Hunted the same property that kicked my butt last year in De only to have received a similar butt whooping last Saturday, Thursday and Friday. Had the closest call Friday when a bird that never gobbled came in drumming.. he was close but I never saw him.
This morning was the first day I hunted MD. Started out quiet on my end of the area while dad was on the other side with a bird on fire! I bumped a gobbler that hadn't made a peep.. so I just hunkered down for a bit while I let things calm down. @ 958 dad texted me that he hadn't heard his bird in a while and I was welcome to come up and try to stir him up if I was bored on my side. Right then I heard a gobble down the road 75 yards from me.. I real quick hopped around a big deadfall so I would have a clear approach. Sat on a little knoll with the sun shining bright on me which gave me the best vantage point for how thick it was.. The bird steps into the woods at about 45 yards from me, he stands tall then takes a few steps.. when he did I moved my gun barrel.. he saw the movement and perked up. Kind of got the "now or never" vibe and let 'er rip. Text dad quickly and said "I'm good!" at 10:08. Turned out to be a jake bird, guess my instinct that it was a LB wasn't a good one and didn't get a chance to see a beard in the thick stuff, although he did weigh 18.4lbs. Felt good to drop the hammer either way. There will be plenty more tags to fill this season for an upgrade.
