Scouting the last four mornings, our season opens here in Ohio the 20th. I decided to scout some public hunting area this morning.
My first stop at daylight was a wash, did hear a bird gobble a few times but he was deep. Rough area but I'll mark him down.
Second stop I cutt on my box call with a few yelps. Got a answer from a hen across the hollow on the ridge. I listened for a few and the hen kept calling back. Was about to leave when I seen her in the bottom headed my way.
I couldn't see and didn't hear any other birds so I stepped behind the truck. Boy was I surprised with what happened next.
https://vimeo.com/124237280 (https://vimeo.com/124237280)
Now I realize someone could have released a tame bird into the wild, but either way I was in a pretty remote area in a public forest.
She put up with my movement as long as it was slow and I was calling softly to her.
What happened next is what totally floored me. I've seen a hen strut on YouTube but never in person, here it is...
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/06/ccc2dda68da0210ff15e1a7e2cb0cb7f.jpg)
I thought I had it on video still but had switched to camera, either way it was unbelievable.
I'm pumped for the 20th! Several gobblers were firing off yesterday at our place. Thats a great pic! Last year I witnessed a hen strut for the first time in person, too. Crazy!
Man I am pumped too I need to get out and scout but I hunt hocking and live 45 min away and work has been crazy and with this crappy cold and rain nothing has been coming together for me yet
Very cool!
that's awesome
Cool pic. I've seen this once myself. Actually had the hen spur my decoy and strut until she knocked it over.