hunted at least a couple hours in 5 of the 9 days. spent most of the time making gobbler calls in an area where i have shot several fall toms but no luck. i did have a tom come in one morning and make a single cluck, but i never saw him.
called in several flocks of hens/poults and a couple gangs of jakes but passed on the shots.
so ... with time running out on the season in the last day i had to hunt, i worked my way toward a roosting ridge late afternoon.
set up and made some soft calls as the sun began to sink toward the horizon and the wind finally died down.
20 minutes before sunset, i hear birds scratching and moving up the ridge. heads began showing over the rise but, dang, blue heads - another hen flock.
waited until about 10 birds came over the hill - all hen/poults - but still didnt have a clear shot through the trees and underbrush. finally, the lead hen stepped out into a clearing about 15 yards away. BEARD! BOOM! at the shot, about 20 other birds took flight down the hill.
wish that 7-inch beard was on a big tom but at least i won't have to "eat" my tag.
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