Saturday, prior to the opening day Monday, I set out my decoy stakes had decided on how I would position myself. Sunday was some high wind and strong rain, but not as strong as the wind that blew the semis off route 74 on Thursday night. That was a new one for us. Anyway I knew I was in for lots of mud on the gravel roads on the way to my parking area. After slogging across two fields, and taking up Lee and Tiffany my two decoys, I set them on their stakes inside the timber, just as two gobblers let loose near by. There are usually one or two gobblers spending the night in this patch of timber, but I never know what side they will be on. My intention was to set up my camera and film the hunt, no time, the strongest gobbling and closest bird was really going at it with what sounded like a lesser bird gobbling farther down the timber edge to my right. The softest sounding call in my vest was a Roger Parks Tree Talker, after a few soft yelps the near bird hit the ground and was coming closer. He moved behind me from right to left all the while gobbling and drumming, then headed for the decoys. Now I was ready to see him give Lee a chest bump and hit on Tiffany. However, halfway there he took a sharp right, and passed not three yards in front of me to disappear from sight. I gave him a few seconds then slowly turning to my right, tried to find where he went only to see him about 40 yards away, with the less dominate bird, who was intent on mating with the ground, and him still strutting, both with their backs to me. Getting up on one knee and centering the red dot on the strutter, I waited for him to take a breather then pulled the trigger. 25 lbs, 10" beard, 1"spurs.
When I hunt by myself I carry a small, lightweight camera tripod. It works great for including yourself in the photo, on the spot where you shot your bird.
