Turkey

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Hallowed Days Afield

Published: 26.04.2011 by: SWOBG

Few days reach the level of opening day turkey - this is hallowed ground

Knowing that there are only a few days per year that generate the kind of excitement and anticipation that hunters are capable of appreciating, makes the following tale all the more memorable for this hunter.

It's true . . . opening day of any game specie is worthy of holiday status, yet we don't get so worked up over the cottontail or squirrel opener and that's because we're usually in the woods after whitetail or setting up for goose season already in full swing. Still, there are those days like opening turkey that are special and even more so when you get to experience one with your son or daughter. Sure they're excited because they get to miss school (legally) but getting out with a hunting parent at 4:30am to sit in a blind during a steady rain to hunt turkey is the next best thing. Right? How can it not be?

On this year's Turkey Day, my son and I have finally made it to a field with the help of friends to experience opening morning. The ordeal of obtaining landowner permission can be a hellish one if you're not lucky enough to know such a person or know another hunter with those connections. That's an article for another time and it is coming up in this series after the season is done. But in this article we are in place on authorized ground and awaiting birds - ideally.

It never seems to be a chore to get JT up at 4:30am for goose, duck or turkey hunting and that's a good thing. I'd much rather have him sitting next to me in a blind or pit than see him in front of his X-box 360 playing video games - as would he actually, for these species anyway. JT (herein referred to as 'the boy') is an accomplished and champion duck/goose caller locally and he seems to be getting the 'turkey talk' down as well . . . thankfully.

As the morning broke under a cover of overcast skies that promised rain at moment, we quietly discussed the shooting process should we get the good fortune of having multiple birds walk into the decoy spread of one B-moblie Jake and two bobble head hens. Knowing that other jakes and a couple of toms were in the area made the jake tail selection a little easier as we're hopeing to irritate the local birds through this intruder and bring them in close. While awaiting the action we were able to film a few whitetails coming into the decoys to check them out at 20 yards in front of our blind. That's part of the fun, never knowing what might drop in for a quick look at your set up before going on their way.

After numerous erroneous sighting of birds we were able to pick out three that were headed our way at about 450 yards outside a bush and across open grain fields. The sqwaked and squabbled along the way to a smaller bush amid green winter wheat. So far they've stuck to the path that we had seen them take while scouting this small group. Now if they'd only come out of the smaller bush in the same near corner as they had done previously . . . and they did. They began to head west across the wheat when JT and I hit the pot calls with greeting hen sounds. The birds acknowledged the greeting but continued on a westerly path about 200 yards from our set up. It was time to really get their attention and get them over here before they moved on. I took over the calling sequence by simulating a hen fight with quick cuts and and aggravated progressions. I've come over the years to see that especially jakes love a fight, just like grade 7 kids in school flocking around a small skirmish in the school yard at lunch - they can't resist it. Sure enough, the three started to come to our set up and were now within 25 yards. The only problem now is that they were to our north and our decoys and video camera were in front of us to the east. We watched them through a small slit we had opened in the north window of our blind. They weren't coming in any closer. Dispensing with the video we made the decision to move as quietly as possible in the blind so JT could take the first shot and perhaps the only one at the nearest jake.

JT 'the boy' with our opening day jakes -- on to the Toms!

The boy took aim, and dropped the closest bird in a heap. One down! The accompanying birds took off but suddenly one stopped at about 35 yards and began to come back to check on his buddy. With that, I switched places with the boy and drew a bead on that big noggin and squeezed the trigger. Two down!

The last bird was seen heading west at about 50km per hour so keep a look out.

This was a first for the boy and I. A double that was always hoped for but never did fit the strategy we laid for them. After whoops and hollers all around, a few pics and interview video, it was time to reflect on the action and be thankful for a fantastic opening day, not just because we dropped our birds but because it was another memory put in the vault and came about from efforts of friends, product sponsors and landowners. This hunt is what it's all about - cooperation, respect and success. Thanks friends!

When A Plan Comes Together

Published: 16.05.2010 by: SWOBG

All week long you fight with your teenagers to get them up in the morning for school, but when it comes to the weekend and the clock hits 4:00am for a turkey hunt, they're up and dragging your sorry butt out of bed. So it was on May 15 when our hunt in Essex County got started.

