Family Hunt - Double Jakes
What a beautiful morning! I arrived at the property at around 4:50, a bit early but I knew I would probably have to set the blind up again after that big wind a few days ago. It was staked down hard but it's in an exposed corner of the field and sure enough, it was blown over and back into the fence line brush.
I saw my Mom and Dad arrive at their blind a bit later (their red light as they put the decoys out anyway) and my uncle had set up in another corner of the field.
I was apprehensive at first because I didn't hear a gobble until 5:45. Sure enough, it came right from where they always roost. A bit strange that they seemed in no hurry to fly down I had heard something big in the bush towards their roost at about 5:15 and wondered if they were somewhat spooked by the noise I made with the blind or by whatever was over there (deer or coyote).
Once the hens lit up calling from the roost we went back and forth for a bit and then a hen flew down and landed 10 yards from my blind (6:15 or so). She started yelping right there and I figured this would work out perfectly. Shortly afterward, two jakes flew down and landed in the middle of the field between my parents' blind and mine. I thought they would come for the hen but they weren't overly interested. Actually they seem quite lethargic and lazy and just dusted, ate, and half-strutted around. The hen wandered off. I called intermittently to the jakes, and a Tom was still gobbling from the roost.
Eventually the jakes slowly worked over to me, and finally one stood pecking at my 40 yard marker. Just as I pulled the trigger on him, more birds flew down. The jake dropped on the spot (Longbeard XR #5, 3.5"), and the other just kind of stood there in shock. I also noticed that as mine was flapping on the ground, the ones that were flying down flew over the field and into the trees on the far side. One was a big Tom. At this point the second jake decided he would be safer across the field with the other turkeys on the ground (my parents' decoys). He met his end when he got in range. Mom's first turkey! This was all over by 7 or just after.
We were hoping the big tom would fly back down into the field near my uncle, and eventually he did and I got a good look at him through the binoculars. Beard dragging on the ground, big heavy bird. He gave my uncle the slip and crossed out of the fields and into the lower swampy part of the property. I'm sure he was properly spooked by that point, I have him in mind for tag #2!
We heard quite a few shots on neighbouring properties this morning. Seemed to be lot of gobbling around too. Although sound was indeed carrying as it was dead calm out.
Hope everyone else who was able to get out enjoyed the morning as much as we did.
Here are a couple of pics. The tripod made of sticks is a 40 yard marker, figured it would make a decent picture. The second one hopefully shows enough distance from my folks, and Dad's gun barrel was pointed out away from me, although pics don't show that well. Mom had had both knees replaced within the last 2 years so Dad took the knee for the photo. Yes, that's a corn cob pipe in my mouth. Good morning to celebrate.
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