Well Friday morning finally came , along with my first solo hunt of the season. I am hunting a cattle farm in southern Ohio today, on the same property that my friend Chris got his first gobbler two days ago. He was a very happy hunter with his 22 lb longbeard. We got his bird at 11:00 a.m. just as we were finishing up for the day. I plan to hunt the same area where we started our morning on that hunt.
It is 5:38 a.m. and I am contemplating where to go when a Tom roars off the roost a few hundred yards from my van. I tell myself out loud " I guess that's where I am going ! ". Soon after, another bird fires up on a ridge that I am very familiar with so I move in on him . I get to within 100 yds or less by sneaking, quietly, to a big oak tree and I set up the video camera and get settled in. I tree yelp softly on a Bill Barker slate over glass with my Mudpuppi striker. This draws gobbles every time I strike it. The Tom blasts at me for another 30 minutes before touching down in a small clearing. He is on a steep hillside with a bench about 40 yds below me that is carpeted in short grass. I made the right choice in setups, as he is quickly moving towards the sound soft sounds of my clucks on a Shadetree long box. He stays just out of range so I slipped out my poplar shortbox and stroke it lightly and he hammers me with a triple gobble. Seconds later he steps in at 25 yds and I sent a swarm of #6's at him which sends him over the steep side of the hill where he disappeared in the briars. After a quick walk DOWN the hill to retrieve my bird, I make a LONG walk UP the hill, man is it steep, to get back to my gear and tag the turkey. It is now an early 6:35 a.m. and I sit back on the hillside for some reflection on the morning. After taking a few pictures, I am headed towards my van to go get some breakfast and take my bird to the check station for permanent tagging.
WE are expecting a few days of rain and then I am heading back to KY. to finish out their season and hopefully get a chance to hunt with my 13 year old Daughter Rachel. So far, it has been a great season. I have been fortunate enough to take three longbeards so far and all together I have been part of five birds taken this Spring ,including a very nice Tom killed by Gregg Guthridge of Shadow Turkey Calls . As well as a first turkey , taken by a good friend on a wonderful hunt. Good luck to everyone this Spring !!
Bob Fulcher
SHADETREE CALLERS