With Randall Haley's song 'Gobbler's Noggin' from his 'Down To Earth Huntin'' CD, playing on the ride to our field in Essex County, visions of the hunt were running through our heads as each of us thought it would play out. What did transpire this morning was nothing close to what we had expected. Our vision was much the same as what you'd see on the hunting shows; set up decoys, sit and wait, call to gobbler, watch him strut in, maybe kick your Tom decoy's butt and get shot . . . simple. NOT TO BE.

Okay, maybe it started out that way except for the Tom strutin' into the dekes. This one walked behind us, checked out the spread and then walked off into the woods through private property. Frustrating, maddening and confusing pretty much summed up our reactions at this point along with the realization that this big boy may never come any closer again and be lost to some other hunters' smoke pole.

Two long hours went by as we sat motionless while wearing our Shannon Outdoor Bug Buster Plus Suits. These suits kept the army of mosquitoes off our backs, neck, eyes and hands and were solely responsible for us staying in the field as long as we did. These suits have saved us more times than not from being busted by turkeys only feet away . . . you have to check them out. Then came that time in the morning when nothing but silence makes you squirm and you begin to entertain thoughts of leaving the fields knowing that 'nothing is anywhere close now, they've all moved on'. We came close to leaving but before we did I asked JT to move his big frame as slowly as possible to the field edge and look for hopeful signs of birds. Just as he got started and had moved about 30 yards, we both caught movement about 140 yards away through a hedge row into an open field. JT made it back without incident and we had to devise a plan to get to those birds as there was no way they were going to come to us.

Our only option was to cross a field as open as a parking lot to get to the hedge row that would block us from the turkey's vision but realizing that at any time they could have walked right through that hedge row and busted us.
It took 30 minutes to cross that field almost on our knees and with JT being 6'4", this was no easy task. We crawled the last 15 yards, occasionally raising our heads to check on the bird's location.
There they were at 45 yards . . . 3 hens and one huge Tom doing his thing and looking every bit the monster with that big ol' white head and magnificent tail fan.

I pulled out the Split Personality turkey call from Hardy's Custom Calls and stroked a little purr and that got the attention of the hens that wanted no competition from any 'bad girl' looking to get in on the action. They started to walk towards us with Tom in tow. We had just enough cover in front of us to allow for some better positioning and shooting lanes. JT uncoiled that tall frame behind the brush and as the hens got to within 8 yards looking for the nasty girl that made the call, Tom restarted his strutin' at about 15 yards and gave JT a perfect broadside. Tom didn't make it a foot closer. It was over after 40 minutes of anxiety, caution and praying. He had his second bird as an apprentice hunter almost to the day he took his first in 2009. Ol' Tom was every bit as big as we thought he was, weighing in at 24.6 lbs. with a 10" beard (some sheared off on the shot) and 7/8" wicked looking spurs.

JT with his Tom after a long stalk in open country

You just have to love it when a plan comes together. It wasn't the original one we had in mind but when you have to adjust your hunt to get it done, it's all the sweeter when it works.

2010 Sexy Turkey Calendar

Published: 08/05/10 by: SWOBG

No naked turkeys here. All fully dressed complete with beards, spurs and tails that were looking for a good time but the found the end of the barrel by these guys and gals from SW Ontario or friends of same.
The 'calendar' will be updated as the season progresses.
Enjoy!!

Jim Branch with a Tennessee bird

Randall Haley and a huge Tennesse Tom
'Fenceline Frankenstein' was 20lbs, 9" beard,1" spurs

Ronnie Hardy of Hardy's Custom Calls

Johnnie Jones with a local Kingsville Tom
9.25" beard, 23lbs., 1" spur(s)

Jim Branch with his 2nd bird
22lbs, 10.75" beard, 1.25" spurs

John Jones with his second bird
18lbs, 4" beard, nubs for spurs

Chris Hickman of Performance Custom Calls and a great Tom

Lance Newton of Performance Custom Calls with a super gobbler

Steve Simpson with his 1st turkey . . . congrats SS
18lbs, 5" beard, .75" spurs

Mike Coppola with a huge Essex County Tom
23lbs 12 oz., 11 inch beard, 1" spurs

Steve Branch and a hard earned local Tom
16.5lbs, 10 1/8" beard, 1" spurs

JT Ames with BUG BUSTER PLUS SUIT and his 'stalked' bird
24.6lbs, 10" beard, 7/8" spurs

John Sim and his nice Pelee Is. Jake
18lbs, 4.5" beard, 7/8" spurs

Tom Morrison with BUG BUSTER PLUS SUIT and last of the year Jake
17.5lbs, 4" beard, 3/8" spurs

John Sim with his second of the season Tom
24.7lbs, 13.5" beard, 1" spurs

Fall Archery Turkey

Published: 27.10.2009 by: SWOBG

There's a John Lennon quote that goes something like this "life is what happens to you while you're busy doing something else". When hunting, this is a truism.

