cuppednlocked
04-14-2012, 11:21 AM
The stars aligned, the blind hog found a nut, etc, etc, etc.
Having the newborn has caused me to reprioritize my recreational activites. I fully intended to get to the lease and scout before the season, but it didn't happen. From the past couple of years I have a good idea which blocks in the tract are better. I got to the club on time but fully expected to hunt a less desireable block. I was 3rd to sign in and put my tag in one of the last good blocks.
Walking in I didn't hear a peep. Around 6:30 i heard a lone gobble in the block but back where I came from. I doubled back about halfway and sat down since nothing else was happening closer. He started to gobble and work around to my right, never really answering but getting closer. He ended up in a food plot (where I turned around) and gobbled several times. I started to cut aggressively and he couldn't stand it. After cutting me off twice he gobbled two more times and I had a good feeling he was headed my way.
A few minutes later I heard drumming coming from behind my right shoulder. I cut my eyes in his direction and he's no more than 30 yards, but at my 5 o'clock. There was no way to get the gun around so I sat motionless until he worked all the way around me. I caught motion out of my left eye and he was strutting to the decoy and passed ~12 yards away. I let him do his thing for a little while as I enjoyed the show.
I didn't want him to molest my decoy so I cut hard on my mouth call. As soon as he poked his head up I put the red dot on his waddles and squeezed. Lights out at 7:40. Good 2 year old bird: 7/8" spurs, 9.5" beard, ~17 lbs (forgot my scale).
Pics up in a minute, can't get the uploader to work right on the iPad.
Having the newborn has caused me to reprioritize my recreational activites. I fully intended to get to the lease and scout before the season, but it didn't happen. From the past couple of years I have a good idea which blocks in the tract are better. I got to the club on time but fully expected to hunt a less desireable block. I was 3rd to sign in and put my tag in one of the last good blocks.
Walking in I didn't hear a peep. Around 6:30 i heard a lone gobble in the block but back where I came from. I doubled back about halfway and sat down since nothing else was happening closer. He started to gobble and work around to my right, never really answering but getting closer. He ended up in a food plot (where I turned around) and gobbled several times. I started to cut aggressively and he couldn't stand it. After cutting me off twice he gobbled two more times and I had a good feeling he was headed my way.
A few minutes later I heard drumming coming from behind my right shoulder. I cut my eyes in his direction and he's no more than 30 yards, but at my 5 o'clock. There was no way to get the gun around so I sat motionless until he worked all the way around me. I caught motion out of my left eye and he was strutting to the decoy and passed ~12 yards away. I let him do his thing for a little while as I enjoyed the show.
I didn't want him to molest my decoy so I cut hard on my mouth call. As soon as he poked his head up I put the red dot on his waddles and squeezed. Lights out at 7:40. Good 2 year old bird: 7/8" spurs, 9.5" beard, ~17 lbs (forgot my scale).
Pics up in a minute, can't get the uploader to work right on the iPad.