Opening Morning 2012
I woke up at 4:00 AM and headed upstairs to grab some breakfast, and my Dad surprised me by getting me a full hunting license so I am no longer an apprentice. Now we could both carry a gun (instead of having one shared between both of us) and a chance for a double was possible. We set up in a small hay field on the edge of a large bush where I shot a Tom last year. Soon we started hearing gobbles all around us with one gobbler roosted nearby on a ridge in a small stand of hardwoods. I started with some tree yelps and clucks and received a couple responses from the closest gobbler. After seeing a turkey run across a distant field, I made a flydown cackle and a few excited yelps and some clucks. After a few more gobbles from the closest turkey, he stopped and I assumed he was on the ground. But soon after, a shot was fired. Later I learned from the landowner that the turkey was working towards my calls but another hunter with permission on this property cut him off.
Using my mouth call, I called periodically for the next little while, when a hen came up from behind us. As she walked around, I called back and forth with her and she slowly moved off.
I continued with short calling sequences with some yelps and cutting every 10-15 minutes. About a minute after one of my calls, we heard a noise to the left. My Dad and me slowly turned and were greeted by a jake, he entered the field and was followed by four more jakes. They went straight to our strutting jake decoy in one tight bunch and didn't allow for a shot. As they began to drift off, one broke free to the right of the others. I lined up for my shot and checked once more to make sure it was clear of the other birds. I fired and MISSED... I believe I didn't put my head back down on the stock after I checked to see if the bird was clear of the others and shot high. The bird fluttered up into the air and landed again. As it began to runaway with the others, I lined it up and fired again. I dropped it cleanly. My Dad lined up on a bird and dropped it. Our first double. We put our tags on, took some pictures, packed up and headed home. A great day hunting with my Dad.
My Jake 13.8 lbs
4.5" beard
3/8" spurs
Dad's Jake14.4 lbs
4.5" beard
3/8" spurs
