Saturdays youth hunt N.Y and Pa.

[LongSpur39]

First have to start off by saying.We get half way to the huntin grounds. And guess what I did? In getting everything loaded in the truck. Somehow I forgot my most important part of my arsenal.MOUTH CALLS!! Imagine that!!??They sat in the refrigerator! Luckily I had two in the plastic carry case in my pocket. Anyhow we get there light was comin fast.And even faster cause we had to set up the blind and put out dekes. The big bird normally wasn't in the area til 8 am or so anyhow. But with calling to him he may show up much sooner. As we were settin up the birds were hammerin in several directions. When we got settled in I gave out some raspy assembly yelps,and cutts. They all answered,including the big boy. also had several hens answer me. I went quiet for about 10 minutes letting them get off the roost . We could here two or more gobblers fly off the other hill and land off to our right at 100 yds.They gobbled as soon as they hit the ground. Then the big bird let loose up above us at maybe a couple hundred yards in the field. He heard those intruders and cut the distance in seconds,and wasn't happy. He hollered at them with those thunder gobbles. I figured it was maybe a good time to get in the mix. I gave out some cutts and yelps. The big fella was on his way. We could hear him drumming so loud he sounded like he was in our face. Next thing we see,is a large fan skylined and comin in. She had a shot at 40 yds but he was comin closer.So we decided to wait. He could see B-mobil and she mobil on the 4 wheeler trail. But he decided to take a path so he could blind side the unsuspecting stranger. He walked in front of us at 25 to 30 yds,but was goin so fast. Allyssa said i can't make the shot. Luckily two hens came into view back in the field. He saw them and wheeled around,and didn't engage on the fake strutter.Because if he would have comin from the angle he was. I doubt she would have been able to get on him. Me,sure, her i don't know? After he and his ladies walked off.. I began to call to the other birds ,within a couple minutes here comes two jakes slippin in silent. They saw the decoys and started doin the mean walk toward b-mobil. We had discussed what shots she could take if any birds came down the trail. We had a small patch of trees and white pine slightly to the left.It had a 3 foot wide opening right through to the trail. That would be the toughest shot out of the other windows. They walked too fast down the trail past the larger side window and the best shot. I tried stoppin them,but they were more focused on the dekes. She had to pull the gun in and slowly put it through the corner window. The first one came through the narrow shooting lane I stopped him to the side of it. Number two hit the opening and stopped.I told her to drop the hammer. He went in a heap. She made the hardest shot.I was very impressed!

[LongSpur39]

Although she shot her bird early,we still had to wait for the other birds who had now moved in to move out. My buddy who was down in Pa,15 minutes away. He was hunting with his youngest boy. And another friend and his son. I sent a text to them. And they asked if I would come down and help em out. They had heard a ton of birds but they were hung up down off the side of a mountain. We packed up and hit the road. When i arrived we got the all clear ,and headed out to meet them. My buddy was set up in the middle of a large field?? And the other two were set up back on the far end of the field on a huge ridge. They came running and said there were 10 or more gobblers on the backside. But they wouldn't come up. I gave out some calls across the valley first and four gobblers answered,a long ways off. I told em maybe we should go after the the hung up or closer birds first. If it doesn't work we would go after the birds across the valley. When we reached the ridge ,all was quiet. We slipped into the woods a shortways,trying not to skyline ourselves. I gave out a series of yelps and was cutoff by 3 or 4 birds. I then threw some cutts and yelps and the woods erupted. These birds were all longbeards for sure. And they were hung up. after playin around for a bit. I figured to start trying some tactics on em. The first would be the goin away from them or the hen losing interest. I called aggressive to them ,fired em up then we moved away. The next time I called,i cut the tone way down and less aggressive. They went nuts! You could tell when they became impatient.They gobbled and I'd give them one or two soft clucks. Eventually they were movin in. My buddy and his son were set up down to the left at 50 yds,and the other youngster was set up to directly to the left at 40 yds. So if the birds came in higher they run into a gun and if they went low they would run into a gun. My daughter was tryin to run the camera. We could hear them comin from quite a ways. Then we see one ,two ,three and eventually 4 red heads. All big longbeards! They were headin toward the higher shooter. At 40 yds form him,the young hunter turns his head. Putt! Then Boom! All four birds flew off,unscathed. I then gave words of encouragement. But also explained how good a turkeys senses are especially eye sight. Round one goes to the birds!

[LongSpur39]

Round two. After checking around to make sure round one was a clean miss. We then headed back over the ridge to the field. I called out across the valley again ,to see if the birds were still there. They were all hangin in the same spot we heard them earlier . We started the long hike to get to them,all 6 of us. As were walkin the birds were starting to filter from the top toward the hillside,and toward us. So we had to loop up around and between them. How we didn't bump any birds is beyond me?? 6 humans in dry leaves and somewhat open hardwoods. Was pretty darn loud!LOL! We set up on what sounded like 3 birds.One sounded like a jake and the other two longbeards. I worked them from under 150 yds. They first headed well below us. I called pretty hard at them.Then threw in a few gobbles they went ape. I had both shooters and dads 20 yds in front of me just over a slight rise. I was set up so the birds would have to come right into their laps,in order to see the squawking hen. With in minutes one longbeard came into 15 yds of the shooter on the right. I could see the bird plain as day and so could they. No shot rang out!!?? i kept the bird in front of them for what seemed like an eternity. He just stood there semi strut. Gobbling his head off. What in the world are they waitin for ,I thought. Eventually the bird walks past my daughter and I,gobblin and struttin at 20 yds! We were both wonderin what just happened,or didn't happen? The other two birds stayed just at 50 yds carryin on . After that quitin time came quick. The birds came in,at one point 35 yds of the shooters. No shots fired. one dad said they could have shot at anytime. But because the birds were closer to the other,they were waiting for them? And the other said they didn't have a clear enough shot in open hardwoods!!?? Don't ask ,cause I have no clue. Oh well it should have been 3 birds on Saturday.

[JerseyHunter]

HEY YOU SEEN BIRDS AND HAD A GOOD TIME.

[whiskey]

Great story. Way to go.