This year was my 4th turkey hunt. My uncle invited me out and spoiled me on my first hunt, the field he said was good, was hot in the afternoon and we both tagged out, i got a jake. My second season was lots of frustration since I just couldn't get on any birds, and when I did see them they didn't respond to my calls. Last year our hot spot was cold, but I did end up finding a new spot by just driving around in the early morning and listening to where they were gobbling. I got into a bunch of birds and missed one at around 40 yards. I just got too excited.
This year my uncles hot spot was on fire for opening day, he tagged out 20 minutes after legal shooting started, but i couldnt be there that day. I struggled for days since, having enounters, but none wanting to come into my setup. I went and got some new decoys (I had old hand me down foam ones) and got it done this morning.
I set up at a transition between a cut corn field to the west and a field of dead grass with little clearings here and there to the east. The transition is only about 50 yards long and I set up my ground blind close to 30 yards in on the grass field, with my back up against a big patch of thickets. Well worn game trails run all through the grass field, so I set up facing south with a trail crossing 10 yards in front of me. I put one decoy on the trail to me left and another on the trail to my right, trying to cover both fields essentially. It's been really quiet this season, so I've started blind calling every 15-30 minutes.
I just got done checking the time when I noticed a turkey moving along the south edge of the corn field. I give him some clucks and he immediately starts strutting. I wait until he gobbles, then just respond with some soft clucks and yelps. We do this call a nd response a few times. Eventually he works his way around the corn field and starts walking the transition. I give a soft cluck, he turns and sees the decoy in the trail and starts strutting. He walks a little, shows his right side, walks a little, shows his left side, sashaying his way down the trail. He was about 16 yards away and fell dead in his tracks when i shot. My heart was thumping the whole time. I love turkey season.
Brining the breasts to cook up this weekend!