So been one heck of a rollercoaster season for me. Here's my recap so far....
The season really started for me by being able to attend the NWFT Convention in TN. What a blast that was, and was a great way to get pumped for the upcoming season. If you ever can, I highly recommend trying it at least once in your lifetime!
http://www.topfreeforum.com/diamondk/viewtopic.php?t=379&mforum=diamondkStarted off the season by heading south to our lease in Kentucky for their season opener. Our lease is loaded with birds, and I am convinced that whole State is packed with them!
We were greeted with high winds, and storms on our arrival and they proved to be a challenge all weekend for us as well. My buddy who is on the lease with me was making his inaugural turkey hunting trip. More of a deer/out west hunter he decided this year to give turkey hunting a serious try. Due to storms and winds the night before, as well as some socializing with our Southern friends we did no roosting the night before.
Opening morning found us with a group of birds that seemed to want to play the game. We set up, and I had my bud nestled in what I thought was a perfect spot and the game was on.
Unfortunately, his Rookie Status foiled us. The lead Tom walked in front of him but on the down side of the decline in the terrain. While a shot presented itself, my buddy didn't feel that he had enough of a clear shot to make it happen so the bird walked out of our area. We tried to get back in front of this group but were hindered by the elevation, as we couldn't move in without them busting us.
After reviewing our options, we headed off to set up on one of the fields. By now the wind was gusting over 30mph, and Murphy had an appearance as we walked around a bend in the woods and were greeted face to face with three Tom's coming the opposite way we were. Tried to get off a quick shot, but we all know how that goes.
We did hit the Motherload in another way though!
While we struck out at the lease over the next couple of days due to henned up Tom's, and poor hearing/calling due to high winds, I resumed my challenge with a huge Tom that hangs out closer to the house we stay at.
There is an old cemetery that is on the top of a huge hill just off from the homestead. For the past three years, there is a Tom that hangs out in the cemetery and struts in a field that we do not have access to. Off from the field is a huge pine grove that he hides in when not in the field. Needless to say, I did not put my tag on him, but sparred with him 4 times and almost had him cross the property fence within shooting range. Had him at 25 yards once, but he was reluctant to leave his hens in the field and was not on our property. We will resume that battle next year, or the Fall!
Michigan has been a rollercoaster State this year as well. Just like other folks, I have found the birds to be henned up, affected by weather, running "behind schedule" behavior-wise, and tough to pin down. Although, I did get to spend time with my favorite hunting buddy and continue our yearly hunt together.
Although things looked promising at first light with multiple gobblers sounding off, the reality of henned up birds hit home. This was the first year though that we were not limited to sitting in the ground blind, and actually got out after them. The ability to go running and gunning was one that I was glad to put to use! The little one has been practicing her box calling all winter and it came in handy in locating. Getting one to sound off, be it far off in the fields, was the highlight of the trip for her.
I had been getting some great Tom's on camera, and one morning was able to get set up within 80 yards of his roosting spot. He sounded off to some owl hoots, and played the game like he was supposed too. But on flydown, he quit gobbling and did the big end around like the old birds do. While I had an eye on him the whole time, he saw something with the decoy setup he didn't like and veered back off to his real hens. When I tried some soft clucks and purrs, the real ladies had enough and took him off and away.
I moved off to another portion of the property about 10:30AM, and did some blind prospecting on the box call. After three attempts or so, had one gobble back. After fixing his location (Nothing pays off more than being familiar with your landscape!) I got setup and settled into calling. After about a 30 minute serenade in which he would gobble about every 5 minutes, and close the distance even more he finally made an appearance over a small knoll. The best part of this hunt was the fact that he stood in the same spot for 5 minutes or so, and would strut and gobble hard looking for the hen that had been in that area not so long ago. I never mouth called once, just let him do the show until he finally got into a totally clear spot at about 31 yards. One mouth cluck, and the head went up and the 20 barked. Was great to finally get my hands on a longbeard with the way the season had been going!
With that part of my season over, I have turned my focus to helping out some buddies. The landowner/friend/Mentor that I hunt with and I have been trying to get his tag on a bird several times now, and even though we have had some close calls there still hasn't been the "Head Stomp Shuffle" applied yet. Got some cool footage though, and had some friends come in that we hope to see come October/November.
Also had the privilege of helping a fellow co-worker from the Fire Department tag his first longbeard. We had started the morning by setting up right in this Tom's bedroom perfectly, and he put on one heck of show for my buddy but he flew down in the opposite direction with his hens.
We then spent a couple of hours chasing longbeards who spooked due to trucks, and deer. We finally got them in a secluded area, got them located and put the sneak on them. Working our way through a flooded swamp edge, as well as crawling through a soggy cornfield showed me he was serious about tagging out. Using the terrain to our advantage, he was able to get a fantastic shot on this Tom and collected his first longbeard for the wall. Felt very privileged to get to help him out, and have some success after so many close calls.
Still out there chasing 'em! Hopefully will have some more success photo's from the boys soon!
