Post by dadfsr on May 15, 2014 13:40:16 GMT -5
I had been trying to pattern the birds back my woods for weeks. There were always a couple of jakes that roosted on the almost the same branch every night however there was also an older tom that would roost about anywhere in along a 1/2 mile stretch of my creek that I could never find in the same place two mornings in a row- at least on the weekends when I could check.
Come opening morning I headed back about 0500 and quickly discovered that my little flashlight wasn't working...grrr....but I've been running these woods for over 50 years so, even though I was still tripping over sticks, I wasn't too concerned with knowing where I was. As luck would have it the local pack of coyotes decided to start howling about 0515 which made the jakes start shock gobbling and also setting off the old bird....sure made my task of locating him MUCH easier (didn't think I'd ever thank a coyote!!)
Unfortunately he was roosted clear at the west end (other end from where I was) of our property that I also knew had some thick stuff between where I thought he'd fly down and where I was...kept stumbling in that direction while he and the jakes just never really shut up
Finally got to about where I thought I'd have decent chance at him and backed next to a tree, cleared a few interfering twigs away, got my calls out and was ready by 0615 as the sky started turning pink.
Things got quiet for a few minutes then he made a couple of gobbles that I thought might be his "Here I come ready or not lady's!" warning. I made a couple of real soft yelps then made a "fly-down" sound by flopping my hat then hitting the ground with it.
Everything was again quiet for a couple of minutes then he gobbled again -on the ground! Never even heard him fly down!! But he seemed to be heading for the neighbors cow pasture (Dan and I have had toms go out there on a hill, do nothing but gobble and wait for the hens....grrrrr.....).
Sooo....I pulled out my secret weapon-enter one custom made box call that Dan had made for me several years ago from wood that actually came from our woods!!! I made a couple of strong clucks and purrs, he gobbled back from about the same place, waited a couple more minutes and made a another series, he gobbled back AND WAS CLOSER this time!!!!
Put down the call and got the old 835 loaded with Hevi-13's ready.....about 40 yards out a head appeared coming up a little rise....waited and saw that he had a full beard and pulled the trigger.
Was walking out at 0700 with a #23, 9.5" beard tom that had 21 and 22 mm spurs!! One of my best birds yet and probably one of my shortest!! I think the boxcall (which I haven't named yet) will be become a family heirloom to be passed on down because it's accounted for every bird I've taken since Dan made it for me
Yes I have pics but even in my "time off" I still haven't figured out how to post them....some tricks this old dog just can't learn
Come opening morning I headed back about 0500 and quickly discovered that my little flashlight wasn't working...grrr....but I've been running these woods for over 50 years so, even though I was still tripping over sticks, I wasn't too concerned with knowing where I was. As luck would have it the local pack of coyotes decided to start howling about 0515 which made the jakes start shock gobbling and also setting off the old bird....sure made my task of locating him MUCH easier (didn't think I'd ever thank a coyote!!)
Unfortunately he was roosted clear at the west end (other end from where I was) of our property that I also knew had some thick stuff between where I thought he'd fly down and where I was...kept stumbling in that direction while he and the jakes just never really shut up
Finally got to about where I thought I'd have decent chance at him and backed next to a tree, cleared a few interfering twigs away, got my calls out and was ready by 0615 as the sky started turning pink.
Things got quiet for a few minutes then he made a couple of gobbles that I thought might be his "Here I come ready or not lady's!" warning. I made a couple of real soft yelps then made a "fly-down" sound by flopping my hat then hitting the ground with it.
Everything was again quiet for a couple of minutes then he gobbled again -on the ground! Never even heard him fly down!! But he seemed to be heading for the neighbors cow pasture (Dan and I have had toms go out there on a hill, do nothing but gobble and wait for the hens....grrrrr.....).
Sooo....I pulled out my secret weapon-enter one custom made box call that Dan had made for me several years ago from wood that actually came from our woods!!! I made a couple of strong clucks and purrs, he gobbled back from about the same place, waited a couple more minutes and made a another series, he gobbled back AND WAS CLOSER this time!!!!
Put down the call and got the old 835 loaded with Hevi-13's ready.....about 40 yards out a head appeared coming up a little rise....waited and saw that he had a full beard and pulled the trigger.
Was walking out at 0700 with a #23, 9.5" beard tom that had 21 and 22 mm spurs!! One of my best birds yet and probably one of my shortest!! I think the boxcall (which I haven't named yet) will be become a family heirloom to be passed on down because it's accounted for every bird I've taken since Dan made it for me
Yes I have pics but even in my "time off" I still haven't figured out how to post them....some tricks this old dog just can't learn
