After getting my butt whupped and having tag soup after Illinois' first season I was ready for 5th season to start. Especially since I've got two tags. But, day one started bad and ended bad. I've got a couple gobblers on private ground that just gave me fits. Day two, more of the same. So I decided to switch it up at about 10am. Since Illinois has the stupid 1pm quit hunting time, that gave me 3 hours.
20 Minute drive to my first public land stop and a wasted hour there didn't help my attitude but I decided to hit another spot in the Shawnee National Forest. Finally hit the trail head at about 11:45. Figure I'll fast hike in for a bit, set down and call and maybe at least hear a bird for the next day. So, off I go. Right on schedule at noon I find a tree, get comfy and let one fly. Holy Crap, an answer! I call again, he answers again but he's waaayyy off and I think maybe on private ground.
Well, what's to lose? I move about 50 yards closer, set down and call. He answers, but no closer. All right, I've played this game before......I'll move again. Move another 30 yards or so, find a tree and call. He answers again. Uh oh, he sounds closer! Still a good ways off, but closer. Here we go for real. One more move maybe 30 yards or so and find a tree. Don't want to venture off of the Government ground so this is it. I call.........nothing. Ok, I figure he's coming. Now, I play hard to get and clam up for 10 minutes or so. By now it's almost 12:25 and I'm running out of time.
I call......he answers and he's closing the distance. I'm about half way down a hill and he sounds like he's at my level and coming straight at me. But, there's a problem. A hen also answers! Great, I've been in this dance before and since she's between me and him, it's not good. I figure oh well, lets give it a shot. I call back to the hen trying to sound nice and inviting. She calls back. "Hey, come on down and play." I talk nice again...she talks nice again. In the meantime, Mr. Gobbler is getting closer and answering one or both of us. It's now or never. She calls, I cut her off and scold her. She calls back, I cut her off again. We're now in the midst of a nice turkey cat fight. Gobbler is going nuts at both of us and closing the distance. I get ready. Nothing..........
Wait a few and call. He answers but, now he's down and to the left where the real thing was but close. Only thing is, he's now behind a huge blow down that's about 15 yards to my left. Great. I wait for him to pop around it. Nothing. Wind blows and I gently reposition to face the blow down. Maybe he'll hop up on it? Nothing. Soft calls.......nothing. Now, I'm running out of time and give him a loud, demanding call. He blows up just on the other side but I can't see him! Great, time's running out do I try a Bonzai charge or wait. I decide to wait and wonder where the real hen went? Couple minutes go by and I hear him spit and drum but still can't see. Bonzai time? Naw, wait.
Just them I catch a glimpse of movement to my left he's strutting out at the end of the blow down. Just at the end of the branches. But, I've got a blocked view from some hanging overhead stuff. Great. C'mon wind! Wind blows again and I hunker down some and see that he's facing away. Now, I'm lying flat on my back with the 870 sideway like a 50 year old full camo gangster! Body bust him or wait? Wait! He comes out of strut and I see him looking (amazing how they pinpoint location from sound ain't it?) He takes a step to his left and struts which puts him mostly behind an elm. Body bust him or wait? Wait! Super. I'm still doing the flat on the back gangster thing. Just then, I see him come out of strut and peek around the elm. He goes back into strut and I think "peek around that tree again!". Sure enough, the head pokes out again and the red dot lands on it! Boom! Double flop and it's over. What a great hunt. Not a trophy but a good bird. 19lbs, 10.25" beard and 3/4" spurs. I couldn't be happier or more blessed!
Jim
