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Post by Bartman on Apr 18, 2015 20:35:56 GMT -5
Heard the usual cacophony of gobbling on the farms across the road this morning. Tried my best to get them to cross the road, but to no avail. I did have a lone hen fly over the swamp I was set up next to and cross through my dekes headed to the neighboring birds. About 9 I hadn't heard any gobbles for an hour so I decided to pack up and try the back of the farm. I got set up again and was lackadaisically calling every 10-15 mins. After about 45 mins I was about to pack it up and I heard some wings in the swamp behind me. Given the impenetrable jungle of bottomless mud and briars I assumed the wings belonged to some wood ducks I heard squealing earlier. I did remember the hen flying across the swamp earlier so I figured just maybe it might be a turkey. Sure enough a few minutes later I glance back to see a red head and a swinging rope coming through the swamp.
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Post by Bartman on Apr 18, 2015 20:48:25 GMT -5
After seeing the bird I realized I could turn and shoot him left handed or wait and take a chance that he might work around. Well I guess I figured the old saying a bird in the swamp is better than 2 in the field might have some utility so I stopped him with a putt and lined up the sights with my non dominant eye and let him have it. He folded and flopped twice right into the muck (par for the course). He was a prototypical 2 year old with a 9" beard, 7/8" spurs and 20lbs (okay maybe a little water weight).  |
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Post by osprey on Apr 19, 2015 13:21:18 GMT -5
Congrats Bart! Opening day nothing but jakes for me, Sunday no Toms seen or heard, only hens. Highlight for me so far was two messages opening morning from buddies that called in and killed longbeards using calls I made this winter.  |
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Post by Jbird on Apr 20, 2015 7:32:03 GMT -5
Congrats Bart....I will take a 2 year old out any day of the week. Took both the kids last week on youth day had some close encounters but was unable to get either of them a bird. A last minute cancellation of a double header baseball game today and I was more than willing to let my son Eric get the first crack of the season. Lots of gobbles at first light. Had two hens come through about the time a bird gobbled to our right. Of course the hens went right to him. Knew it would be difficult to get him to us through the thick cover but periodical calling brought him in. We heard him drumming and minutes later he appeared. Got this short video of him coming in to our setup and Eric giving him the dirt nap. Congrats buddy! I had an absolute blast! youtu.be/peq7nvoT2-E |
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Post by Bartman on Apr 20, 2015 8:44:12 GMT -5
Congrats to your boy. I bet he was excited. I didn't know if that old gobbler was going to step out or not.
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Post by Jbird on Apr 20, 2015 11:12:17 GMT -5
He sure was. When I was 12 I would have came unglued in that situation. He handled it cool and calm like he always does.
I had my concerns as well....as you can hear in the video I wanted Eric to get a shot off sooner rather than later. Clearly he came around and we had plenty of time.
Had a big bird the weekend before act almost identical but gave my daughter no more than 60 seconds to position and get a shot off. By the time I got her positioned he slipped away strutting and gobbling.
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Post by BIG FOX on Apr 27, 2015 11:06:58 GMT -5
Congrats to both of ya.. Had a close encounter with my son on youth weekend but I need to get out soon or I am going to lose my mind... This working for a living is for the birds.. |
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