Got out a little late this morning but knew I had time as the birds usually flew down around 0630 and took their time getting out to one particular field I was going to set up in. No decoys or calling at all until I knew they were close to the field. Set up on the inside corner about 50 yards up the edge, tucked nicely back in a few feet behind an autumn olive. At 0715 I hear a gobble to me left and just behind my right shoulder, no more than 100 yards away. I gAve two sets of soft yelps and got jake yelps in return. I cut a short series and gobbled on the halefire and sat tight. 10 minutes later 3 black bodies ghost into the field. All young jakes. Yelping and feeding, with one in 1/4 strutt. They fed for a couple minutes at 30 yards and then headed back to the woodland to my left. I let them disappear before giving a sharp series of cuts and cackles and hitting the gobble call twice. Back they came. They got 5 yards into the field but we're obstructed by a tulip tree when I see a big black body step out. These jakes have been running in a group for weeks so I left my gunon the shooting stick, figuring I'd get to watch the teenagers for a while. Well, when the strutting jake stepped out to 20 yards into the field and barely 30 from me he's got a paintbrush for a beard and spurs that almost put my eye out from where he stood! He gobbled once and went to half strut. I strained to get the 20 gauge down and swung as slow as possible but he caugh the movement. Maybe I should have held my fire but it's been a slow year. Lol
The tactacam footage showed I was about 4 feet behind him when I shot. At least it was a clean miss. My first miss in so long I can't remember the last one. Easily 40+ birds ago.
