Rough trip

[Jay]

Only bird we got in was the first morning right after flydown, but I blew everything starting with the Dekes. It was an extremely windy day where we weren't sure the birds heard our calling, and if we were hearing gobbles. I had a heavier Hen Deke out, and a light foam Jake Decoy. I KNOW with the lighter Dekes to put stakes in firmly next to the Deke to limit their movement from the wind. It cost me one of the bigger birds I've ever had come in with what looked like 1 1/2" hooks, and around a 11" beard. We had this Tom come in looking at the Jake who was now spinning like a top, then it seemed to stop facing us, most every time. I'm locked into a shooting zone expecting the Tom to continue into the set up. But the Tom figures there is danger from our area, because of the Jake Deke's movement, and proceeds to run back the way he came. I've got 2 trees in the way so I'm swinging on the bird trying to catch up with him, and at 50 yards put a pattern over him. I really shouldn't have attempted this shot in the first place on a bird running at that distance, and never have before. As I pull the trigger he stops on a dime intending to turn around and check again for danger. If I had waited I would have had a standing 50 yard shot, and those I can make with my gun.
The rest of trip we had birds in the area, but couldn't get located where the roosts were, and they wouldn't cooperate. With my luck, in the middle of no where, the laces on my boot get caught on a metal stake in the ground, that was about 2" high sending me crashing to the ground on top of a Army Corps of Engineer metal marker that was about 2" above the ground. I drove my hip into that, and when I hit, I thought I wouldn't be able to get back up. My hip is swollen up over an inch high and all black and blue. Luckily I could still walk on it, but not well. I don't think this one is going to heal up for a while.
Without getting birds this trip, it  really screws up my plans for the year, and I now have 4 tags to fill in like 9 days. The pressure is on.

[WillowRidgeCalls]

Hope you heal up quick Jay, it sounds like that was quite the trip with everything that went on. Hope you fill a few more tags.

[socalturkeyman]

Glad that it wasnt worse than it is.And I'd say it pay back time on some of them birds Jay! Go and gettem.

[cuttinAR]

Hang in there bud.  No pressure, just enjoy the chance to chase after em.

[chatterbox]

You're a proven killer buddy! I'm just glad you didn't get hurt worse!
It will come together. You know what needs to be done.

[Muskie03]

Glad your still walking Jay. It's a good thing your stronger than steel body didn't drive that marker deep into the ground as it would be lost for ever. Best of luck filling your tags bud.

[blueribbon]

Hang in there Jay remember you enjoy that hunting don't put too much pressure on yourself. Hope you get to feeling better.

[simpzenith]

You're gonna have days like that Jay but we always seem to have a few great days from time to time also that make up for it. I had a lot of fun hunting with you and for those that don't already know, Jay is hard working, knowlegable turkey hunter. He had the placed scouted before I came down and everywhere he took me, we were in/near birds. The birds just didn't want to cooperate excect for the first morning. Hope you heal up quickly and you'll get them next time Jay! 

[huntdux1]

Daggum Jay, were you out to kill turkey's or what? Just messing with bud.  Hope you heal up quick

[Bigsho69]

Too bad you didnt get that monster but maybe he will come back in at some point.  Hopefully your hip will heal up so you can get after those biguns.

[Jay]

You're gonna have days like that Jay but we always seem to have a few great days from time to time also that make up for it. I had a lot of fun hunting with you and for those that don't already know, Jay is hard working, knowlegable turkey hunter. He had the placed scouted before I came down and everywhere he took me, we were in/near birds. The birds just didn't want to cooperate excect for the first morning. Hope you heal up quickly and you'll get them next time Jay! 

I'm definetly going to work on getting permission to hunt the private next to the Public where we heard all the Gobbling Monday. After you left I worked it for a couple of hours, and the birds were gobbling less, but in the same place as when you left. Sunday I really thought when we got in position to get those birds coming back to roost, and they started gobbling their heads off at 6pm, we were all set. Can't believe they didn't come into the same roost we heard them at in the morning. That was a bit weird. Oh well, that's Turkey hunting.

[simpzenith]

I was reviewing the video from our last morning Jay and one of those hens we say across the field had a 10 or 11 inch beard. I've never seen a hen with such a thick and long beard. I'm almost 100% sure it was a hen.

[Jay]

I didn't have my binocs, but it sure acted like a Hen. The two I'm thinking of, I commented on how big the one looked. Same Hens?

[simpzenith]

Yep, same two!

[Jay]

You're gonna have days like that Jay but we always seem to have a few great days from time to time also that make up for it. I had a lot of fun hunting with you and for those that don't already know, Jay is hard working, knowlegable turkey hunter. He had the placed scouted before I came down and everywhere he took me, we were in/near birds. The birds just didn't want to cooperate excect for the first morning. Hope you heal up quickly and you'll get them next time Jay! 

Really had a good time on my outing with Shane, and he's in great shape. We walked for miles, and he handled it well.

Great listener too. I'd ramble on and on, and he'd quietly listen.