John Jones of Kingsville was recently hunting whitetail from his stand up in Woodstock, ON. There was plenty of deer sign in the area but they just weren't moving and being the opportunistic hunter that John is and with a turkey tag in his pocket he opted for the next best thing.

At approximately 5:30pm the opportunity presented itself in the form of 4 nice turkeys ambling towards his stand. Now you'd think that being up 20' in a tree would make it somewhat easier to move if the shot presented itself - not so easy as John found out.

When the group reached the 20 yard line, John began to raise his crossbow and was immediately busted by one tom and then another who hastily walked in the opposite direction, but didn't spook the remaining two.

Realizing that some stealth would be involved if he wanted to be successful in brining home a turkey dinner, John had to raise his crossbow painstakingly slow on the other toms.

After what seemed like 10 minutes raising his Excalibur crossbow, he finally made his choice on which tom to take and put the crosshairs on him at 17 yds.

The new Rage broadheads he had just purchased did the job and the big guy didn't run more than 25 yds. John's reward was a 22lb. tom with a 6" beard and 3/4" spurs - not to mention the great turkey dinner that's now sitting in the freezer.
Good job John on your first archery turkey kill.

Tag Teamin' Turkeys

Published: 19.05.2009 by: Tom Morrison

At the outset, I have to say what a thrill it is to hunt with my son JT. He has a passion for the sport and I'm positive that when it's time, he'll pass this passion on to his children. Truth be told, at this point, watching him take his turkey, goose, rabbits, etc. is more fun than doing it myself - and that's saying something.

This season, JT's first as an apprentice hunter, has been full of bird sightings but not much action on our part. Getting these birds to come to our calls has been tough to say the least. They would always hang up at about 45 - 55 yards making for a great view but very little shooting opportunities. We've changed locations a few times over the season thus far but the latest change of locale has us on birds, young one so far, that want to play. Grandpas farm holds turkeys we never knew existed until a couple of weeks ago. JT scouted them and semi-patterned them over the first week. His eye may have been bigger than the birds but the males were there and strutting their stuff, giving him ample fodder for dreams.

This particular morning broke cool and clear. We like that. Evidently, the turkeys did too. Following a day and a half of rain and very strong winds that may have had the birds staying in the bush and nervous, the turkeys sounded glad to have the sun back as they gobbled and clucked like never before when welcoming the sun as it appeared over the horizon. Just the day before, JT had learned how to gobble using the Commando Triple Jenny Mouth Call. I was impressed that he had picked it up in about 30 minutes and now sounded just like the real thing. This new found talent was instrumental in putting the birds in front of us.

We had set up our Cherokee Sports Featherlite inflatable decoys - the Ultimate Four Pack, at about 5:15am at 20 - 25 yards into the winter wheat field and off-set to our left so as to keep the eyes of the birds off of us. We nestled into the hedge row and up against a large oak about 15' back from the field edge. Our view was limited as we only felt comfortable cutting a small entry hole into the brush, barely putting our decoys in sight.

JT let out a locator gobble at 5:45am and wouldn't you know, the jakes responded immediately about 70 yards inside the bush to our left. Just then, a hen flew out of the tree line and into the field, followed within minutes by a second hen. Both were yapping non-stop. I let out a few soft clucks with the Commando slate call and then a couple of purrs. The hens lifted their heads above the 12" winter field to see what the commotion was. That's when they saw the decoys and began to head in our direction. They took their time eating from the field's buffet table along the way but at least they were headed in the right direction.

