We rolled in Friday eve and set out to do some scouting. I glassed a few nice toms while driving around, but none were on the properties we had to hunt, so we were basically going in blind the next morn. I was pretty pumped though as last year was tough, we didn’t see any while driving around and Dad and I only took one bird between the two of us(We had a little debt to settle
)A cold front came through Friday and temps were dropping by late eve, so I was glad I brought my winter gear. Saturday morn we woke to temps in the low 40s with wind, fog, and cloud cover. I dropped dad off in a spot, then headed to the new property to give it a shot. As light came I heard one tom on the neighbor’s place, but he shut up after fly down and it was dead silent. Then about 8 the rain started, mostly a light drizzle, but the stiff wind made it kind of a pain since we were using FFs on our rigs(Even with the covers on it was tough). About 8:30 Dad texted me and said he was wet and froze “Come get me now.” I headed over and he’d hadn’t heard anything, but he did see some hens. We decided to drive over to a canyon we’d killed 3 birds in over the years, it was good for a bird every other year or so, so definitely worth a shot. Dad decided to stay in the truck and thaw out, so I slipped out to a point and cut. Bam, one fired off! We finally had a player! I hit the deck and slithered off the point in the opposite direction and climbed down near the brushy bottom to where I could see a few lanes 40yds or so and gave him some sweet talk. It wasn’t long and two toms were hammering and comin’ in hot. Those sneaky rascals hung up about 50yds out, then headed off with an occasional courtesy gobble. I gave it a while, then climbed back out to glass. I could see 3 big toms following a group of hens about 300yds out heading away and eventually off the property. It was exciting to play the game for the first time this season. We then decided to go back to where I started and try the one tom I’d heard early. We eased over twds the property line and set up about 150yds from the fence. As soon as I hit the call multiple toms answered! Game on baby! There must have been 10 toms hammering and it wasn’t long before a group was at the fence acting lonely. After about 30min of gobble fest, 3 toms couldn’t take it anymore and were headed our way. I finally saw them about 60yds out and they were swinging right(Dad’s on the left of me), so I got into position and when they popped out of the brush I picked the one in the middle and let him have it. His buddy a couple feet to the left was pretty darn unlucky as he suffered a broken neck from a flyer. Call it ammo conservation I suppose
Continued…..
