Saturday/April 28th
Well, I was able to get an extra Saturday off of work. We
are planning on working straight thru, until Memorial Day. Anyhow, my good
friend Ron called me Friday and said to come to his place. He has been seeing plenty
of birds, even missed a few during the youth season. So, opener of Spring Gobbler
2012 was under way!
First thing Saturday we headed out to the blind that was
already in place. The birds usually travel up one of several roads, from the bottom,
to the field, where the blind is located. Shortly after daylight, several birds
began to gobble at multiple locations. None sounded very close, but with the
earl y spring we were having, it was difficult to judge. Eventually, several
birds could be heard headed our way. They usually gobble and mess around in the
bottoms before heading up to the field.
At about 7:00 a.m., three jakes came out in the dim rod,
about 80 yds. from the blind. They began to work our way, when three longbeards
joined them. These were definitely good birds! They began to strut and run the
jakes around a little bit. Some soft calling (from the blind) and the birds
responded. Easy enough, right? Well, the first of the jakes fed off from the
road, short of our location. The other birds seemed to follow suit and soon disappeared
from sight. Hope was not lost and we hung in for another 1-1.5 hours.
The gobblers could be heard sporadically, as they worked their
way across the adjacent ridge tops. Some coaxing calls could not bring them
back, as they had already covered a fair distance from our position. Then it
became difficult to hear form, of all things, a random spring sleet storm! The
sleet was ricocheting from the top of the blind, hindering our ability to hear
or judge the whereabouts of the birds. After sometime and mother nature cutting
us a break, we exited out of the blind and began to maneuver farther into the
timber.
We were 100-150 yds. form the blind, when several birds
responded to some loud calling. We quickly got situated and with several more persuasive
calls, they appeared ot heading our way. I was situated 10-20 yds. away from
Ron, on this sit. These birds were responsive and did not require much calling
to convince them of a good time. I saw the first bird work through brush. the 2nd
was close behind. Both appeared to be longbeards and would be worthy of an
opening day rid eint eh back of my vest. The first bird to arrive hung up about
60-65 yds. away, as he steadily scanned the area for this deceptive hen. The
other bird just wanted to strut his stuff. My partner soon began to call
softly, unbeknownst of the close proximity of the approaching birds. Well, the
already weary bird got wise to the game, especially because there was no hen in
sight (no decoys). And, off he went, carrying his companion with him.
The rest of the morning was spent riding several locations,
with no other birds to be heard.
Sunday/April 29th
Sunday’s results were not much better. This was to be a solo
hunt, as my partner had a golf outing to attend to. I started the pre-dawn trek
up to one of my favorite spots. All of my hunting today would be conducted on
public lands, which have been hunted since Monday’s opener. Early on, I got into a position of the ridge
where I would be able to quickly relocate if needed. After daylight, 6:10 a.m.,
a distant bird began to gobble. And gobble. And gobble. He was an easy 600-700
yds. away and on some adjoining private land. I figured I would wait a little while
and then try to call him back to me, after putting down some boot leather, of
course. So, I waited with the hopes that a closer bird would be heard. I put
out some early owl hoots with no response. Later, I began to call softly. Nothing!
then I got a little more aggressive. And still, nothing! All I could hear is
that distant bird, gobble like a madman. At about 6:22 a.m., I decided it was
time to cut the distance, when……..boom! Just like must places, especially SE
Ohio, if you can hear a bird, someone else likely hears him as well!
So, I hiked it back to the truck and was on the way to another
spot by 6:50 a.m.
The rest of the morning would be no better, as I went to a
tried and true location, but was greeted with the sound of silence. So, with
the morning beginning to fade, I quickly turned it into a deer scouting trip.
While, working my way through a group of young pines and finding some really
good deer sign, I hear a distant gobble, obviously brought on by some irritating
crows. I quickly cut the distance, past
the truck and across the road. After catching my breath, I let out some soft
calls, and you guessed it, nothing!
I drove down a ways and spotted a nice longbeard on a moved
road, adjacent to some public land. I went past several hundred yards and
parked. I made big loop and attempted to cut the bird off. Once I was in position
I settled in and began to call. Again no response after a 20 min. sit. As I
just started to get up, what appeared to be two jakes, took flight 50 yds. from
where I was seated. Fair enough, I thought. Off I went.
The rest of the morning I spent on a long ridge doing some calling,
but mostly looking for deer sign. I did manage to find some areas of interest
for the 2012 Archery Season, but no more birds.
Although, the opening weekend was unsuccessful, it is always
an enjoyment just to be outdoors testing my wits, with the game that is
provided to us! (And, getting a fair amount of exercise in the meantime)
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