BY
MARCH 27, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #1
LOCATION: WILKINSON COUNTY, PRIVATE LAND
PARTNER: ALONE
AM HUNT: 1 GOBBLER KILL
Opening day had not been very productive for Me and Chase and neither were the next 4 days. There’s one thing about being retired and that is you get the chance to hunt when you want. Chase and I had hunted the day before this hunt and heard 4 gobblers and called in 2 hens. I knew there would be plenty of chances for Chase to hunt this season with the COVID virus shutting down schools and businesses so I thought I’d go back and setup closer to where we had hear one of the gobblers the day before. I heard 6 on this morning and the closest one was too my right. As it may, the first bird to appear was from the left. Somehow I left the autofocus on and when panning by the blind strap, the camera changed focus. Unknowingly by this time I was squeezing the trigger for the shot. The gobbler weighed 20 lbs. 15 oz, had 1 1/16 inch spurs and a 10 inch beard. See the footage on my 2020 video.
MARCH 28, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #2
LOCATION:
BALDWIN COUNTY, PRIVATE LAND
PARTNER: CHASE FOWLER
AM HUNT: 1 GOBBLER KILL
Chase and I would hunt our club in Baldwin County the next morning. The old food plot above the swamp was always our first choice. Not long after first light we heard a couple of birds and one was fairly close. We could hear the gobbler to our right drumming and could also hear the hen he was with. The first birds to show however came from in front of us and all appeared to be 2 year olds. There were four gobblers and a hen. Chase was eager to get one but I was going to pass since I had killed one the day before, or at least give the dominant bird some time to possibly come in. The four gobblers strutted around the jake for 15 minutes and as if planned, one stayed and the other 3 wandered off. Chase took the gobbler when he was far enough away not to shoot the Avian Decoys. We continued to hunt and heard the dominant bird still drumming to our right. About 20 minutes 4 more gobblers came in from in front of us, but they were all Jakes. The gobbler weighed 17 lbs. had 15/16 inch spurs and a 9 inch beard. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 4, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #3
LOCATION:
JASPER COUNTY, PRIVATE LAND
PARTNER: CHASE FOWLER
AM HUNT 1 GOBBLER KILL
Chase and I would hunt the Cullum property the following Saturday. Bird populations had declined severely on this place so we just didn’t hunt here as much as in the past. We set up in the lower field which always seemed a little more secluded for attracting a gobbler in. Before we were set up we heard the gobbler across the creek on the hillside where they had always seemed to roost in the past. After a couple of calling sequences it seemed the gobbler was interested enough and was coming our way. Not long we saw him crossing the top of the upper field. I called and got his attention and he stopped and changed his course and came directly in to us. He hear Chase when Chase clicked the safety off and became a little alarmed. This was enough to prep the bird for the shot. The gobbler weighed 19 lbs. 10 oz. had 1 inch spurs and a 9 inch beard. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 6, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #4
LOCATION:
WILKINSON COUNTY, PRIVATE LAND
PARTNER: ALONE
PM HUNT: 1 UPSET HEN
I hunted some private land in Wilkinson County this day. I only hear 1 gobbler in the distance at daybreak but soon after I called this hen who became more agitated with my Avian Decoy than any I had ever seen. She flogged and pecked the decoy for over 30 minutes before giving up. For some reason Gobblers and Hens are attracted to the larger Avian Hen than they are to the smaller one. Unfortunately Avian downgraded and I assume no longer make the larger hen. I have a couple that I hope can last a long time. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 14, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #5
LOCATION:
BALDWIN COUNTY
PARTNER: CHASE FOWLER
AM HUNT: 3 JAKES
Chase and I would try our club again on this morning in Baldwin County. With the other clubs reporting gobbler kills we really didn’t need to kill another one on the property unless we could call up the dominant gobbler. I decided to hunt with my bow in case one just wanted to commit suicide! We heard 3 gobblers in the distance after day break and eventually called up this wary jake. I think he was probably just intimidated by the Avian decoys. We glimpsed 2 other jakes, but this one was the dominant Jake and meant to prove it. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 15, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #6
LOCATION:
LAURENS COUNTY
PARTNER: KEITH SMITH
AM HUNT: 1 HEN AND 1 GOBBLER BOWKILL
