Post by davep on May 7, 2007 7:16:10 GMT -5
Went after the bird I've been seeing all season this morning.
HE flies down to the same little,hidden spur of pasture early every morning,and has had hens fly to him every morning.
I went in early to the same spot where I killed a bird week before last while TRYING to get on this one.Starts gobbling about 5:45,and he's on MY side of the creek! A yelp softly a few times,then shut up. Couple of 0600, I hear a bird come off the roost,and see him glide down,a little farther out than usual.Minute or two later,I see another glide down. "Hen!", I think. Shuts up,so ten minutes later,I figure nothing to lose,I'll try to sneak in. Creek is making enough noise,I figure it covers most of my sound,and ground is wet anyway. I cross creek,and start slowly up hill (pasture is on top).
Just before I get to the top,I see a fan over the rise,maybe 40 yds away! I drop down and get ready. I hear a gobble that sounds pretty far away(?) Then another, then the close bird responds,and starts heading away. I creep a few yards closer so to see into the pasture (I'm still below the crest,and it's very rolling).
I see his fan about 60-70 yds out. Unfortunately, I see some new cross fencing that is going to keep him from coming to me!
I ease up a little more,maybe 20 yards,to the other side of the fence,but now I'm where I shouldn't be,and figure I'll just watch the show. I'm standing,and if I tiptoe, I can see him,over the rise.I readjust myself ,and stretch,and the box call in my pocket makes a sick sound (rubber band must have come off in all the crawling) I see a second dark shape,and it's coming towrds me! First gobbler lets go and starts coming in!All I can see is the top of his head and his fan. When he's about 25 yds out, he's over the crest.He's HUGE!
I've got the gun up,safety off,and wrestling with myself about doing right He's literally right there! I see a dark shape out of the corner of my eye, to the left,and a jake comes straight in,stretching his neck straight up.I move my eyes back to the right and the gobbler is maybe 10-12 yards away.I had already decided not to shoot. I think. Then the jake PUTTS twice,and the gobbler ran out of sight like something from a cartoon.Up a hill,disapperar down a hill,up a hill,etc, getting smaller and smaller all the while. Jake hung around a few more seconds,then followed.
I'm still mentally kicking myself over the whole thing. I KNOW I did right,but....
Maybe should have never even put myself in such a position as to be so tempted. I just wanted a peek.
7 1/2 years ago, I saw the absolute biggest buck I've ever seen while hunting. Opening morning,about 0730.Saw him JUST as he crossed the creek and jumped the fence,off where I was hunting.Bedded down about 80 yds from me in a patch of sunlight. I watched him for nearly an hour.Perfect, symmetrical 8 point. I'd conservatively guess 23-24" inside spread, dress at 200 or better. (we've taken a few 20-21" inside,and weights over 180 #,so I have confidence in my estimates.I watched him for a LONG time.)
Anyway, after 45 minutes or so,which seemed like a week, he got up,and walked off.
After the season, I told the landowner about it.
He looked at me kind of funny and said,"Boy,I'd have shot that thing if it was IN your stand".
Took my best deer ever a couple days later,after laying awake for a few nights, replaying it over and over in my head.So hoping,it works out again.
Either way, it WAS EXCITING this morning!
HE flies down to the same little,hidden spur of pasture early every morning,and has had hens fly to him every morning.
I went in early to the same spot where I killed a bird week before last while TRYING to get on this one.Starts gobbling about 5:45,and he's on MY side of the creek! A yelp softly a few times,then shut up. Couple of 0600, I hear a bird come off the roost,and see him glide down,a little farther out than usual.Minute or two later,I see another glide down. "Hen!", I think. Shuts up,so ten minutes later,I figure nothing to lose,I'll try to sneak in. Creek is making enough noise,I figure it covers most of my sound,and ground is wet anyway. I cross creek,and start slowly up hill (pasture is on top).
Just before I get to the top,I see a fan over the rise,maybe 40 yds away! I drop down and get ready. I hear a gobble that sounds pretty far away(?) Then another, then the close bird responds,and starts heading away. I creep a few yards closer so to see into the pasture (I'm still below the crest,and it's very rolling).
I see his fan about 60-70 yds out. Unfortunately, I see some new cross fencing that is going to keep him from coming to me!
I ease up a little more,maybe 20 yards,to the other side of the fence,but now I'm where I shouldn't be,and figure I'll just watch the show. I'm standing,and if I tiptoe, I can see him,over the rise.I readjust myself ,and stretch,and the box call in my pocket makes a sick sound (rubber band must have come off in all the crawling) I see a second dark shape,and it's coming towrds me! First gobbler lets go and starts coming in!All I can see is the top of his head and his fan. When he's about 25 yds out, he's over the crest.He's HUGE!
I've got the gun up,safety off,and wrestling with myself about doing right He's literally right there! I see a dark shape out of the corner of my eye, to the left,and a jake comes straight in,stretching his neck straight up.I move my eyes back to the right and the gobbler is maybe 10-12 yards away.I had already decided not to shoot. I think. Then the jake PUTTS twice,and the gobbler ran out of sight like something from a cartoon.Up a hill,disapperar down a hill,up a hill,etc, getting smaller and smaller all the while. Jake hung around a few more seconds,then followed.
I'm still mentally kicking myself over the whole thing. I KNOW I did right,but....
Maybe should have never even put myself in such a position as to be so tempted. I just wanted a peek.
7 1/2 years ago, I saw the absolute biggest buck I've ever seen while hunting. Opening morning,about 0730.Saw him JUST as he crossed the creek and jumped the fence,off where I was hunting.Bedded down about 80 yds from me in a patch of sunlight. I watched him for nearly an hour.Perfect, symmetrical 8 point. I'd conservatively guess 23-24" inside spread, dress at 200 or better. (we've taken a few 20-21" inside,and weights over 180 #,so I have confidence in my estimates.I watched him for a LONG time.)
Anyway, after 45 minutes or so,which seemed like a week, he got up,and walked off.
After the season, I told the landowner about it.
He looked at me kind of funny and said,"Boy,I'd have shot that thing if it was IN your stand".
Took my best deer ever a couple days later,after laying awake for a few nights, replaying it over and over in my head.So hoping,it works out again.
Either way, it WAS EXCITING this morning!
Stay strong brother!