Barnes Ridge Rambler
Well-Known Member
Despite this crazy weather, I made the long drive from Iowa down home to TN Thursday for a weekend of hunting and visiting family. Boy that nonresident license sure stings. I made it in early enough for an evening hunt but only managed to see some hens. Yesterday morning I heard one distant gobble on the neighbors property followed shortly by a shot. 2 jakes and 3 hens eventually made their way by me before I changed spots. I bought a small chunk of land last Fall, so I rambled around it awhile and found a little scratching. Bumped a hen off her nest and found a pile of corn (called the game warden but thats another story.) With those jakes in mind, I decided I'd take my little brother with me this morning. He got his first bird last year and was excited to go again. 10 minutes til 6:00 this morning a couple Tom's started sounding off so I was confident we were in business. After answering them with some soft yelps I realized we were in the middle of some hens so I hushed. Two hens landed almost in our laps a little after 6:00 and the gobbling stopped. About 6:30 a one horned 8 point came up behind us on the ridgetop and I could tell he was seeing those toms behind him because he kept looking back from where he came. At twenty til 7:00 a jake came easing up in front of us. I whispered and asked my little brother if he wanted to shoot him. He excitedly said yes so I eased him the Benelli and said grip it tight and hang on (he didn't know I had a 3 1/2 in the chamber lol. He's a scrawny 14 year old but knew he could handle it.) He rolled the bird at 15 yards and was pumped up. I made him sit for 30 minutes afterwards in hopes I could coax up one of the toms but they went the other way. Tomorrow is my last day down and I'm hopeful of what the morning brings. Denver's bird was 17 1/2 lbs with a 5" beard and half inch spurs. He's a happy boy
