I don't seem to be as worried about this year as last year. Last year, second day of the first season here in central illinois I jumped a hen off her nest by accident. Gobblers didn't seem to really want to have anything to do with any call I threw at them. The gobbler I did kill last year, I chased it for a mile before it finally gave in. I realize he could've possibly had a hen with him, but usually when they do they just shut up in my experiences. This one would gobble after every one and then just keep getting furter away. I wasn't calling often by any means. May be once every five minutes. I kept waiting for him to show up but he never did. The rest of the season, I might as well have just been mushroom hunting. Had two gobblers and three jakes in the middle of the field. I was cutting and purring and trying everything I could to get their attention. At first, they looked my direction, then the rest of the time, just kept pecking around like it was no big deal. Then on August 6th, I seen poults that were probably 2-2.5 feet tall. I don't know how fast poults grow, but I would say they were probably at least 4 months old if not older. I think the breeding took place early last year. Hopefully it won't this year. Definitely looking forward to getting out again. To state how excited I get, when I got married last year during the summer, my wife had a wedding ring made for me with turkey tracks on it. Yep, she's a keeper.
