buckeroo
Senior Member
I am used to hunting tight-lipped mountain birds that like to slip in silently, so I was tickled to kill one the second weekend of the season that gobbled from roost to gun and ended the hunt at 7:36 am. This bird was my heaviest to date and had the best spurs to date at 1.5". This was a bad way to start the season after getting skunked last year. I thought to myself that this was way too easy and this year is looking up already!
Fast forward the rest of the season up to this morning and I didn't hear a gobble...not one. I KNOW I was around birds, but never could connect or even hear one. I searched high and low and couldnt hear a dang gobble to save my life. I heard similar stories from other buddies of mine too. I also tried to sit and call em' in since that is more my style.
This morning I did a before work, unplanned hunt since our toddler snuck into our bed last night and accidentally kicked me in the nose and woke me up at 4:45. I was up for good and decided to slip away for a quick AM hunt. I went in blind with low expectations, but happy to get some woods therapy. I was calling after good daylight and not hearing anything. At about 7:30 a dang gobbler let one lone single gooble rip about 15 yards from me to my right. I froze and cut my eyes over and couldnt see him. I was too afraid to work my gun over to my other knee for the shot since I couldnt see where he was and since HE WAS CLOSE! About 3 minutes later he appeared and I must have had a great setup since he didnt notice me. He slipped between me and a big white oak which afforded me an opportunity to ease my gun over. When he stepped out from behind the tree, I let the ol' Browning pump 12 roll. I was done by 7:45!!
It has been a fun season even if most of the heart of the season was a struggle. I am thankful for these two birds. Gonna hit some of my deep mountain spots now if I get time.
My little buddy was as tickled as me about this bird! LOL.
Fast forward the rest of the season up to this morning and I didn't hear a gobble...not one. I KNOW I was around birds, but never could connect or even hear one. I searched high and low and couldnt hear a dang gobble to save my life. I heard similar stories from other buddies of mine too. I also tried to sit and call em' in since that is more my style.
This morning I did a before work, unplanned hunt since our toddler snuck into our bed last night and accidentally kicked me in the nose and woke me up at 4:45. I was up for good and decided to slip away for a quick AM hunt. I went in blind with low expectations, but happy to get some woods therapy. I was calling after good daylight and not hearing anything. At about 7:30 a dang gobbler let one lone single gooble rip about 15 yards from me to my right. I froze and cut my eyes over and couldnt see him. I was too afraid to work my gun over to my other knee for the shot since I couldnt see where he was and since HE WAS CLOSE! About 3 minutes later he appeared and I must have had a great setup since he didnt notice me. He slipped between me and a big white oak which afforded me an opportunity to ease my gun over. When he stepped out from behind the tree, I let the ol' Browning pump 12 roll. I was done by 7:45!!
It has been a fun season even if most of the heart of the season was a struggle. I am thankful for these two birds. Gonna hit some of my deep mountain spots now if I get time.
My little buddy was as tickled as me about this bird! LOL.
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