Got in a quickie after work Thursday ;).

[JohnP]

Hunted Monday Tuesday and Wednesday without much luck. Seen a few birds, gobbled good on roost, but seemed to be hened up still and just couldn't get em to work. Got off work at 0600 on Thursday and wasn't going to hunt but looked at the weather for Friday and Saturday and decided to give a shot. Threw on my coveralls over my work clothes, put on my rubber boots, grabbed the gun and strutting Jake decoy and I was in the field at 0620. As I walked into the field I heard some frantic clucking and noticed a coyote chasing 2 hens and a Tom out of the field I was approaching . Walked around the property trying to see I could shock gobble a bird with out much luck until I was almost to my last field to check on when I hear one sound of in the field I was approaching and tthe hear 2 way off behind me from where I just walked from in a powerline. I looked behind me to see 2 birds coming over the horizon rrunning towards me down the powerline while I'm holding the deke still a couple hundred yds away. Stake the deke in ground and crawl into brush 10 yds from the deke under a large oak. Only thing I can see is the deke directly in front of me. Gave a couple soft clicks and purrs on the slate and within 10 mins both birds were strutting in front of me circling the deke and proceed to whooping up on it. Finally squeezed the trigger to protect the from being violated any longer. Bird dropped in his tracks and the other just stood there and started strutting again around the dead bird. Finally had to stand up and walk at him to get him run off. Not the biggest bird but a good mature bird. Just over 20 lbs, 10 inch beard, one spur 7/8ths" the other a worn down nub. Bird shot at 0715, home by 0800 hours.

[moodyfour]

Awesome job!! Sounds like a fun hunt!

[BilletHead]

Nice Bird John!

We tried for the Mrs. This morning. They were noisy on the roost and then went silent. Lost track of him and came to the house. Maybe tomorrow,

BilletHead

[JohnP]

That's about the way they've been down here BH, at least for me. Very noise on the roost for about 30 mins than once they hit the ground silence. Those birds Thursday only gobbled once way off and never heard a never gobble. Surprised me more that they didn't drum and spit once they got to deke. Awsome when they gobble but the drummin' and spittin' is a whole nuther level adrenaline rush when there within 10 yds.

[JohnP]

Had to get a pic Julio the deke as well. Been using this strutting Jake deke with the real Jake fan for 6 years now and still going strong. Killed several and have had several passed/missed shots shots that we have had being able to sneak up on birds crawling behind the deke. Don't recommend doing it on public ground but on private where you know your the only one hunting or know where the others are it's awsome. Had a bird hang on my boy last year just out of sight, had him grab Julio and start belly crawling towards the Tom. When he finally got to where the Tom could see the deke at about 50 yds he came strutting right at drummin' and spittin' to within 5 yds before he finally dropped the deke and rolled the bird. I was about 20 yds behind him and at 15 yds I was telling repeatedly to shot or his going to whoop ya. He said he wanted to how close he would get and at 5 yds I think he finally got scared enough that he needed to shoot or get thumped .