jode hillman
Well-known member
Today was our NJ Spring Gobbler opener, and for once we had perfect conditions. I knew the whereabouts of a few birds my son and I had worked on youth day this past Saturday. As I entered the woods for the morning hunt I soon heard Gobbling in a different location that expected and an un-huntable one.
I moved as close as I could as decided to wait for the sunrise. Sunrise came and went, as did any and all gobbling activity that I was hearing. Bummer.
I decided to backtrack and sit on an oak ridge that had served as a log yard 5 or 6 years ago. It is still semi open and the seed trees they left produced heavy mast last year, much of which was still on the ground. Turkey's often traffic through the area looking for food and bugs the open canopy provides. They have good visual protection from predators. It was as good a spot as any.
Coyote have moved in heavy the past few years and consequently our birds have become much less vocal. I sat and called on one of my crystal fantails sporadically, hoping to entice something. About 9:00 I caught movement on the other side of the flat, a hen.
She was dusting herself in a dry bowl. Soon another, bigger bearded hen joins her. I watch the pair for about 10 minutes. Soon thereafter I see only the top of a tail fan over the slight ridge crest. He is in full strut displaying for the hens 60 yards away! The hens begin to move my way. I am thinking "Game over, he's a goner!"
Then things get Weird! A red tailed hawk breaks from an oak top and try's to grab the small hen! She evades. but hot on the hawks tail is a trio of crows cawing and carry on! At this ruckus the Gobbler rips off a double gobble and both the crows, hawk, hens and the Gobbler move away!
I am dumbfounded..........a sure thing became a sure loss. All targets moved dead away at 12 o'clock and sounded like a good distance was traveled. I decided to sit a little longer and contemplate what the heck just happened.
About 10 minutes go by, reliving in my minds eye what I just saw. Soon I hear a steady "Crunch, Crunch, Crunch" from my 6 o'clock. It almost sounded human. Definatly not a deer. I turned slowly to see a red head picking his way through the brush. I do my best to co-ordinate my movements with his steps. I get turned and am able to get the bead of the 20 Gauge on his wattles at 25 yards. One boom later and he was flopping. Not the monster I saw earlier but a nice 2-3 year old that weighed in at 21 pounds. Just the kind of bird you need to give you an early season confidence boost!
I moved as close as I could as decided to wait for the sunrise. Sunrise came and went, as did any and all gobbling activity that I was hearing. Bummer.
I decided to backtrack and sit on an oak ridge that had served as a log yard 5 or 6 years ago. It is still semi open and the seed trees they left produced heavy mast last year, much of which was still on the ground. Turkey's often traffic through the area looking for food and bugs the open canopy provides. They have good visual protection from predators. It was as good a spot as any.
Coyote have moved in heavy the past few years and consequently our birds have become much less vocal. I sat and called on one of my crystal fantails sporadically, hoping to entice something. About 9:00 I caught movement on the other side of the flat, a hen.
She was dusting herself in a dry bowl. Soon another, bigger bearded hen joins her. I watch the pair for about 10 minutes. Soon thereafter I see only the top of a tail fan over the slight ridge crest. He is in full strut displaying for the hens 60 yards away! The hens begin to move my way. I am thinking "Game over, he's a goner!"
Then things get Weird! A red tailed hawk breaks from an oak top and try's to grab the small hen! She evades. but hot on the hawks tail is a trio of crows cawing and carry on! At this ruckus the Gobbler rips off a double gobble and both the crows, hawk, hens and the Gobbler move away!
I am dumbfounded..........a sure thing became a sure loss. All targets moved dead away at 12 o'clock and sounded like a good distance was traveled. I decided to sit a little longer and contemplate what the heck just happened.
About 10 minutes go by, reliving in my minds eye what I just saw. Soon I hear a steady "Crunch, Crunch, Crunch" from my 6 o'clock. It almost sounded human. Definatly not a deer. I turned slowly to see a red head picking his way through the brush. I do my best to co-ordinate my movements with his steps. I get turned and am able to get the bead of the 20 Gauge on his wattles at 25 yards. One boom later and he was flopping. Not the monster I saw earlier but a nice 2-3 year old that weighed in at 21 pounds. Just the kind of bird you need to give you an early season confidence boost!