It had been about 45 minutes since our first gobble reply and we're beginning to think the big boys had left for parts unknown when at about 80 yards along the bush line, two large jakes made their way into the field. Looking as big and bold as you please, these youngsters were the act and they knew it. They began to walk to our right never looking our way until I asked JT to give a gobble and followed that with two clucks. The jakes looked our way immediately and without hesitation, began to trot in our direction. They saw the decoys and the challenge was on. I don't think they ever took their eyes off the 'dekes', especially the tom among them, the whole 80 yards. The hens had by now, entered the Featherlite decoy gathering and were feeding among them. Slowly but surely, the jakes made their way to about 40 yards outside the dekes and began to assess the situation. Feeling cocky, they walked directly into the grouping and I could a see a fight about to begin.

At this point, with the birds fixed on the decoys, JT slowly raised his gun with the PatternMaster choke tube affixed for maximum destruction and put the bead on the head of the second jake as he was about to move at the fake tom. I held the video camera as steadily as I could so as not to miss the shot when I gave him the okay - any time you're ready. JT pulled the trigger on that bad boy and he dropped like a bag of rocks as the first jake flew away headed for the bush. The PatternMaster choke held the shot string together to put over 15 pellets into this boys noggin. Beautiful! The rest is history.

JT with the bird of the day. Jake was 15lbs. - 3" beard - nubs for spurs - priceless!!

Who was more excited? Hard to say exactly but I knew it took the boy about 30 minutes to calm down and stop shaking. Never had 15lbs been so easy to carry for a mile - he had no complaints, another first. I've put the video of the shot below and the subsequent interview. I think they say it all. Congratulations JT. This is one hunt that will never be forgotten . . . by him or me.

Dobbins End The Gobblin

Published: 19.05.2009 by: Ian Dobbins

We (my son Mike and I) decided to make the drive up for a days' hunting and as I wasn't able to make it up last weekend there was some doubt if my blind would still be there, or if it would be still standing. The first time we were out we saw some birds but they were bound with hens and just wouldn't commit. We sat out for the full day, all 14 hours, and while I saw birds my son saw nothing . . . not a peep from the birds.

Well I decided to move my blind on the back side of the field hoping that the next time I got out he would strut like in front of me. We made it up in good time allowing us to have a short walk to see if we can spot any birds. We saw nothing but it looked like the field was just worked and seeded within the past few days. Mike headed off to his little corner of the field and I went to find my blind. When I got to my spot I had to adjust the blind a bit and tie it down because the wind had flipped it over. I put out 1 hen decoy about 10 yards off to my right just a couple of yards from the bush edge. I called Mike on the radio to check if he was all set up and he tells me he had the crap scared out of him. His turkeys had roosted real close to where he was and when they flew down he had visions of bigfoot and bear attacks. He called me later to let me know that the birds were in the field and walking my way. I was able to see almost to the corner where he was so picking up the birds was easy and yes, they were on their way. I had another lone tom walk from my left but he wanted nothing to do with the decoy or my calling. He ended up with the now often strutting tom and his couple of hens. I'm not sure what was said but he left the same way he came, head down and disgruntled. The slow process of watching the birds from almost day break till 7am was ruining the adrenalin that had built up, and occasionally I had to put my book down to see how much further they came. Plus I was also doing a play by play with my buddy who was at work.

That disgruntled tom from the left came back and walked again right past me at 75 yards and headed into the bush. Well the hens were on the move and that tom was walking behind them, strutting and showing off, it was time, I knew it. I had the gun on my lap by this time. The hens were at 40 yards and the tom at 50, working their way along the field edge picking up whatever they found to eat. Hens at 30, tom at 40. Now its getting fun and I can feel the energy level going up a notch. Hens at 20, tom at 40, come on baby, hens at 15, tom at 35. let's go . . . keep it moving. What's the hold up? Hen with a beard . . . mmm easy-peasy, but it is early so come on get closer. Hens at 10 tom at 40 and walking away, heading towards that disgruntled tom 70 yards away. My morning was starting to go downhill fast. Now I had these 2 hens between my decoy and the blind and I actually had to stand up to see them through the mesh screen. Hmmm once again that hen has a 4" beard, but the tom is still in sight. Slowly that tom started on his way back, those 2 hens sunning themselves about 7 yards from me was too much for him to take, even if one had a beard. He was coming in with the occasional gobble and short breaks from his full strut. Slow but steady walking straight to me, like he was on a string. Well the string broke or got tangled cause he started to walk down towards the bush line and I thought no chance, I have to take a shot . . . just need him to get a little closer . . . Well close he got and I ended his reign of terror at 7:30am with a single shot of Hevishot #5's, dropped him in his tracks at 32 yards. So now it was going to be a long day sitting and reading my book waiting for Mike to get his bird.