On this day Keith Smith and I would try a gobbler Keith had seen a few days before. He had positioned the blind on the far end of the field overlooking where the bird had been seen strutting with a hen. Not long after calling we saw a hen enter the field. Soon after the gobbler came in from our right back side and made his way toward the hen. The gobbler strutted in the field with his hen several hours and never was encouraged by any of our calls to come our way. These “big” field birds can be real tough. We set up several more times in different places around the big field this season and saw him almost every time but could never call him in. He’s an old bird that makes turkey hunting the ultimate challenge. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 17, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #7
LOCATION:
LAURENS COUNTY
PARTNER: KEITH SMITH
AM HUNT: 1 HEN AND 1 GOBBLER BOWKILL
Keith Smith and I would give the previous gobbler a rest and try another gobbler he had seen on a different property. Keith had watched the gobbler cross the end of the field and knew he was roosting just inside the wood line. He moved his blind to that end of the field and out along the edge of some planted pines watching over the freshly plowed field. The bird gobbled as day broke and was right where he had been on Keith’s previous hunt. Hopefully this time we could get him close before the hens made they’re way to him. Keith knew this would be a prime opportunity at a gobbler at close range so he had brought his bow. When the bird flew down he landed right at the edge of the field. I soft called a bit more but the decoys were pretty much responsible at this point as he was about 80 yards away. He made his way and into the decoy setup where he sized up the Avian jakes. Keith drew and made a perfect shot. The bird flopped only a few feet away from the point of impact. The gobbler weighed 18 lbs. 1 oz. had 1 inch spurs and a 10 3/4 inch beard. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 21, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #8
LOCATION:
TWIGGS COUNTY
PARTNER: ALONE
AM HUNT: 1 HEN AND 2 GOBBLERS BOW MISS
After Keith’s bow kill I was eager again to give the bow a shot. I always liked open areas where you could attract the gobblers in from a distance with decoys to distract him while you draw and shoot but my club in Twiggs was my best bet for birds that still seemed to be gobbling. I would have to make a road set up since we have no fields or large plots near where birds roost. When I got to my intended set up a log had fell across the road right where I wanted my decoy. I had already trimmed this area for a setup and didn’t have time to make another so I would take my chances. I could hear birds well in the distance gobbling but none really close enough to call in. My plan would be to sit and call long enough for one hopefully to move close enough to be called in. At about 9:30 a bird gobbled and appeared to be coming. In no time a hen made her way into my set up and right past the decoys toward my blind where she knew the calling was coming from. Following her were two nice longbeards. As soon as they were close enough to see the decoys the game was on. The first bird walked the log and around the decoys as I eased my bow in position. When he climbed back on the log, I drew and shot as he was quartering slightly away. My aim and shot was low and forward from where it should have been and unfortunately was only a “catch and release” hunt. I looked for over an hour and a half to no avail. I had cut a couple of wing feathers and numerous breast feathers but I had not hit any vitals. Both birds were nice birds and hopefully the bird will make a full recovery. See the footage on my 2020 video.
APRIL 24, 2020 VIDEO HUNT #9
LOCATION:
WILKINSON COUNTY
PARTNER: ALONE
AM HUNT: 1 HEN AND 1 GOBBLER KILL
On this hunt I would make my way to Wilkinson County. The food plot I was hunting was starting to grow up but I had trampled down the grain in the corner that the birds most commonly come out at. Eager to get some redemption with my bow I decided I would try it again but I had the shotgun for back up as I was still looking for my second gobbler. I only heard one gobbler in the distance at daylight but I knew that they were silent in many areas at this time and I had previously heard several birds in this area. I called off and on all morning and it was nearly 10 o’clock when I finally spotted a hen and sure enough a gobbler was trailing her. He stayed back in the woods as the hen made her way into and across the plot. He finally made his way into the plot and was really wary as he approached the first hen decoy. I really wanted him at the Jakes for a bow shot and as he got more nervous I realized the bow would have to wait. I watched as long as I thought I should but as he continued to make is was back toward the woods edge I decided my next gobbler bow kill would have to wait. I took him with my 20 gauge and called it a great and successful video and hunt. The gobbler weighed 17 lbs. 11 oz. had 1 inch spurs and a 9 3/4 inch beard. See the footage on my 2020 video.
THE END