Birds gobbled early starting at 5:50 high on the ridge on neighbors property. Hens fired up
about 6:10, last gobble at 6:15. Neighbor shot at 7:10. My farm has no woods on it just a big bottom field with a few tree lines and fence rows. Birds usually pitch out into the fields from the ridge above or just show up at any time. After the neighbors shot I thought I’d hang out just to see what might show up later on. About 10:30 figured I’d head on back to hospital to sit with mom. As I was walking out I thought I might just move up next to the timber and just sit down and call a little for 30 mins or so. First few series of calls got no response and eventually I nodded off to sleep. Actually I was sleeping pretty deeply when I woke wasn’t even sure where I was at, after spending 7 weeks with mom in the hospital and trying to work at least 3 days a week, I’m wore out. Anyhow, after i gathered myself let out a series of yelps and immediately had a hen answer and was she fired up and I could tell coming quick. Although i never could see her on the other side of a fence row I did see a strutter. This hen was wearing me out and since I could tell she was coming I remained quiet. She eventually flew over the fence and was headed right to me. The gobbler kept strutting back and forth and I was starting to wonder if he was gonna follow but he ended up flying/hopping the fence and came right to the hen who was only 10 yds and trying to find that other hen she heard. The gobbler put on a show and i let him come to 25yds and let the pain train loose on him.
The Lord truly blessed me today. I’m very thankful for a great wife who showed up at hospital at 4am this morning so i could go hunt for a few hours.