Got up to go out this morning, DAM rain. I waited a bit it stopped. 5:40ish got dressed opened the basement door and there stands a hen not 30 feet from me. got her to trot away, no lovers with her. Ran up the street to the hollow. One gobbles about 1/4 mile in. This old man picked up the pace and trotted up the right side of the hollow. 3 gobble at once. Lead hen is key-key-running at a moderate pace. My thought is Oh SHIP she's going to bring them all down out of the roost and I am busted. I moved past them but at their height. I hear wings!!The boyz put out a few more gobbles. I found my tree which has 2 large roots that my BUTTOCKS fits down into quite snuggly. Quickly set out my gear, de-sling the 9200, glove up, net on, 3 reed split in place, gun across my legs pointing in their direction, and took some long slow breaths.
She lets out a keykey. they gobble.
My first soft yelp.
The boys answer.
She puts out a nasty keykey run,a few squawks, and she's on the ground. I would estimate 100 yards out.Cannot see any.
My moderate keykey-run.
The boys answer up.
She is yelping and purring.
They answer up.
My agressive key-key BROKEN run.
They answer up and 2 double up..
HEART IS BOOM BOOM BOOM IN' BY NOW.
Catch sight of some movement down to my left. its a nice tom sneaking thru the weeds along the creek.
He is intent on scanning the whole area.
The boys gobble.
I am silent........
He moves up stream about 5 yards, scanning the whole time.
Where I think he will cross the creek is behind a large elm. I will shoulder then.
WOW he did just that and I did shoulder.
He is now 30 yards out my side of creek.
I am hidden by two 6 inch trees.
He leans out and pulls back.
I give a SOFT key-key.
Up comes his head and starts to close.
He stops at 20 yards and we have a stare contest, which goes on for 2 hours , well it felt like it did.
he puts his head down to peck.
Up comes the barrel.
Up comes his head.
Out come the #4's
Down goes the Tom.
He flops back to the creek.
Safety ON.
In pursuit.
I get down to him....HE is toast..
As he flops the others Boys come running down to him gobbling the whole way.
There were 3 jakes with 2" beards....
I yelped they gobbled.
end of story...............
Oh back home and undressed, gear away by 6:50............
All that in less than an hour.................AMAZING
TO **** EASY............
18 lbs.
9" beard
3/4 spurs.........yes that's all pitiful spurs....