my season started yesterday morning as i took my nephew out for the Pa youth season. the weather was supposed to be rainy so i decided to setup a ground blind in a field where i heard some birds gobbling a few days
ago.it rained all night but never rained while we were out but it was very windy. . anyway, we slept in and got into the blind right before daybreak. we didnt hear any gobbling on the roost or after flydown. around 8am i made a few yelps on the box call and a hen showed up. she wasnt interested in our setup and walked straight across the field. a minute later 2 more hens crested the hill with a long beard in tow. he strutted around for a couple minutes about 75 yards out but they wouldnt come any closer. they ended up leaving the way they came in. my hopes of the longbeard coming back in after the hens went on their nests were smashed when around 9am a group of atvs decided to ride around the field. we decided to pack up the blind and head for the mountains near my house and do some run and gun. we walked about 1 1/2 miles but didnt hear anything. at noon we turned around and headed back to the truck. as we crested a hill we spooked a longbeard that was walking down the dirt road. im guessing he heard my calling earlier and came in but came in quietly. that was the end to our dismal and frustrating day.
this coming saturday is my opening day and the weather looks like its going to be good so i should be able to enjoy another fun filled day of atvs, sxs and other hunters showing up just in the nick of time to cut me off and shoot birds that im working in
