I did everything I could to mess this hunt up, but it paid off in the end.
There was good gobbling from the roost which started about 0610. I heard 4 good birds in different directions, but nothing close. The gobbling from the ground was scarce and shut off about 0700.
I decided to move at 0735 to hunt some birds instead of calling to them. Mistake 1: didn't look around before I got up to pee..5 hens were coming right at me and all I had in my hand wasn't capable of a head shot at 40 yards. I never saw a gobbler, but I'm sure there was one back there. They busted me and I moved on.
On the move a Jake caught sight of me before I crossed the creek. I'm feeling pretty low at this point. I saw him running down the road then give me one last look back as an insult.
I started up on a thick section of pines heading to hardwoods. I decided to call every 50-75 yards and listen. On my third string he busted loose about 75 yards from me on the other side of the thick pines. Both sides of the thick section were thinned. The bird was on the other side and couldn't see me.
I gave it some time and called again with no response so I waited. He gobbled at a crow 10 minutes later still close but moving away. I relocated a little closer and called again. He busted off then went silent. 20 minutes later I hear him spitting to my right. As he lines up with a fallen tree, I spin and go gun up. When he stepped out it was over. 35 yards dropped like a stone.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
