cheesy
Well-known member
Kind of dead in the Kansas forum, had some luck in SEK this weekend.
Hadn't had much luck the last couple of years, busy with work during season, major flood a few years back that hurt the population where we hunt, some bad luck here and there, new baby last year, etc, etc, etc.
Friday night drove the 1 1/2 hours to my parents, swung by my buddies river bottom field to see what was planted there, just disced corn stalks and weeds growing all spring, perfect. Rounded a bend in the field and the mother load of turkeys headed for the corner, a few took off flying, slammed truck in reverse and got out of there in a hurry.
5:45 Saturday morning dad and I park the truck and head across the field. 6:09 is legal shooting time. During the walk birds are gobbling their fool heads off to the east. Set the decoys up, and about 6:05 see a lone hen wandering towards us, paying us no mind. We'd let out a few yelps and purrs and sometimes get a gobble back, sometimes not. About 6:30 I start to see the birds flying down into the field about 200 yards east of us, other side of field. Two longbeards go into full strut, random gobbles, watch one breed a hen, more strutting, pushing a handful of hens around the area they flew down to. We're calling, but not thinking we'll have much luck with the hot hens in front of them. About 7:15 they push off to north, into spot we can't see, hear some gobbles but it sounds like its deeper in timber, or even across the river.
By this time, legs are half asleep, sun is shining right where we want to be looking, and about to give up. Then see movement in the direction they'd gone. Let out a few more yelps, get a couple gobbles in response, and in come the cavalry, about 10 jakes come running in. They get even with me and are staring at the decoys, get a little nervous, and start to turn around and go the other way. I couldn't take it any longer and let one have it. Maybe a 4" or 5" beard. Beats being skunked and I won't get a chance to hunt the next two weekends.
After the smoke cleared, asked dad if he got to witness the show for the previous hour and half. Nope, he was sitting to where he couldn't see over a slight rise in the field and only saw the lone hen the whole time we were there.
Hadn't had much luck the last couple of years, busy with work during season, major flood a few years back that hurt the population where we hunt, some bad luck here and there, new baby last year, etc, etc, etc.
Friday night drove the 1 1/2 hours to my parents, swung by my buddies river bottom field to see what was planted there, just disced corn stalks and weeds growing all spring, perfect. Rounded a bend in the field and the mother load of turkeys headed for the corner, a few took off flying, slammed truck in reverse and got out of there in a hurry.
5:45 Saturday morning dad and I park the truck and head across the field. 6:09 is legal shooting time. During the walk birds are gobbling their fool heads off to the east. Set the decoys up, and about 6:05 see a lone hen wandering towards us, paying us no mind. We'd let out a few yelps and purrs and sometimes get a gobble back, sometimes not. About 6:30 I start to see the birds flying down into the field about 200 yards east of us, other side of field. Two longbeards go into full strut, random gobbles, watch one breed a hen, more strutting, pushing a handful of hens around the area they flew down to. We're calling, but not thinking we'll have much luck with the hot hens in front of them. About 7:15 they push off to north, into spot we can't see, hear some gobbles but it sounds like its deeper in timber, or even across the river.
By this time, legs are half asleep, sun is shining right where we want to be looking, and about to give up. Then see movement in the direction they'd gone. Let out a few more yelps, get a couple gobbles in response, and in come the cavalry, about 10 jakes come running in. They get even with me and are staring at the decoys, get a little nervous, and start to turn around and go the other way. I couldn't take it any longer and let one have it. Maybe a 4" or 5" beard. Beats being skunked and I won't get a chance to hunt the next two weekends.
After the smoke cleared, asked dad if he got to witness the show for the previous hour and half. Nope, he was sitting to where he couldn't see over a slight rise in the field and only saw the lone hen the whole time we were there.
