Wow, what a season! Andrew had tried so hard and put in so much time and his persistence and patience finally paid off today and he killed his 2nd bird.
We didn't get up there until 5:30 and it was breaking daylight. As soon as we got to the blind one gobbled just about above us! I quietly put down a hen and a strutting Jake with a real fan, ( my wife had just bought the Jake in the clearance aisle for $7.00 the other day). I only put them about 5 yds off to our right.
Andrew had already snuck in the blind and I had to take my vest off to sneak in. I grabbed a slate call and left everything outside of the blind. He was hammering and I couldn't close the door on the blind in fear of him hearing/ seeing me.
There was another one gobbling a little further down. Finally the one above us flew down and I clucked a few times. We could hear him spitting and drumming and here he came. He seen the Jake deke and headed straight for him and proceeded to destroy it, for the next 45 min at <5 yds!
Andrew couldn't get a shot because his gun was out the front window! About 30 min in to the "fight" 2 more mature birds came running and joined in, I kept saying SHOOT!!! The 3 long beards then began fighting each other, it was crazy!!! Then they walked off. I thought it was over but we kept hearing them spitting/ drumming.
Finally I could hear them behind us forever and I turned around, back window was closed. I pulled it down and they were all strutting! I somehow got the window down and got Andrew turned. After what seemed like forever the closest one gave Andrew a shot and he plastered him with Hevi-Shot. He folded and never moved!
My range finder was in my vest and I reached out and got it, 41 yds. He made a heck of a shot for a 20 ga!
His bird had a 10.5" beard and over 1.25" spurs! Im so proud of Andrew, he earned his bird!!!