Got into the bottom at 0530. Heard the first bird at 0625, long ways off, in fact in another area. So at 0645 deciding what our next move would be 2 birds fired up about 200 yards from us in some pines. They were still on the roost. We slipped to about 100 or so yards of them. Gave a little tree yelp and one gobbled back. The shooter set up and I stayed about 20 yards behind him. They never gobbled again until 20 minutes later I gave a soft purr and cluck and one answered from about 80-100 yards away. I thought alright here we go, I seen Jim raise his gun but he was pointing it 90 degrees right of the last gobble. Then I thought maybe the second bird was coming in that way. Then I seen a movement to his left (90 degrees) and 30 yards in front of him but his gun was pointing to the right yet. I thought ok, there were 2 birds so maybe he is on the second one. Do I need to go on? OK, the bird I seen to his left front then clucked and I seen it startle Jim. Enough said, as in the agony of defeat.

Well on behalf of Jim, he has a hearing problem, he wears hearing aids, but his regular ones are too expensive to wear in the woods so he has 2 Walker Game Ears. When he heard the last gobble he thought it was 90 degrees to his right front and thats why he shifted some and raised his gun in that direction. Next time I will have to sit with him.

Once back at the check station we compared notes with others and there were no birds taken today and very little gobbling. Huh Oh, may be something to this east wing thing. Although one guy heard 4 going good but could not do anything with them.


Thats alright got another hunter lined up for tomorrow so maybe the east wind will blow a gobbler in front of his sights.


Earl

Took a boy out to culpeper and heard 3 off roost...set up on closest one and called him into 8 yards....He never saw him til he was 10 yards 90 degrees to the left...and Andrew couldnt move his gun....The bird slowly turned to leave and he did the ole quick swing and a miss thing....Told him you only kill 1 out of 100 you try that on He's a learning....They didnt gobble good...cause the weather..we've been hearing bout 10 from that spot.....Got on one gobbling a couple times on his own in a pine thicket right before we left..be he had hens with him...