Finally got a chance to hook up with Garrett on his turkey lease. I was supposed to meet him early Friday monring, but he had a job interview ( pray for him if you remember). So we meet up in Eastman on Friday afternoon, get to the house and dump our stuff and then load up and head to the woods. He had a spot picked out for us and sure enough, as we get to the spot there is a hen and a redhead already there. We waited for them to move out and then set up just inside the woodline and hit a few calls. Some time later I see a hen feeding my way and there is another bird with her. I get the gun up but then Garrett whispers that it is a jake. I ease the gun down as the hen walks within 6 feet of me. I then see the jake and am enjoying the show when I hear Garrett whispering desperately " LONGBEARD!! LONGBEARD!!!". I look up into the food plot and there he is. I try to get the gun up, but that hen is only 5yds from me, and of course, she sees me and starts putting. I lean around the tree and get the bird in my sight and the rest is history!!! 11.25 beard, 1" spurs and weighed 19.00 pounds.
The next day the weather kind of messed us up, but one of the guys did get a nice bird with a 10.50 beard and 1 3/8 spurs. Sunday morning was rain again, but just as the rain stopped at 7am, we get out of the truck and get three birds gobbling from the roost and head that way. Wound up bumping a bird that wasnt vocal and moved on the other birds. Moved up on the other birds and got set up. A hen flies down and walks up the road to us and then into the woods. Garrett and his grandson, Hunter, were on that side of the road. For a six year old kid, Hunter was a champ. The hen almost walked right into him, but then saw him and started putting and moving back down the road. Almost right after than I have 3 longbeards gobbling and strutting 80yds to my left. We start working them, they really liked the Pappy Lewis trumpet. But then 5 hens and two jakes walked up and took them away. Couldnt turn them back so we move out towards the clear cut where we see 5 longbeards strutting. I try to move on them but a deer spooks behind me and blows at me for 5 minutes and busted that deal!!!! Did get to see my first live bearded hen though. Awesome weekend with some good guys.
I cant thank you enough Garret, had a fantastic time.