I was watching birds all morning long, hens, jakes and that tom from earlier decided that now he was going to strut around. They would walk back and forth between me and my son, but never close enough for him to shoot. He missed several opportunities due to looking the wrong way, turning around and having a bird walking away from him from the other side. I had a stand and I needed to move so I went for a walk trying to kill the boredom. I got all that done and was back in my blind at 11. Every time the birds started his way I would call him and let him know to get ready, and every time they would turn around at about 100 yards and head back my way. Well at 12:30 I hear his gun go off so I quickly grabbed my radio and wait for the report. He says he got one, a jake. Well I am looking through the binos and I can see 2 birds down his end. I asked to make sure, ok so he's down? yup he's down WHOO HOO!! As I'm watching the action I can see a bird fly away. Thinking the worst I again called, are you sure he's down, I just saw one fly away? He called back, yup I'm sure, I'm standing on his wings. What an amazing day!

My bird had a 10" beard and just over 1" spurs weighed approx 24 pounds.
My sons bird had nubs for spurs, 4" beard and weighed about 16 pounds.

Pictured above are Mike Dobbins on the left and proud papa Ian Dobbins on the right. A great father & son hunt - as it should be.

Published: 28.04.2009 by: Tom Morrison

Meet the 'turkey models' of 2009

This page will be updated throughout the season with new models


First up: Jim Branch of Kingsville with a super tom taken on Pelee Island at 7:30am. The big boy weighed in at 20lbs with an almost 11" beard. Good work James.


Second up: Jamie T. Ames of Kingsville with a great jake taken at 7:00am in Kingsville. The bird weighed in at approximately 15lbs. with a 3.5" beard on May 17, 2009. Taken over Cherokee Sports Featherlite inflatable turkey decoys and with a Commando slate turkey call. Dad is very proud - boy is very happy. Watch the videos on www.youtube.com/swobg.


Third up: Mark Hall of Essex with a nice jake taken at about 7:45am in Essex and is approximately 15lbs.


Fourth up: Steve Branch of Kingsville with a heavy tom of about 24lbs taken in Kingsville at 6:30am. He has a 10" beard.


Fifth up: Steve Branch of Kingsville (Mr. Lightning always strikes twice) Branch with his 2nd tom 25lbs taken in Kinsgville at 6:40am. He has a 9.5" beard.


Sixth up: Mike Dobbins of Kingsville takes a great jake of about 16lbs with a 4" beard and nubs for spurrs. One more young turkey hunter hooked for life.


Seventh up: Ian Dobbins (on the right), yes dad of ???????, shown with his son. Ian's bird weighed in at 24lbs. with a 10" beard and just over 1" spurrs. Super looking bird. Location undisclosed - I can understand why. A great father & son team!
Eighth up: John (left) & Joe (right) Baillergean and Pelee tom with 8" beard and 1 3/16" spurs


Ninth up: Jim Branch (left) & Dave Kennedy (right) and Pelee tom with 10" beard 7/8" spurs (middle bird)


Tenth up: Group photo of the boys and their birds from Pelee - great hunt guys


Eleventh up: Dave Kennedy and Pelee bird with 8" beard and 1 1/4" spurs (his first bird)


Twelfth up: Roger Paquette (right) & Dave Kennedy with Pelee birds -- 1st a 61yd. shot and the second a 17 yd. shot - Paquette called in both birds


Thirteenth up: Robert Tremblay with a great 1st tom weighing in at 20lbs with a split beard measuring 10 3/16" and 1" spurs. He took it with a 45 yard shot of #6.


Fourteenth up: John Jones of Kingsville with 22lb. trophy tom that boasts a 10" beard and 1" hooks. Some great looking birds being taken late in the season. Congrats John!


