Rocky Top Game Calls

Brandon finished the deal this morning on what we think is the same bird that he was on ALL DAY yesterday.

I'll let Brandon and Chris tell the stories and post the pics. Have a safe trip home, guys.

Brandon and Chris, it was an honor to hunt with you guys. There's an open door for you at The Coop anytime

Well B. you lived up to the tiltle of Master Guide. We got to see some beautiful new country in southern MI and made some good friends in the process. We hope to get back up your way next spring. And our doors open to you for a TN hunt. It's unreal the size and weights of these toms up north. They're still easterns and a challenge to get in gun range but well worth the trip. I'll let SBE post the pics sense we used his camera.

We started out Friday at a farm where Britt had been hunting a few birds on this year and had some others take birds off of already. We got on a bird right off, but he hit a hay field with a hen and gobbled until he went out of hearing distance. Britt had to go to work so Chris and I headed out and hit several more farms in the county and finally heard another bird about 2, but he was not on property we could hunt. We knocked on the door of the old farm house sitting there and told the old man what we were wanting to do and he told us to have at it. Chris and I make a big circle to get around on him get into a pretty good spot to try and work him. To make a long story short we set up on him in a fence row and Chris gave him a few soft calls and a few minutes later he came into a small swamp head and came right into gun range. He was a great bird something like 23.5#, had a 10.5" beard, and 1 1/8 spurs. One down and one to go for our trip.







Saturday was rainy, high high winds, and colder. We set up on the same bird as on day 1, but in the hayfield where he had given us the slip the day before. We put out a decoy and backed up in a blow down. He turned out to be roosted in the same place as the morning before and did exactly the same thing as before. A hen came into 17 yards and put on a calling contest for us, which pulled the gobbler toward us. We could hear him in behind us at about 40 yards or so drumming, but when he came into the field he was to far away and would not come into our decoy. Britt told us this bird had been called to, shot at, and bumped, and you could tell he was pretty leary of everything. He was pressured to say the least. He finally worked off and we headed for other places to try and strike up another bird.

Britt had to go to work again so Chris and I started checking out several different farms but didn't have any luck. He ended up having some things to do so I had him drop me off at the hay field about 2:30 or 3 and told him to come back and get me at dark. It gets dark LATE that far North, you can still see out at 9 or later at night this time of year. I knew I had 5 or 6 hours before fly up time to try and get a bird or get one roosted so took out to make something happen. I had started walking up a fence row that borders a big hay field and spotted a big bird all alone in a plowed field next to the hay field. To make a long story short, this bird would not come to calling, he would actually go the other way if you called to him, which is why I think it was the smae bird from the mornign hunt. I slipped, circled, crawled, and snuck all around this bird for the next 6 + hours, but never could get him any closer than 90 yards or so. We put him to bed late Saturday night and devised a plan to kill him this morning.

This morning we set up and ended up being 70 or so yards from what sounded to me like a jake and a few hens. The bird I was on yesterday gobbled his fool head off on the roost a couple hundred yards out and finally after an hour or so showed up in the field in front of us at about 200 yards with a couple hens. I didn't really figure he would leave hens to come and investigate, but we made a few calls to him and he worked toward us a few steps and down into a draw in a cut corn field out of sight. I sort of relaxed and thought he would follow the hens out of my life once again. The next thing I know he is running at half strut at 60 yards over the crest of the ridge or so and closing fast. I get the bead on his head and when he got to about 40 steps I let him have it. My best bird this year and another Michigan heavyweight for the trip. 24#, 10.25" beard, and 1 3/16" spurs.







Thanks again Britt for having us up. I had an absolute blast hunting with you two, it is always fun to hunt with new folks and friends. You have a place to stay, hunt, fish, and vacation at my place anytime you or the family want to make the trip down.

congrats guys! two beautiful birds for sure. hopefully we can all get together and put the smackdown on something in the near future. Brandon, I told you earlier that I was not opposed to another trip to FL. Just let me know. my hat is off to you Britt, putting up with those two guys.....I don't blame you for going to work. just kidding

tnbowhunter wrote:congrats guys! two beautiful birds for sure. hopefully we can all get together and put the smackdown on something in the near future. Brandon, I told you earlier that I was not opposed to another trip to FL. Just let me know. my hat is off to you Britt, putting up with those two guys.....I don't blame you for going to work. just kidding

I am going to FL next year so plan on it and more than likely headed west about this time of year too.

tnbowhunter wrote:congrats guys! two beautiful birds for sure. hopefully we can all get together and put the smackdown on something in the near future. Brandon, I told you earlier that I was not opposed to another trip to FL. Just let me know. my hat is off to you Britt, putting up with those two guys.....I don't blame you for going to work. just kidding

I am going to FL next year so plan on it and more than likely headed west about this time of year too.

