Was fortunate enough to run across & take this nice two year old 17 3/8 lb Eastern on a long mornin’ hunt yesterday …
Had seen 3 hens & a group of 7 jakes on the way in, when I spotted another hen at the top side of one of my off the road clover fields …
Settled in at the bottom of the field to get a better look & try a little callin’ – after a couple of yelps & cluck/cackles, she moved out in the open & was followed by 3 other hens, & then this guy came out all blown-up & struttin’ for all he was worth – more hens followed for a total of 9 – this young guy was in hen heaven for sure …
A few more calls got the lead hens attention, but neither she nor he was leavin’ the group – I decided to settle in & watch the show, this dude strutted the whole time – ‘bout an hour later I decided to move up to about 1/3 of the way up the field, & headed up a deer trail to get into position – after settlin’ in I yelped & cluck/cackled again, & this time was greeted by a gobble from behind my left shoulder from the tree line ridge a little ways off – cool, a 2nd gobbler in the area – so I decided to move back to my original position to get a better look at the field; just in case the 2nd gobbler might move on in & run into the group on the field …
I watched as the group headed to the top of the field & out via the path up at the top – decided to wait it out & have a little in the field lunch; as one hen was draggin’ behind the others & still partly visible from my vantage point – I just sat back; & thought about what a great hunt I’d had so far, & to enjoy the day – after about 45 minutes of layin’ back, I did some soft yelps on the short box & a couple of clucks on the mouth call; & one of the hens responded back to me - from the field top path came 1 hen, then it was 3 hens; I picked up the binos & could see the top of the fan of the strutter followin’ behind them – when it got to 6 hens comin’ back & the strutter was in plain view I decided to move back to my previous position up the field …
… it seemed like forever before I could see the 1st couple of hens & they unfortunately were headin’ for the other side of the field – I managed a little soft hen talk with the mouth call & one of the hens responded back – it took while to be able to see that a couple of the hens were comin’ on my side of the field & getting’ close, but the click vrrrmmm of the strutter let me know he was on my side of the field with ‘em – I listened to him spit & drum for what seemed to be a hundred times before he got to a position I was sure about – my mouth was pretty dry at this point, so I pulled the short box close to my body & opened the lid just a little …
… after a quick pop on the short box lid resulted in a great cluck, his head came out of the tuck; & that was the last thing he ever heard, & a great finale to a great hunt & even better day – sat him down in his tracks at about 15 yards; or so; & there was no floppin’ about it …
… never did see or hear from the 2nd gobbler, but hopefully that’ll be another story for another day / hunt …