Danielle Russell's story: This is my first year turkey hunting. What a great time to be out in the woods. Until today I had only seen hens and a couple of young jakes at a distance. It seemed as though they were intimidated about coming into the decoys. I have been using one hen and one jake decoy. Today I saw 5 hens come onto the field and one jake about 100 yards out. He continued to look at my decoys but would not come any closer. All the birds continued to graze through the field even going to the field south of me to eat. I thought about getting closer but that bird would not take his eyes off of my decoys. So I enjoyed watching them from a distance. Calling once and a while with my mouth call. Finally they circled back around and are now walking right towards me. The hens all walked right through my decoys and disappear into the tall grass on the other side of me. I could not see the jake no longer. I thought that maybe he slipped through the tall grass to the left and back into the woods. Then all of a sudden there he was running straight towards my Jake decoy. I made a little cluck with my call and he stuck his head up..and well my 16 gauge did the trick at about 20 yds. What a thrill..once I calmed myself enough to dial my cell phone, I called the farmer and he came out on his ATV to pick me up. Thanks goodness he was home. The ride was much easier carrying my bird which turned out to be 16lbs. and a 4 inch beard. Another Successful hunt..Thanks everybody!


Fifteenth Up: Wayne Keys with a nice jake weighing in at 15lbs. 5oz. with a double beard 1) 4.5" 2) 1" -- they're all big when there's two

The Turkey Woods Are Calling

Published: 24.03.2009 by: Tom Morrison

Perhaps you've noticed it . . . a lull between the big game seasons from waterfowl and deer to turkey (yes where we come from, waterfowl ARE big game, at least the geese).
I'm sure that I'm not the only one that suffers from some kind of withdrawal during this time of year. I find it similar to the last day of bass season to prime time, open water walleye when a tournament competitor fills his time reorganizing his tackle box a few dozen times.

Yea, something like that but in this case, at least for me, it's organizing the turkey vest, testing shotgun patterns, finding birds, getting your permissions in place, telling lies to buddies about where you'll be opening day so they won't follow you, stuff like that. I have to tell you that I've actually thought about some kind of anxiety medication to help me deal with the knowledge that the big day is still over a month away. I'm feeling it as I write this. So what have I done to keep my hands occupied and stay out of trouble you ask?
Well, I've looked in every available turkey product catalog.
I've gone to every turkey hunting site I could find.
I've gone to Jack Miner's Bird Sanctuary where I'm on a first name basis with Tom and widow hen in the cages.
I've roamed the back roads glassing for turkeys of any sex.
I've lied to friends about where I'll be opening day, but keep it to yourself please.
I've patterned my shotgun - three times. I've had the gunsmith put a new TRU-GLO Traditions Red Dot sight on my shotgun.
I've driven the wife and the dogs nuts with the slate, diaphgram, glass and aluminum calls.
I've dreamt about the Toms that will most likely get away and to my buddy's spot to be shot just so I'll be punished for lying - thanks for that.
I'll put the camo on and hide among the indoor plants in the living room to see if anyone notices me.
I've tried to take my frustrations out on dickie birds in the back yard with the pellet gun and missed of course - I have to get used to disappointment.
I've watched every turkey hunting video and every turkey hunting show over and over again and still don't understand why they're only in the field for 30 minutes and kill two Toms while I go all year and don't get a shot. Are these turkeys on contract and they're actually the same bird faking death on every tv show? 'Cause I gotta tell ya, these turkeys have got to be the dumbest birds I've ever seen and it looks like they all do the same thing - run to the gun and get shot. Why are mine so damned smart?
I've lied again to friends about where I'll be opening day. You can't do that enough.
I'm not proud of it but I've also fondled my turkey load shot shells a few times while no one was looking - I feel so dirty.

By the way, none the two guys shown above are me. Firstly, I'll never get great looking turkeys like those and secondly, I'll be damned if I'll share the spotlight with anyone when I do get my turkey.
Hey, have a great season and here's hoping you get the stupid ones. God knows they won't be where I'm at.

A Jake In Hand Is Better Than A Tom In the Bush

Published: 22.5.2008 by: Tom Morrison

There’s something to be said for clichés. They were never pulled out of thin air and I believe that. Someone, somewhere had an experience that lead to the “quote of the day”. This day, the clichés ran rampant in Essex County of southwestern Ontario.

Let’s start the story off with this one, tried and true cliché “never put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. Friend and hunting inspiration (he’ll love that) Steve Branch is no different than thousands of other hunters anywhere in North America in that hunting turkeys has become a passion. The hunt is just as full of anticipation, strategy and nerve wracking scenarios as any hunter experiences with waterfowl and whitetail. It’s all about the perfect shot, the unbelievable stalk and the magnificent trophy as a result. Well, sometimes the magnificent trophy has to be put on hold if you have the stamina, will and confidence, as we’ll soon hear.

