GOODWIN
Well-Known Member
I had a a great season by my standards and also learned a few things. First, persistence pays off as with anything. You go enough you're bound to get lucky sooner or later and find a bird in the right mood or just simply be in the right place at the right time. Secondly, I learned I can get a lot closer than previously thought to a bird on the roost before light given the right terrain and cover.
My season started here in MS. Early season was SLOW and towards the middle is when birds actually started playing the game with me. Had several close calls with birds in range but no clear shot. And also some that hung up just out of sight. Stubborn things will make a man lose sleep no doubt. But that's what kept me coming back for more I suppose. I lucked up on my one and only MS bird this year just happened to be right place right time. Not ashamed to say I put the sneak on him and his buddy. After them giving me fits day in and day out I was happy to take him. Not how I wanted it to play out but oh well I hunted him.
My only chance to hunt TN was this past wkd. Dad and I hunted 3 mornings together. Day 1 we blindly set up in a spot close to a ridge they've roosted on in the past. The first tom fired up probably within 60-70 yds from were we were sitting. Several more were on down the ridge. They were gobbling at every clap of thunder and every peep I'd make on the slate. I knew it was on. A first for me was when the closest tom tree hopped/flew over to land in a pine just above us and was breaking his neck trying to find the hen (me). We stayed motionless and he soon hit the ground not 7-8 steps behind me. Waited on dad to shoot and was motioning to him to shoot but never did. Said he thought it was a jake. That longbeard walked out of sight and eventually met up with 3 other toms and a couple hens about 100yds away from us. They were hammering at the thunderstorm rolling in and anything that made a sound including myself. We hung tight and I guess the hens got up enough interest to come investigate. The gobblers were following close behind. We adjusted slightly and now dad was in front of me about 10 steps and off to my right. They soon came into view and worked their way to within 20 yds of Dad. Spitting, drumming, gobbling. It was a show. Still waiting on Dad to shoot. And waiting. This time he was waiting on the perfect shot through a little brush. One hen about ran him over and she got spooked and took flight. They all were getting nervous and I'd waited long enough. Bang. Flop.
See Dad's hearing and eyesight are not what they used to be. I hate it. He hates it but is what it is and I'm sure I'll be there one day. On top of this he was determined to shoot one with an older than dirt Springfield-Stevens break action single shot 16 ga that was his uncles. Not to mention the 30 year old high brass #6's we used to shoot rabbits with long ago. I knew he had to have one close.
Day 2 Rain set in. We heard nothing and soon exchanged the shotguns for fishing rods
Day 3 We went to a bottom field that borders a steep ridge hoping one would be roosted close. I needed to make it happen fast as I had to drive back to MS that day. It was getting light rather quick on that clear morning. Waiting patiently I started to lose hope when one sounded off within 100 yds. We tucked into the closest big cedar and I trimmed some shooting lanes. Sitting side by side. I made a 3 note yelp on the slate and two hammered back! We were in the game. 5 minutes pass and I hit the slate again and both gobbled. It was light enough for them to fly down so I told dad he better be sitting on ready. I knew they're was a good chance they'd fly down in our lap. Sure enough seconds later they pitched down within 40 yds and immediately started searching for the hen. They cautiously came closer and I could then tell the first one was a jake. Second one was a longbeard. Now within 25 steps they kept switching places so I kept tabs on the longbeard and would relay that to Dad. They finally got within a good shooting window and I heard his hammer chocolate chip cookie. I was about to cluck to stop them when that old gun sounded off. I wasn't even sure that thing was gonna go bang and I was ready to bat cleanup but it wasn't needed. He'd done it! Thank the Lord! Handshakes and hugs were in order. He did it his way and it was worth the wait. I'll never forget it.
My season started here in MS. Early season was SLOW and towards the middle is when birds actually started playing the game with me. Had several close calls with birds in range but no clear shot. And also some that hung up just out of sight. Stubborn things will make a man lose sleep no doubt. But that's what kept me coming back for more I suppose. I lucked up on my one and only MS bird this year just happened to be right place right time. Not ashamed to say I put the sneak on him and his buddy. After them giving me fits day in and day out I was happy to take him. Not how I wanted it to play out but oh well I hunted him.
My only chance to hunt TN was this past wkd. Dad and I hunted 3 mornings together. Day 1 we blindly set up in a spot close to a ridge they've roosted on in the past. The first tom fired up probably within 60-70 yds from were we were sitting. Several more were on down the ridge. They were gobbling at every clap of thunder and every peep I'd make on the slate. I knew it was on. A first for me was when the closest tom tree hopped/flew over to land in a pine just above us and was breaking his neck trying to find the hen (me). We stayed motionless and he soon hit the ground not 7-8 steps behind me. Waited on dad to shoot and was motioning to him to shoot but never did. Said he thought it was a jake. That longbeard walked out of sight and eventually met up with 3 other toms and a couple hens about 100yds away from us. They were hammering at the thunderstorm rolling in and anything that made a sound including myself. We hung tight and I guess the hens got up enough interest to come investigate. The gobblers were following close behind. We adjusted slightly and now dad was in front of me about 10 steps and off to my right. They soon came into view and worked their way to within 20 yds of Dad. Spitting, drumming, gobbling. It was a show. Still waiting on Dad to shoot. And waiting. This time he was waiting on the perfect shot through a little brush. One hen about ran him over and she got spooked and took flight. They all were getting nervous and I'd waited long enough. Bang. Flop.
See Dad's hearing and eyesight are not what they used to be. I hate it. He hates it but is what it is and I'm sure I'll be there one day. On top of this he was determined to shoot one with an older than dirt Springfield-Stevens break action single shot 16 ga that was his uncles. Not to mention the 30 year old high brass #6's we used to shoot rabbits with long ago. I knew he had to have one close.
Day 2 Rain set in. We heard nothing and soon exchanged the shotguns for fishing rods
Day 3 We went to a bottom field that borders a steep ridge hoping one would be roosted close. I needed to make it happen fast as I had to drive back to MS that day. It was getting light rather quick on that clear morning. Waiting patiently I started to lose hope when one sounded off within 100 yds. We tucked into the closest big cedar and I trimmed some shooting lanes. Sitting side by side. I made a 3 note yelp on the slate and two hammered back! We were in the game. 5 minutes pass and I hit the slate again and both gobbled. It was light enough for them to fly down so I told dad he better be sitting on ready. I knew they're was a good chance they'd fly down in our lap. Sure enough seconds later they pitched down within 40 yds and immediately started searching for the hen. They cautiously came closer and I could then tell the first one was a jake. Second one was a longbeard. Now within 25 steps they kept switching places so I kept tabs on the longbeard and would relay that to Dad. They finally got within a good shooting window and I heard his hammer chocolate chip cookie. I was about to cluck to stop them when that old gun sounded off. I wasn't even sure that thing was gonna go bang and I was ready to bat cleanup but it wasn't needed. He'd done it! Thank the Lord! Handshakes and hugs were in order. He did it his way and it was worth the wait. I'll never forget it.
