I’ve been hunting almost every morning this season, and while it has been fun and at times, very exciting, I had not yet filled a tag.
Close more times than I can remember, this has been a grinder. That 3:45 alarm gets harder and harder to leave the bed as the days go on.
Today I went to a small woodlot owned by a friend and brought my archery gear.
At 5:10 this bird began gobbling at the moon and some other birds responded back at him from across the street.
I gave him a few soft, sleepy, tree yelps to let him know I was around and got prepared.
He went silent on me, which can mean he’s coming, or he’s leaving.
10 minutes went by and no sign of the Tom.
I heard some leaves rustle behind my blind and then the unmistakable sound of him popping open his fan like an umbrella.
Suddenly he strutted past the blind at 10 steps, completely committed to my decoys.
He went to the Jake and strutted in his face.
I drew back and put my pin at the base of his fan, right on his butt, and touched the release.
He attempted to fly but dropped within 20 yards and he was done.
He’s a nice bird, weighing in at 21 lbs and sporting a 9” beard and almost 1” Spurs.
I’m very thankful to harvest him.
Keep grinding everybody, good things come to those who work harder.