I was out very early this morning at a place we've only hunted a couple times this season, that always has birds. Or at least it did every other time out so far, but not this morning. Little wet and foggy, and not a peep. Packed up, and my buddy says he's done, season's over, it's too late, they're not gobbling, etc. It was only 7:00, so I decided to try another place, and check my trailcams there anyway. Spot a couple of toms strutting in dry fields on the way, including 1 about 4 fields away from the farm I have permission on. Called my friend and told him there was a strutter to try and lure over, and he said good luck, he was already home. Take another look, grab the camera, snap some pics and make sure it isn't somebody's decoy. Might as well try.....
I snuck in, set up a jake and a laydown hen, at about 7:45 am, and got ready. Called about every ten minutes, quiet sequence in case something was close, then a louder one. Nothing. Did this every 10-15 minutes for about 45 minutes. Maybe he can't hear me? Maybe he is stuck in the dry field, maybe he knows better, doesn't want to get wet, who knows. One more try, yelp, yelp, gobble. Right there. Can't see the decoys.....soft purrs, clucks, hen talk...gobble, gobble, GOBBLE. I can't see him from inside the blind, but he is right on me, reverberating, spitting, strutting, o man, my hands are shaking. Am I new? Can't decide, camera or gun. Camera or gun? Where is he? Another gobble. This is taking forever. Where is he? Why did I put the decoys so close? Is he gone? GOBBLE., nope. Pressing my luck, I get the camera up just in time for him to turn the corner, completely strut right past the jake decoy, and straight to the hen. Totally ignores the jake, no pecking or wing slaps, no foreplay with the hen, no strutting and turning, she's ready. He's ready. He climbs right on the hen decoy and starts the old side to side dance. I'm to mesmerized to press the shutter.
Alright, snap out of it, time to stop screwing around with the camera and get the gun up. I'm in one of those chair blinds that are sold to hunters, but don't have enough room for anything more than a coffee and a thermacell. Why did I buy this thing? My short barrel 870 is too long. I could never use my crossbow in this thing. It's like sitting in a lawnchair with a garbage bag on top. And not the big contractor size either. Set the camera down, makes some noise as it falls over, and try to get the gun up and out the front. He's not as distracted with his inflate-a-mate as I hoped, and sees my motion, and is off the hen in a flash, and starts the retreat. But not for long.
9:00 and my wet tom is on the ground. They sure don't look as nice when they're wet, but he'll taste just as good.
It's wet and buggy, and harder to hear and see with everything leafed out, but if you're still looking to fill a tag, stay at it, and Good Luck!
