Wednesday we didn't have much luck. We hunted near the camphouse on a 600 acre piece of property that is pretty thick and doesn't usually hold birds during the spring, but it was nice to be in the woods. We heard one way off a good half mile, maybe further. Headed back to camp early to go talk to some landowners and get some spots lined up for the rest of the week. That evening we hunted from 12-5 at another 475 acre farm we have hunted in the past and killed birds on and found some good sign.
Thursday we headed back to the 475 acre farm again because we know it holds birds. We walked the power line to the top of the hill and waited on daylight to come. When daylight began to break I gave an owl hoot and two birds hammered 200 yards away. We hurried up and moved closer to them. We got as close as I dared with the open woods and the logging road they were roosted on being straight as an arrow between us and them. I set my buddy up nearest the road because I wanted him to get a shot first since he didn't get to shoot last year. I had him set perfect so that when they came around a big tree in the road that they would be at 40 yards and he could drop the hammer on them. The birds gobbled good on the roost and I could hear several hens talking. I made a few soft calls on a Rocky Top Game Calls "The Slam" mouth call and they tore them up. Everything I threw at them they answered. I shut up and let them hit the ground before I called any more. I was afraid the hens would take them away, but I gave a few more soft yelps and clucks and I could see them working their way up the road towards us. One loud mouthed hen walked up to about 10 foot of my buddy and saw us, but did not run off. She fed to our right finally. I could now see the tips of the two gobblers fans working up the road at about 100 yards, and started to think that this might all pan out after all. We ended up having 5 or 6 hens in our laps feeding and the two strutters putting on a spit and drum show at 55 or 60 yards. Finally one of the birds came out of strut, took a few steps forward, and craned his neck into the only small opening that I had. My buddy did not have a shot and told me to go ahead and shoot him. I didn't want the perfect hunt to go sour and I was not sure if he was getting spooked or just looking for a little lady. As he craned his head into the only opening I had, a 6 inch wide by 2 foot tall hole I settled the true glo on his head and let the Nitros do the rest at 48 steps. Nothing like putting your foot on that first ones head of the year.
A good 2 year old bird
NWTF Score 55.5
18#
10" beard
7/8 spurs
Friday we headed to a big 4000 acre plantation that we got permission to hunt. At daylight we heard a couple different birds sounding off and headed after him. To make a long story short he gobbled 150 or so times, was in range a couple different times, but never walked out of the pines to offer a shot. He ended up being gay in the end and walked off gobbling his head off to meet up with another gobbler and they now are living happily ever after I suppose.
Saturday we went back to the same plantation and as soon as we pulled up and stepped out a bird hammered off in a hardwood bottom about 300 yards away. We grabbed our gear and headed after him. He ended up being roosted on the edge of a 2 acre food plot so we set up on the roadway leading to it. He was gobbling his head off at everything I threw at him. I did 3 or so fly downs with my hat and when he hit the ground he was on a string to us. This time around I set up 30 yards behind my buddy because there was no way I was shooting this bird too. I heard him coming down the road drumming and soon saw my buddy easing his head down on his gun getting ready to shoot. I never saw the bird until after the shot, but really enjoyed watching him kill his second bird ever. He was pumped and I could not have been happier for him. This was what I call a flash hunt, 30 minutes from the time we left the truck and we were taking pictures.
a good bird, 4 year old maybe
NWTF score of 63.5
20#
10.5" beard
1 1/8" sharp spurs
Needless to say we celebrated that evening because the trip was now complete with us both killing birds. We ate VERY good and slept in this morning.
Our steaks and chops from lastnight.
