So last night I had to work late. I gas up the truck on the way home and punch it to check a couple of spots. Spot 1, nothing. When I'm about to go to spot 2 I look across the road and lo and behold there are 3 toms with a group of hens at 8:15 pm. So I figure what the heck and park in my friends driveway and put them to bed.
I call my buddy that is having not so good luck this year. He arrived back into town that night He is pretty new. I told him I can't believe this spot. We can park at our mutual friends, walk across the road along the woods line less then 80 yards and we will be there for fly down. Told him 3 toms. One big beard dragger that is clearly the Boss. I texted him the Boss was the last to fly up. I know the exact tree, the exact limb. This bird roosted on the lowest limb so you know he is just going to plop down at flydown. My last text is meet me at my mom's at 4 am sharp because it is less then 1/2 mile away.
Man, I couldn't sleep. I already got my Tom the first week. My son got his second bird a Jake the first morning. I'm thinking my friend is going to get his first big Tom this morning. So, he shows up on time. I tell him no decoys, no blinds but we will take the gobble loungers and some netting for in front. The plan is to get him as close as we can. . .which is not far on a tree probably 100 yards or less from the road. I'll set up closer to the road and call.
So we grab the gobble loungers (btw a godsend) the netting and I told him I'm not even bringing my gun because I want him to get one. As we get along the woods line there is a creek type/farmer ditch along the line. Well, we've got our much boots on and in we go. As I'm leading the way one mistep and I'm in over my boots and instant wet feet. Well, I'm game and don't pay much attention to it.
We get into small trees. I lead the way and set up the chair. I tell him, the tree is right there. Probably 40 yards away. I point the chair in that direction and he sits down and gets the netting set up. So I go and sneak back into my spot, get in the ditch, and get settled in with my favorite diaphragm. Now, I know this Tom is pretty henned up but I figured he is going to nail him at flydown.
Light starts coming. Sandhill cranes are flying and this Boss Tom erupts for a few gobbles at less then 50 yards. I don't really here much more gobbling or hens. True to form, this guy basically drops down. A second tom drops down. As soon as the big boy hits the ground he instantly starts strutting.
Yes! I love it when a plan comes together. My feet are soaked. I'm anticipating the high fives, the pictures, checking out just how big his spurs are, and how long his beard is. I'm waiting for the explosion of the shotgun and the ensuing bird flop that will follow. I'm waiting to watch my buddy run across this farmer ditch/creek and get soaked while getting to his bird.
The bird is probably maybe, maybe 50 yards from me. Then, hens start flying down from the tree into the field. Birds start busting out a tree behind us into the field. I'm watching the birds fly into the field. Then I see the toms turn their back on us and walk away into the field.
WTF, I'm thinking. That should be a dead bird. Appartently I forgot my patented Troy Landry call that screams 'Shoot em, shoot em'. The birds walk into the field about 150 yards.
About 40 minutes later, I switched diaphragm calls and get one to break away. This Tom is coming at me on a rope. He pauses, I call. He stops strutting, comes quick walking with the beard swinging side to side. I know you fellas know that quick beard side to side walk. The one that usually precedes a shotgun blast and then dead bird.
Ol Tom gets to about 50 yards, straightens his head out, and out comes an alarm putt. Ahhhhh, I knew it was over then. I knew I didn't move. Despite my attempts at getting Ol Tom's interest his instinct for self preservation rules out.
My buddy as we get ready to leave 'I should have took that first shot huh?' Me 'hmmm, yeah, I would have'. My buddy 'He was facing me with his head up, I thought it was further'. Me 'You can't miss if you don't shoot'
But hey, season only comes around this time and you gotta learn somehow. I hope next time with a slam dunk set up he squeezes that trigger. Off to a long tired day of work now.
