Man fellas, I was having difficulty last night deciding where to hunt this morning, I haven't heard a gobble - in season - at my hunting grounds in Madison or Greene so far, so on a whim I headed to Madison at 4:30.
Arrived at Dads place by 5:15, chugged a cup of coffee, and set out for the corner of a pasture with has a creek that parallels the pasture about 40 yds inside the wood-line.
Low and behold as I was setting out my Avian -X hen and strutting stuffer decoys, a gobbler sounded off ~150 yds uphill on the other side of the creek.

To make a long story short...
a fly down cackle, some wing flapping, a few yelps, clucks, and purrs later, three Jakes came in quick and one particularly aggressive one started posturing and circling my stuffer like he was ready to attack. Well, the 870 "strutting stuffer protector" barked and dumped him before he could do any damage.

Good eats there for sure.

Good hunt. Always nice to get the first one in the bag, especially on family land.

Chugging coffee, fly down a couple calls and dead bird. Then back in time for breakfast. Congratulations.


Earl

Thanks for the replies fellas -

Tut - I think we'll have grilled breast for Easter supper.

playin' hookey - I was hoping Dad would have gone out this AM but he listened from the front porch. He called me to let me know one was gobbling behind me . It was great.

Greyghost- while I regret a hunt ending so soon, it is nice to fill a tag.


I didn't much want to shoot that joker, but he was sure looking like he was fixin' to pound the feathers out of my stuffer... I couldn't have that happening since it's only the second time he's been out on display.