R&S 
OWNER/PRESIDENT
Post by THE GOB-FATHER on May 2, 2014 21:35:34 GMT -5
Well, I went out turkey hunting for the first time this year this morning. Went on a whim... wasn't planning on it but the urge within me was too strong and I took a few hours out of my schedule to have a shot at it. I'm glad I did! It was great to be back out in the turkey woods and watch the world wake up and come alive. I got to one of my spots and a truck was already parked there which is odd because I don't recall the farmer ever saying that anyone but me would be hunting there, but either way I had to fight the minutes that were ticking down before daylight so I hit my alternate spot on the adjacent property. I figured this way I could keep tabs on the other hunter and hear/see what was going on with that parcel of property while I toyed around in my other area.
I was set up just at the break of dawn (mind you I hadn't had a chance to put in any scouting at all this season, but year after year this spot has always held birds... and good ones at that) and I sat there for the better part of an hour without a single gobble to give me any inkling that there were in fact some gobblers in the area. I was at a crossroads and figured I'd ease out and hit the road to check out some of my other properties to get in some scouting and/or have a potential opportunity at a lone Tom in a field. Well, just as soon as I started packing up my decoys I hear a thunderous gobble coming from across the field in which I was set up in. I immediately grabbed one of my hen dekes and didn't have much time to get back into position as the bird sounded very close to the field's edge. So I put the decoy directly out in front of me only about 12 yards out. I knew better but I didn't want to risk getting busted and have the hunt over before it even began!
So a few minutes go by and I start calling to the gobbler... and BOOM! Another gobble... and another and another... he was certainly interested and I could tell by his language he was in search mode and din't have a hen with him! Game on! I sat there and played the waiting game. And then a really LOUD and distinct all too familiar very clear gobble traveled across the field and I knew that he was now in the open, in the field. I spotted him and he approached my set VERY slowly and cautiously. I've seen this before all too many times and had deducted that this was an old weary Tom... which is exactly what I came for! He put on a magnificent show... strutting in all his glory, spinning around, dancing and stretching that fire engine red head of his out as he double and triple gobbled at me and my conservative calling renditions.
I flanked my set and ended up directly in front of me at approximately 70 yards. And that... was where my adrenaline rush quickly started diminishing! I knew what was about to unfold and it did... for 4 HOURS! I sat there and watched that bird strut an gobble and strut and gobble... taunting me and letting the world now that he was NOT budging any further and that this "hot hen" was to come to him. Well, that didn't happen nor did the sound of my shotgun firing off! Unfortunately, he won the battle as he slowly walked off back to where he came from as another Tom entered the field and joined up with him. They started coming back as to just keep me out there in the cold, damp inclement weather and then just as quick as the game started... it was over!
On the positive side of things, I know from 20+ years of turkey hunting that this is just part of this amazing sport that I just absolutely LOVE and if it wasn't for intense hunts like this, It'd be too easy and I wouldn't really care for it much. So with that said, I'm grateful for these hunts. Each one teaches you something and gives you a glimpse of nature that most never get the privilege to see. In fact, the past several years I've been killing monster Toms all too easily and it's finally nice to get beat as it will certainly give me the ability to "savor the flavor" when I capitalize on harvesting him here soon. Yes, yes I will take him. Just not today. He's a worthy adversary and those stubborn Toms... those are the trophies to me! Challenge accepted... and his days are numbered!
I'll give him a pass for a few days while I tend to business and possibly hunt another few spots before I come back for him. He earned a few more days. But "The Gob-Father" has placed a hit on him... To be continued.
I was set up just at the break of dawn (mind you I hadn't had a chance to put in any scouting at all this season, but year after year this spot has always held birds... and good ones at that) and I sat there for the better part of an hour without a single gobble to give me any inkling that there were in fact some gobblers in the area. I was at a crossroads and figured I'd ease out and hit the road to check out some of my other properties to get in some scouting and/or have a potential opportunity at a lone Tom in a field. Well, just as soon as I started packing up my decoys I hear a thunderous gobble coming from across the field in which I was set up in. I immediately grabbed one of my hen dekes and didn't have much time to get back into position as the bird sounded very close to the field's edge. So I put the decoy directly out in front of me only about 12 yards out. I knew better but I didn't want to risk getting busted and have the hunt over before it even began!
So a few minutes go by and I start calling to the gobbler... and BOOM! Another gobble... and another and another... he was certainly interested and I could tell by his language he was in search mode and din't have a hen with him! Game on! I sat there and played the waiting game. And then a really LOUD and distinct all too familiar very clear gobble traveled across the field and I knew that he was now in the open, in the field. I spotted him and he approached my set VERY slowly and cautiously. I've seen this before all too many times and had deducted that this was an old weary Tom... which is exactly what I came for! He put on a magnificent show... strutting in all his glory, spinning around, dancing and stretching that fire engine red head of his out as he double and triple gobbled at me and my conservative calling renditions.
I flanked my set and ended up directly in front of me at approximately 70 yards. And that... was where my adrenaline rush quickly started diminishing! I knew what was about to unfold and it did... for 4 HOURS! I sat there and watched that bird strut an gobble and strut and gobble... taunting me and letting the world now that he was NOT budging any further and that this "hot hen" was to come to him. Well, that didn't happen nor did the sound of my shotgun firing off! Unfortunately, he won the battle as he slowly walked off back to where he came from as another Tom entered the field and joined up with him. They started coming back as to just keep me out there in the cold, damp inclement weather and then just as quick as the game started... it was over!
On the positive side of things, I know from 20+ years of turkey hunting that this is just part of this amazing sport that I just absolutely LOVE and if it wasn't for intense hunts like this, It'd be too easy and I wouldn't really care for it much. So with that said, I'm grateful for these hunts. Each one teaches you something and gives you a glimpse of nature that most never get the privilege to see. In fact, the past several years I've been killing monster Toms all too easily and it's finally nice to get beat as it will certainly give me the ability to "savor the flavor" when I capitalize on harvesting him here soon. Yes, yes I will take him. Just not today. He's a worthy adversary and those stubborn Toms... those are the trophies to me! Challenge accepted... and his days are numbered!
I'll give him a pass for a few days while I tend to business and possibly hunt another few spots before I come back for him. He earned a few more days. But "The Gob-Father" has placed a hit on him... To be continued.
