derek p
04-22-2007, 02:28 PM
All I can say is, "What a rush!"
Headed out on thurs am to Mark's secret spot. (Insert thank you here):D
Absolutley stunning country, lots of mulies, whitetail and elk, over the course of three days I had them all wander through the clearcut I was camped in.
Woke up the first morning to a LOUD symphony of hens and toms. Flew out of the tent and went after them. Up over the ridge and set up with a hen decoy and calls. After exchanging calls for what seemed like an eternity a tom strutted in and with one glance at the decoy and in my direction bolted and was never seen or heard from again.
Spent the rest of the day scouting and wandering in the bush, enjoying myself and just happy to be hunting. Turned up one lone hen, we spotted each other at the same time and with three quick step downhill and out of site.
The next morning I tried a different area, so out of the tent at 5:00 am and on the road. Came around a corner to find a hen crossing the road, she was in no hurry so I parked a 100 yards away and into the trees I went. This time opted for no decoy just the box call, with a loud call I instantly had a tom gobbling. Followed up by what sounded like a very angry hen. With a few soft purrs and clucks the tom was getting louder and louder. Finally the hen broke into view and had me pinned to the ground, I could not move and I knew the tom wasn't far behind her so I just whistled she turned and hurried down the hill, one very soft call dragged out the tom in full strut at about 30-35 yards, he was putting on quite the show. I don't know what happend but he appeared torn between my calls and the other hen but he was coming no closer, so I let him have it. Feathers flew the dust swirled, I got him, I jumped up and ran towards him and the SOB, got up ran downhill and then into the air he went. I checked the spot where he went down, no blood, a handful of feathers and that's it. From the looks of things he was not hurt bad and should survive.
Dejected I returned to the truck and replayed everything that happened, I don't think I would do anything different except try to exercise more patience.
All in all, an absolulutely awesome experience, having a gobbler walk in on you is enough to send shivers down your spine, unlike any other hunting I have tried yet. :D
sorry for the long read
Derek
Headed out on thurs am to Mark's secret spot. (Insert thank you here):D
Absolutley stunning country, lots of mulies, whitetail and elk, over the course of three days I had them all wander through the clearcut I was camped in.
Woke up the first morning to a LOUD symphony of hens and toms. Flew out of the tent and went after them. Up over the ridge and set up with a hen decoy and calls. After exchanging calls for what seemed like an eternity a tom strutted in and with one glance at the decoy and in my direction bolted and was never seen or heard from again.
Spent the rest of the day scouting and wandering in the bush, enjoying myself and just happy to be hunting. Turned up one lone hen, we spotted each other at the same time and with three quick step downhill and out of site.
The next morning I tried a different area, so out of the tent at 5:00 am and on the road. Came around a corner to find a hen crossing the road, she was in no hurry so I parked a 100 yards away and into the trees I went. This time opted for no decoy just the box call, with a loud call I instantly had a tom gobbling. Followed up by what sounded like a very angry hen. With a few soft purrs and clucks the tom was getting louder and louder. Finally the hen broke into view and had me pinned to the ground, I could not move and I knew the tom wasn't far behind her so I just whistled she turned and hurried down the hill, one very soft call dragged out the tom in full strut at about 30-35 yards, he was putting on quite the show. I don't know what happend but he appeared torn between my calls and the other hen but he was coming no closer, so I let him have it. Feathers flew the dust swirled, I got him, I jumped up and ran towards him and the SOB, got up ran downhill and then into the air he went. I checked the spot where he went down, no blood, a handful of feathers and that's it. From the looks of things he was not hurt bad and should survive.
Dejected I returned to the truck and replayed everything that happened, I don't think I would do anything different except try to exercise more patience.
All in all, an absolulutely awesome experience, having a gobbler walk in on you is enough to send shivers down your spine, unlike any other hunting I have tried yet. :D
sorry for the long read
Derek