After helping my buddy fill his 5th season Illinois tag on opening day (we could have maybe doubled up) I'd had nothing but frustration since. Worked 5 strutters in a field later that day only to have them hang up and wonder off. Back there the next morning, had 7 birds of various sizes with three hens. Was really surprised that one wouldn't break off and come to our setup but they wouldn't budge and eventually wondered off to property that we didn't have permission to hunt. Rest of that day was a blank. Saturday was a rainout and rest for these old bones.
So, with life getting in the way next week, today was pretty much now or never. Back at the same field, with a strutter and two hens out. Had three birds glide in from the south and watched three more pitch down on the east (we were on the west edge of the rectangle). Birds from the south milled around about 125 yards out while the three from the east worked closer. We sat tight and didn't call as was our plan since we thought they'd be heading west again today. Lead bird from south was obviously a tom and was interested in the decoys but was only edging slightly closer. Finally, the three from the east joined up with the three from the south. Instantly, the south three broke into a run and charged the decoys while the other three began to close the distance. First three turned out to be two little jakes and what I would have called a "big" jake. I whispered to my buddy "any longbeards in that 2nd group". He didn't think so and I didn't see any birds with better beards in the last three so I decided to take the "big" jake. After letting him clear well away from the other two, I dropped him with some LB #6's. Didn't weigh him, but he had a 6" beard, full fan, and 1/2" spurs. After reading the jake/tom thread, I decided he was a young two year old. No pic cause a real prominent Southern Illinois landmark is in the background and I'm stingy! Good luck to all still filling tags!
