crested the knoll seen the dekes and made his way in to 20yds, the old mans season was done!!! A pig of a bird just shy of 25lbs.
Then had several hunts with very close calls and some successful ones calling in some birds for buddies.
Fast forward to Sat May 20th
I had been leaving one of my spots untouched for my wife to hunt, had been seeing 2 to 3 toms daily from before the season even started, had them patterned well so I snuck in mid day on the Friday to set up the blind (only use a blind with my wife and daughter). Decided I was only going to call first thing to let em know I'm there then let them do there thing. Worked like a charm and we had 2 gobblers coming in, one from each direction.....perfect!! This guy won the race to the DSD's and my wife put him down!!
It was getting down to crunch time and the same bush I had left for my wife still had a nice Tom out in the exact same spot every morning that week so again I slipped in Friday to set the blind as my daughter was keen to get out again. I decided on no calling and no decoys just sit and let him play out his daily routine. I just put the blind up and got in to make sure my shooting angles where what I wanted and there is a hen at 8 yds..........I decided to just get out and spook her as I didn't want to sit there and have the big boy come out and be pegged down for who knows how long. That and my chair was still out in front of the blind so I would of had to stand there in the blind.....lol. I got out and she took off flying without a peep so I thought that was ok. quickly finished up and got out of there. Next morning was foggy so I wasn't sure if he would make any noise...he did and he was fired up!!! As hard as it was I didn't call. He was going nuts and then some hens started up right behind us.......things are looking good!! First hen pops out of the bush right close to us and she looks at us and starts to putt right away and takes off into the bush behind us making all kinds of racket, the gobbler goes quiet and I think damn maybe I made the wrong decision spooking that hen the day before, I thought our day was done...............a second hen starts up behind us, she is yelping and cutting like crazy and the tom fires up again, he has moved out beside us, two gobbles later and I see him coming down the trail right were I expected!!! I didn't hesitate as the one hen was still in behind us putting so when he got to 40 I put it on him!!! A stud of a bird at 23.9lbs and some nice hooks and beard. What a way to wrap up the season!!!
It was a great year and all said and done I called in 9 toms to the gun for friends and family. Still lots of Toms around so next year is already looking good!!!
Good luck to anyone still chasing for the last few days!!
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