jode hillman
Well-known member
Today's hunt was the type of thing that Turkey hunters Dreams are made of. I have been keeping tabs on a group of birds on Public land that live in a Deeply forested hollow, full of old Beech, Poplar and Sycamore trees. This type of terrain is more akin to West Virginia or Kentucky than Southern NJ, as we are mostly sea level flat. My uncle first found these birds while deer hunting and tipped me off to their location. He warned me it wasn't an easy spot to hunt as they roost at the bottom of the hollow, so when you walk in from the ridgetop you are eye level with the birds. If you come up the bottom you are left exposed by the lack of cover.
I waited until our 3rd week of the season to make an attempt on the birds. Not wanted to bump them prior to hunting, I went in cold with a buddy. As we left the truck we could hear a bird hammering away even though it was still early. We worked our way in and set up at the egde of the hollow. After the birds flew down they Gobbled Hard, but we soon were in an argument with a bossy hen. She would have none of it. I echoed back just what she said, as advice suggests, but she lead all 7 birds away (3 Toms, 4 jakes). Obviously she ruled this roost. I would try several more times that week, and the next, six in all, to no avail. I called hard, I called soft, I set up in the thick, I set up in the clear. No matter what I did this hen invariably disliked competition and would always be the saving grace of her boys. ( as for why she isn't sitting on a nest I don't know) .
After giving up for several days and hunting elsewhere, I was discussing the situation with a friend who has tagged many a bird. He asked of their habits and patterns and I filled him in. He suggested cutting the distance, sneaking as close as I dare to the roost and nearby ridgetop they fly down to and strut on. Pretty simple right? Only problem is I already tried this several times, and got busted, or when I called the hen knew the game, and flew down straight away from my calling. So today I decided to enact a plan I though of late last night. A buddy was supposed to come and hunt with me but because of high winds we decided to postpone. I thought perhaps I could use the wind as cover to conceal my entry and any noise I may make covering the somewhat rough terrain. I further decided to borrow my neighbors Ghillie suit as the spot I was aiming to get to was in big woods, clear with very little understory.
I awoke at 3:30 am before my alarm went off. I wasn't sure how much more sleeplessness I could handle. I arrived at the parking area at 4:15 and to my delight the early bird was not yet gobbing and better yet a swirling gusty wing was in the air. I donned my Suit and decided to travel light. One box call, one Copper pot, one mouth call. I was already thinking heavy calling wasn't going to be in the agenda today. As I crossed through meadows and creek I tried to be a quiet as possible. Upon reaching the hollow My pace slowed closer to snail like. Descending the steep banks were tricky. My goal was a giant poplar about 60 yards from the roost tree and 70 yards from the flydown/ strutting zone. Trying to spring step as best as possible I was feeling good until a mistep cracked a twig loudly. I distinctly heard wings ruffle above me. I stayed still for a good 5 minutes before I repositioned and moved again. Thankfully I made it to my tree and sat in the darkness.
It took me a good 30 minutes to get to my spot, but the wind and darkness had covered my tracks. Five mintues later the boss lets out a booming gobble right where I expected him. It was 4:55. He proceeded to put on the biggest show I have ever seen from a Tom. He gobbled 4-5 times per minute for the next hour plus. He Strutted and fluffed up on the limb. Evrey time he Gobbled I could see his thick beard swing back and forth. Sometimes another Gobbler nearby would join him and several times when crows cawed even the Jakes Chimed in.( one was roosted in a tree not 10 yards from my position ) Seven birds all going at once, it was awesome! Throughout all this I resisted the urge to call. Not once, not even a cluck. I knew if I did and the hen was up there, she would no doubt fly down, and lead her guys away from the new girl in town.
The Boss was the first to pitch down at 6:10. He hit the ground at 50 yards and I had a clear shot, It was tempting, but it was just to far for the 20 gauge, even with the Heavy Weight 7's. I pattern at 30 and know it is lethat to 40+ but it was just to risky this early in the game. His hen followed right behind (Darn) then two more Gobblers and all 4 Jakes. He strutted away from me and up to the top of the knoll. The rest followed. He wooed his hen in his best fashion while the other two Gobblers kept the Jakes away. Soon he and his hen went about their business. After their rendevous the hen wandered off, followed by the Jakes and one smaller Gobbler.
This left the two Bosses alone on the top of the knoll. As they started to drift away as well I let out 3 light clucks on my copper dogwood pot. The both instantly Gobbled back and looked my way. These were no Rookies though, they stayed put at 65 yards and strutted and eyed my position. After 5 minutes they began to move laterally to my left. It was through some low bushes and I knew they were trying to circle me. I stayed quiet but could not locate them, the wind that previously helped me was now their advantage as I could not hear their foootsteps in the leaves. 10 Minutes past, I began to despair. It seems they beat me again.
I let out a few clucks with the mouth call, keeping my mouth closed, trying to sound as far away as possible. Then it happened, I heard another gobble from just over the rise of the knoll and soon I see both birds, heads stone white, Fully fanned, walking my way. They stepped, they strutted, they spun. They came down the knoll towards me 55 yards, 50 yards, stop, strutt and spin, 45 yards...........The lead Tom took two more steps and the lifted his head, high, Real high! Uh oh, he doesn't like the look of that leafy Blob where a hen should be. I calculated the risk and shot. He went down! I ran to the spot making sure it was a lethal hit, it was. I was estatic! What an exciting morning. I took a minute and thanked God for such a beautiful bird and exciting hunt. It's always satisfaction mixed with a twinge of remorse on taking such a beautiful creature. But it is the way of life, one day too our bell will toll. But this morning I was very pleased the seventh time was a charm!
The particulars barely matter compared to the experience, but for those who care he weighed 21 pounds, had a thick 11" beard and pointy 1-1/4" spurs. I am not sure which of the two bosses I killed so it is some satisfaction to know one is still running around to rule the hollow!
