I normally don't post pictures of myself but since the couple of threads on East winds I thought I would share the hunt. You will see why I don't post a lot of my hunts.
Well this morning I went to one of my areas and listened. One bird started gobbling about 0555 about 250 yards down in through this swampy bottom. I started making my way in and a second bird started going off. They continued to gobble steady for the next 10 minutes allowing me to get set up about 150 yards from them. At 0615 I gave a couple tree yelps and nothing. They gobbled a few more times on their own. I gave another tree yelp and nothing. Then a 3rd bird opened up to their left about 100 yards. The next time they gobbled they were on the ground. I gave a fly down and nothing. I said alright and gave 2 gobbler yelps and a cluck and they hammered. I was using the trumpet at this time. The last time they gobbled they seemed closer so I gave a soft purr and cluck, nothing. Back to the gobbler yelp and cluck and all 3 doubled gobbled. They were moving closer and gobbling about every minute. Then I seen them about 80 yards out, not 3 but 4 long beards. I gave a soft hen yelp cluck, no reaction, So the trumpet spit out another gobbler yelp and one answered. They were moving slightly to my left and looked like that would pass 50 yards out. So a couple gobbler clucks and one gobbled but they all stopped. Then the lead bird turned and started towards me. At 30 yards they stopped and one clucked. The lead bird turned and started walking but now going to pass 30 yards from me. With 4 sets of eye balls I could not adjust as fast so the first 2 made it through the first field of fire. When the third one stepped into it ( I had a mouth call in then) I clucked and he stopped. Down hard no flopping. The others just stopped and looked at him for 2 minutes. I sat still so as not to spook them since I want to take another hunter there in the morning. Then mine flopped a little and they kinda jumped. But then they lined up and started walking on gobbling as they went. I waited another 15 minutes to make sure they were gone.
Stats: 19# 11oz., 11" beard and 1 1/8" spurs.
My camo has faded a little over the years though.
Earl
