I've chased a group of 3 birds around a small property for two years now. I assume they're the same from last year, but there's no way to know for sure, but they act the same. I had them spitting and drumming close a few times, but never could see them due to the terrain and cover. The only thing consistent about them is that they're inconsistent and never roost in the same area two days in a row (half mile apart, across the river, etc.). Anyway I chased them a few times and struck out. On the long walk back to the truck after getting soaked walking through knee deep water to get to them only top have them go the other way, I struck a bird up around 8:00 and killed him a few minutes later after he put on a nice show looking for a hen. Average beard and spurs a little over an inch if you really stretch the tape measure.
Got on a few more birds that got toted off by hens and I got too impatient to wait out.
I have befriended an older man outside of town and spend an hour or two talking to him every time I stop by. I mentioned turkeys the last time I talked to him, and he told me I could hunt behind his house, but he hasn't seen a turkey back there in the spring in years, but he killed them there 20-30 years ago when he hunted.
I setup on the edge of the swamp Sunday and only heard one bird on the roost 1000 yards and two field properties over, but he was hot and started gobbling at 6:05. I moved to the property edge and called loudly when he hit the ground (stopped gobbling every 30 seconds). I didn't hear anything for 10 minutes and called back when I heard a gobble a little closer. 10 minutes later, I heard a gobble so close I couldn't tell where it came from. I waited a few minutes and turned to my left to look through the thick hedgerow to see if he was in the field on the other property. I didn't see him and turned back around only to see him to the right, and he was spooked. I put the gun on him and made a shot that was probably 10 yards too far and knocked him down. After a footchase, I caught him 100 yards from where I shot. I carried him back to the hedgerow thinking he was dead only to have him run off when I set him down. Ended up having to shoot him again a few yards before he got into the woods.
Spurs a touch over an inch that sliced me up a little and a very slight double beard (my first). Wings were really dark. Hunted about 15 morning including a few hunts where I was only calling or taking a video for guaranteed kills that didn't materialize. Heard birds every morning but one. Things seem to just be getting good now with less hens to compete with.
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