Hunting Updates!

[austinc]

Congrats austin, glad you were able to get on 1! Do you think it's an upgrade on your 1st Tom? Your 1st was a nice Tom.

No it wasn't an upgrade, he had 3/4" spurs, 9" beard and was only 17-18 lbs. Good solid 2 year old.

[JeffC]

I AM STUPID!!!
New mantra, take pictures after you shoot Tom!! Went to different area, saw sign when I walked it last week, know birds are in the area. Get set up on edge of public, hoping they are roosted deeper in, bumped a bambie out while trying to get into some cover off field edge. Getting light, see movement across field, here comes the deer, 4 of them, just feeding along edge, lead doe walks right into me, figure she's going to go nuts any minute, got to 10' from me, had to smell all the permethrin, looking at me she only stomps a few times and walks back out into field, never blows.
Finally gets light, dead quiet except for a Guinea hen wandering around woods across field. 6:35 they erupt, at least 5 Toms, 3 or 4 Jakes, all across field from me, 100 to 150 yds. Didn't hear hens so after they've gobbled a few times I answer, they gobble right back. I only would respond once every few times to their gobbling, finally I hear some hens start answering, they are roosted with the Toms. They never flew down till almost 7, was cloudy, foggy morning. They go silent. Hear gobble way out front, they are headed towards road, probably going to safe zone, private houses across road where Guinea hen went. Head towards them to keep an idea what's going to happen. I try calling to them, Toms gobbles out of sight but see hen in plowed field, close to road, still on private. Moved closer to front of WMA, can't go closer to road as it's a Safety Zone, house across road. They stayed out in field eating for over an hour. I am really worried that the famous Jersey road hunters will be soon arriving and start messing with them, they are only 50yds off road, they watch ever vehicle drive by. Then what I thought they would do they do, start heading for front corner to cross street, but a car comes down road and turns into driveway, they spook, head back into field, took pictures, 2 Toms, 3 or 4 Jakes, 3 or 4 hens. 2 of the are Smokey birds, one has a beard, cant tell if its a Jake or bearded hen, other is a hen. They are feeding closer to public, headed back towards woods I am in, I move deeper down field hide behind a thorn thicket, deer trail to my right, they are slowly moving towards me on my left side, lead Tom and jake go by, 30yds in private, 3 hens feed by, including Smokey hen, I think I have time to get picture of them, 15 yds, they are past me, I then see the strutter out of left eye, maybe 3yds, on public, other side of thicket, try putting phone down get gun up start swinging on him, hen spots movement, she was standing by deer trail, thought she couldn't see me she never Putted but took off running into field, one of the birds gobbles at her running, the Tom goes on alert, was going to shot through brush, he's gone, running across field.
I gave them time, followed them to back of field, they entered woods, private side, they answered calls for a while, another group from deeper in woods started talking, they all headed deeper, I followed but could never get the Toms to break. Fun hunt, hopefully I didn't push them out of area. Going back tomorrow. See if they are still in area, also want to try another area I haven't been on.   

[JeffC]

Never got good pictures of the Smokey birds.

[backforty]

Can't ask for a better hunt that doesn't end with a dead bird

[lacire]

I had a tough first 2 days of my trip, but killed this one on morning of day 3, 10 minutes after he flew down.

Congratulations 

[JeffC]

Will post story tomorrow, 10 1/2 hours to kill this Tom, same group I chased Monday. Another good hunt. Didnt help our score, will be back over Sat.

[lacire]

   "10 1/2 hours to kill this Tom"    Sounds like it's going to take awhile to write down this story Jeff... 

[Muzzy61]

Congrats Jeff !

[JeffC]

So after playing with this flock on Monday, 6hrs, I headed back to spot Wed. morning, pull into parking at 4:05am, someone is already parked. Light up truck, windows fogged up, someone sleeping. They never stirred, I took my time getting ready, plenty of area for 2 people to hunt, also thought might be someone just looking for spot to sleep.
 Didnt really think I would hear the flock still here, anyway, just wanted to be sure. Walked edge of field towards area they were roosted Monday. 5:30 bird gobbles, same roost, on private, 75yds from me. Guy starts screaming on box call, bird gobbles a few more times till a jake gobbles, 1st bird might be a Tom but a few of his gobbles are weak and short. Guy is still cranking on box, Ive heard enough, main flock is gone.
 I head back to truck, head deeper into public, go around area I want to hunt, no trucks parked. Its now a little after 6, get to my favorite tree, as I am getting comfortable hear gobble across road where they roost, private between houses. So we start talking back and forth, I move around field edge, staying in woods, can see strutter in front yard of house. This goes on for about an hour, finally I see the Smokey hen, she is the leader, she is moving across yard headed towards where I am parked. I move around edge trying to get closer, Tom still answering me but following the smokey hen and another hen, 2 more Toms and a jake. They are getting closer, I get set up, last gobble sounds like hes in same woods as me, I go quiet. Waited 15 min. nothing, call, no answer. Waited for another 30min. Nothing. I cant see center of field because of rolls in terrain get up and move back to where I started, call hear gobble but sounds like hes back across the street.
 Its now around 9, decide Ive waisted enough time on this flock. Start cutting thru woods towards truck, get to edge of another freshly plowed field, theres the flock, already halfway across. Decision time, can run to truck and drive around to other side of field where they appear to be headed or stay in woods closer to where they roost. Also they are now in public field, wide open to 2 roads. Decide to follow along as they feed along opposite side, following the 2 hens. Keep hearing trucks driving by and slowing down, luckily no one tries to sneak in on them. And yes I am taking pictures as they feed, not going to call, just hoping they will come my way. They take about an hour to get to end of field, another road, another safety zone across road. Really thought they would continue across, but a few trucks roll by, they are only 10yds off road, they kinda get spooked by 2nd truck, move towards me. It may happen, crawl up behind brush pile, have jake and 1 Tom in range, but I really want lead Tom, hoping he is older, hes been in and out of strut as he was closest to the 2 hens coming down field. Finally, the 1st Tom, skinny but nice beard, and jake start going back up field, safety clicked, he walks into my shooting window, drop him. 10:30, shouldve been dead on Monday morning, but I am still really happy to put my hands on him. Wasnt the hunt I was hoping for, not looking to ambush, but he answered my calls, Smokey was just more attractive than me.
 Done with this area this year, 3 Toms out of these woods the past 2yrs. Didnt see the bearded smokey bird with them, I hope it is a jake and will come back next year looking for him.

[JeffC]

As I was sitting on 1st field, I see this snake shed hanging in tree. 4' black snake shed.

[notsure]

Great story and bird Jeff. And ambush hunts can be a lot of fun. I experienced my first successful one in Montana and it was thrilling!

[backforty]

Congrats on the bird Jeff and great story

[lacire]

Well you out smarted that one 

[JeffC]

Looks like all the hens around my house have gone off to be full time Moms. Had 2 Toms and 4 Jakes come thru this weekend, no girlfriends. I just put in for Friday, looks like it may be my last trip over, crappy weather all week, depending on how birds are acting on Friday will decide whether I run back Sat. Season closes on the 23rd.   

[austinc]

Congrats Jeff!

Our season ended yesterday, been so busy I didn't get time to hunt this last week and looking like I may be done for the year. I'm wanting to take a quick memorial day trip to MN or wisco, but not sure I'll be able to yet.