Today was a heck of a day and one of those hunts where you just feel good inside. Started off terrible... I keep forgetting to bring my vest and not sure why
All my main calls were packed and in my second pack, I had my Lapp push pin and Torman's Osage Striker. I get out of the car and go to find my vest and it's nowhere... ugh.. I had 3 shells with me and that was it too
Morning started off with us darn close to the jake we called in yesterday. He could barely gobble and I was laughing and afraid I was going to screw up the hunt. Heather (farmer's daughter) was dead set that today was her day. Third time she had been out and all three times have been with me (wife was not real happy when I told her I was with another lady today ...
). Birds pitched out of the trees and headed away. Three were very close and in a patch of woods. We contemplated moving, but I knew we would get busted by the hens to our right. I said let's have some patience. I called every now and then to let those toms know, hey I'm up here. About 7:40, I heard the cedar trees rustling and told Heather, here they come. I gave some soft clucks on the Jordan and out they popped. Picked up the Push Pin and purred and yelped and the field erupted with gobbles.. one bird became two that became three. Purred again and knew they were heading our way. They gobbled all the way across the field. The back bird was strutting his butt off, but the front two were on a mission to get there first.
I put the call down and looked at the birds. I knew they were three mighty fine toms. I looked over and Heather had the gun raised and I was about to tell her, let them come on in. I heard the safety go off and I looked and thought.. man they are quite a ways out there. Boom and down he went. 41 yard shot with 3" #5 long beards . I was so impressed. She made a heck of a shot and those shells did the trick. No need to go chase it down as it was stone cold dead!
This girl is hooked on hunting now, loves fishing, skinned the bird and gutted it, and not sure what else she can do.. oh and she is pretty darn cute too
Calls were Mike Lapp Osage Push Pin (Mike thanks for building this one again. I know Osage is not your preferred wood, but she did a fine job today!!!!) and Daryl's Osage Jordan. I'm really starting to love the sound of the Jordan's all around!
This is one of those awesome hunts I'll remember for ever. Didn't pull the trigger, but this was a site to see. It's how it is supposed to be!
Dcole will be here in about 2 1/2 hours ... if he will quit getting lost
