Got home late from work the other night and started to load the car for turkey hunting in the morning. I usually hunt a military base - so I had already called in and reserved a training area that I had been waiting all season to get into. Wife then reminds me that she has an early meeting so I have to drop our daughter at school in the morning. So my plans are shot - and I am completely bummed because for once it is not going to rain. So I drop the daughter off at school this morning and decide I should at least hit the woods for a couple of hours. I have a small farm I have permission to hunt deer on that is pretty close - but it is always hit or miss with turkeys. The two times this year that I have been I have only heard and seen one hen - so I am not too optimistic. Well I get to the property and walk to the only area that has ever had any turkey sign in it the last 3 years. It is 8:30am when I get to the spot. I pull out my owl hooter and get ready to let it go - when I hear a gobble about 50 yards away in a field right past the property border. I quickly set up a hen and jake decoy then hit the ground. I let out some purrs and putts, then some really soft yelps. No response - but I just decide to not hit it too hard and wait and see what happens. about 2 minutes later I see his white head coming through the brush. He hops the fence then goes into a strut behind some small brush about 35 yards from me. I give a soft putt and his head comes up - all blue, red and white. I go ahead and squeeze the trigger and he drops. When I get up to him I realize he is a jake. Still happy considering i have not seen a male turkey of any kind on this property in the last two years. All in all I was away from the car for about 30 minutes - 5 of which I was hunting and the rest walking to and from the car. This has been a tough season between the weather, work and the turkeys not playing their part. But I will be glad for this jake and any other birds that might come my way. As a bonus - my 14 year old bird dog got to play with the wing a little bit - made him happy. I feel that his days are numbered so I was glad to give him a chance to get birdie again.