Man, I hated having to leave for work every day , but we're so shorthanded right now I just couldn't adjust my schedule. At least I was able to work 10a-6p in stead of 8a-4p the last 2 days.

Brandon, another thing that makes me think that was the same bird you were on all day is the fact that when he finally came he ran at half-strut just like you saw him do earlier in the day when he ran to that hen.

I'm still not positive he was the one from the previous morning, but I'm headed up there with 2 other guys in the morning. We'll find out:)

I think we're going to be at the north side of that tiny green field when they start gobbling. If they all keep gobbling after they hit the ground, in stead of everyone shutting up except one bird, then I will be convinced he was the one we were on the first morning in there. If the granddaddy is dead, the rest of them should have figured it out today and ought to be HAMMERING all morning:D

I slept in this morning and didn't get a chance to roost birds up there tonight; Lisa, the girls, and I did some mushroom hunting after I got out of work today. We all needed it, and it was a blast.

That was actually the first bird killed off that place this spring. Last spring two 1 1/2" spurred birds were killed on that place, one of which went back to TN. If we kill one off there tomorrow it will be off limits the rest of the season. Gotta conserve the resource

Man, those pics sure turned out nice. Congrats again guys!

I hope it was him so the birds will turn loose for you, but there is no telling for sure. There are several good birds on that farm I would bet. That little green field would be where I would be at gobble time too. I have been thinking a bunch today and I bet those birds are tearing that harwood patch up where he is roosted. Those trees are huge, there is water there and plenty of food for them. I have turkey hunted a ton of land up until now and if I was going to say there is a turkey looking spot that has to be it. They are really open and would be a great place to strut. Good luck and let me know what you hear in the morning.

Congrats Brandon and Chris on two hoss birds and a great trip. Brandon, I knew you were posting somewhere and I'd find it sooner or later. Nice site here RMGC.

From your neighbor to the south.

wordbird wrote:Congrats Brandon and Chris on two hoss birds and a great trip. Brandon, I knew you were posting somewhere and I'd find it sooner or later. Nice site here RMGC.

From your neighbor to the south.

Thanks and welcome to the site WB. We need to get together so you can run some of the Rocky Top Calls. Once you hear "How Sweet The Sound" is you will have to have one or two yourself. They even work on them fast talking yankee birds from MI

Congrats on the birds ! Wish i could have made it up this spring too.

BTG wrote:Congrats on the birds ! Wish i could have made it up this spring too.

You reckon 3 Southerners would have been an overload for the state of Michigan all at one time?

SBE wrote:

BTG wrote:Congrats on the birds ! Wish i could have made it up this spring too.

You reckon 3 Southerners would have been an overload for the state of Michigan all at one time?

We've done it before and they still have a few deer and turkeys left...

We were standing at the northwest corner of that woods at daylight today and heard NOTHING in that woods

By 6am we had heard just three very distant gobbles from two birds, so we took off for greener pastures.

Two properties later we got on one that answered a locator call. I called him up to 40 yards, but neither of my shooters ever got a clear shot. I was sitting on the same tree as one of the shooters, and could have killed him twice

Having to be to work by 8am, I pushed hard and gobbled at him, trying to get him to quit strutting back and forth at 40-70 yards and come in to kick a jake's tail and take his girl. In stead he went out to 100 yards and strutted and gobbled in a field. Guess he's had his tail kicked in the past!

We put a ridge between us and him and sneaked off to the truck, listening to him gobble as we left.

This hunt was on a place about 3 miles from where Brandon killed his bird. This bird isn't nearly as smart as Brandon's was, and will make another good target next time I have hunters.

I threw 3 different calls at him and he absolutely tore up the Edge, double gobbling numerous times. I know I was calling too loud and too often, but once he hung up and started strutting I pushed him, knowing we were VERY limited on time. Next time he'll get the silent treatment the first time he answers, and might come up to find a deke.

Did I mention that I hate working days during turkey season?

SBE wrote:

wordbird wrote:Congrats Brandon and Chris on two hoss birds and a great trip. Brandon, I knew you were posting somewhere and I'd find it sooner or later. Nice site here RMGC.

From your neighbor to the south.

Thanks and welcome to the site WB. We need to get together so you can run some of the Rocky Top Calls. Once you hear "How Sweet The Sound" is you will have to have one or two yourself. They even work on them fast talking yankee birds from MI

I ran some of their calls at the Convention. My son bought a box call. I got one of their mouth calls. They are nice.