Covered up in birds but still didn't get one!

[timbrhuntr]

Hunted for the first time in Ontario this year this mourning. It was cold and windy with rain but man the birds were vocal. The property I hunt on one side borders a big woodlot. I can hunt the first 20 yds of the woods and the field next to it. I set up at 5 a.m. at the edge of the woods near the field. They usually roost deeper in the woods. At about 0530 a tree snapped in a loud crack and one hammered right next to me. At that one hammered to my right and shortly after that the big  boy let go deep in the woods behind me. As it got light I could see the one in the tree to my left strutting on the limb. I gave a few soft yelps and he and his buddy gobbled at everything. I shut up until I heard the one right next to me and his bud fly down at about 630. They of course flew into the woods and headed deeper in towards #3. I called and they gobbled at everything. At about  645 I caught movement to my right behind me about 20 yds into the woods. Did I mention I can't hunt that deep into them. I hit them with some calls and could see them both semi strutting and gobbling. I then saw a hen come up and she led them away deeper into the woods. I waited 15 minutes and cutt a few times. The big boy just about blew my hat off as gobbled directly behind me. I could here him spitting and drumming but couldn't see him. I couldn't believe when a hen came up from the right in the woods calling. I got into it with her for about 5-10 minutes but she finally turned and led the big boy off into the woods behind me. I had to be at work for 8 so I waited until the gobbling got distant and slipped out. Going to go back and try something different tomorrow. I believe that I could have turned and killed either of the first 2 gobblers and maybe the third but since they were on the next property I just let them walk. This was one of the best hunts I have been on except no bird to carry out.

[FullChoke]

Man that was exciting to read. I can imagine how it felt to be there! Sounds like you got a hot spot to hunt.

FullChoke

[timbrhuntr]

Just got back from roosting some birds. Man there was 4 toms and 3 or 4 hens and a couple jakes in the field. I watched three of them strutting around in unisome for the hens and one of the toms didn't strut but he chased the jakes all around the field. I watched them walk into the woodlot to flyup just before dark. I know where I will be in the mourning I just hope they decide to come out on my side of the field this time. If they don't I may need to fudge the boundary line a little  . And just to add to the difficulty I am going to take out the crossbow because the landowner doesn't want to hear any gun shots on the week end  .

[timbrhuntr]

Man on Saturday I had 9 toms strutting and going crazy out in front of me. Closest they got was about 45-50 yds. Shotgun I think dead bird. Crossbow watch, enjoy the show but wait for anoher day for them to get closer. They still seem to be hung up with lots of hens.

Sunday. How can you go from birds everywhere to one lone hen yelp. Rain and thunder. Left and saw the flock out in the middle of a green field huddled together.

Monday. This mourning I saw something I have never seen before. I had a good vantage of a large bush/swamp area as there are no leaves out yet. The big  boy started to gobble at first light. Continued to gobble after he hit the ground. He was on the oherside of the fence so I couldn't get closer. But I watched and listened as birds gobbled from 2 different areas then made there way accross the bush/swamp towards the big boy gobbling. Not hens but toms and jakes. I managed to call 2 of them within 10 yards (actually I think they just where going to walk that way but to make me feel better I'll say it was my calling  ) but no matter how hard I looked their beards stayed about 6 inches long and they stayed as jakes so I let then walk. Once all the birds got to where the big boy was gobbling he went quiet. I never heard them again. I have seen hens going to a tom before but I think every bird in that woods came to where the boss was calling. Kinda neat to see and hear actually.

If I could only call like that tom I could have my pick of any bird in that bush   .