Steve had been hunting a clutch of turkeys for twenty-one of twenty-three days. Rain or shine, his butt was in the ground blind come first light and his hopes sprung eternal for the story book tom. At first, hens were the norm for the hunt. His positioning was good, his calling up to par and his gun up and at the ready, yet no jakes or toms were in the area for the first nine days of the season. At times like these, you begin to doubt your strategy and your resolve can be weakened but for those that stick it out, the rewards could be a memory that gets relived season after season – ideally that is! Steve’s tenth day opened with non-stop gobbling coming from inside the bush. After a few “come see me big boy” calls from the diaphragm, out strutted a big tom in all his splendor looking for love. It was a great sight but unfortunately, the king on the mountain never came close enough for the shot. Hi highness preferred to have the ladies come to him and wouldn’t you know it, one did but from about eighty yards out, definitely out of range. Romeo and Juliet re-enacted their famous bedroom scene for Steve for about 10 minutes until a local “crawler” with his dogs rounded the bush and spooked the lovers out of the area . . . so much for the days’ hunt.

Since then, Steve had seen only jakes and even had the opportunity to fill his tags for the year but chose to wait it out for the ‘big guy’. Upon hearing his exploits and commitment to the tom I had suggested he take a jake and then get selective on the remaining tag, a strategy that he wasn’t quite ready to accept as of yet. Having said that, the next thirteen days were consisted of jakes and hens – hens and jakes and occasionally, a lot of nothing. Now the doubt creeps in and changes of location are in order. Perhaps the lucky underwear comes out or in some cases, the same underwear day after day as if one was flogging ones-self for poor decisions or as a means of stimulation to hasten the success that’s sure to come from such suffering.

Day twenty-three at 5:00am found Steve in his ground blind at the base of a roosting tree staring at his decoys on the field line while awaiting the start of another hopeful encounter with the elusive tom but all the while keeping in mind the “compromise” that may come by way of an unwary jake getting to close for his own good. Would today be the day that Mr. Branch would weaken under the combination of stress from tom withdrawal and jake opportunity? Your damned right it was!

He had started a conversation with a turkey that wouldn’t show itself, rather choosing to remain in the center of the bush. Abandoning his dekes, Steve decided to run and gun and headed towards the gobbler. What follows is the next best thing to being there. I had called him on his cell at 8:50am, certain that his day was done now that the sun was out and the urge for a Timmy’s was sure to be filling his every sense.
This is our conversation, edited though it may be for those underage readers: “hey big boy how did your hunt go”, I said sure in the knowledge he was at the Timmy’s drive through. He whispered back “I’m pinned down by jakes, they’re right in front of me”. I began to whisper back, for whatever reason “no big tom today? This is like a play-by-play phone hunt. ” Steve didn’t answer so I asked “what did you want when you called last night?” Still no answer. Finally after about two minutes he says “I’m going to take a shot . . . he’s right here.” I no sooner said “how big is he” when I heard a shot and a loud “ya!” from the other end of the line.” “I got him – I got him” Steve exclaimed, sounding as though he had a mouthful of marbles when he said “wait a minute I have to take the diaphragm out my mouth. He’s a jake, I couldn’t wait anymore but it’s a nice bird.” I gave a “he-haw” from my end and told him to bring it by and I’ll get some pictures, put on the coffee pot and rustle up some breakfast for him.

As you can see by the pic below, it’s a decent jake and Steve’s smile is just as big as if it was a large tom. The beard was 3.5” and spurs were barely noticeable but this bird was a trophy after 21 of 23 days in the blind(s). A good 30 yard shot of Remington Nitros 23/4 number 4’s was the shot of the year . . . so far. There’s one more tag to fill for Steve and now he can be selective and hunt hard for the tom in the time that’s left.


Steve Branch with a good jake – the hard way

That old cliché mentioned earlier was perfect for today’s event. Had Steve waited for one more tomorrow, those jakes may not have been there. The tom certainly wasn’t there. At this time of the season he may be chasing that elusive dream bird but “one in hand is better than a tom in the bush”. That’s a little writer’s license but you get the idea. As Steve had stated when brought the bird around for pictures “sometimes the best bird is the one that you’ve worked so hard for even if it’s a jake. I busted my butt for a bird and this is sweet!”

There’s no improving on that.