Kentucky turkey hunting - days 13 & 14

...and the frustration continues. I think God must really be testing me with this season. Not sure exactly what He's testing, though. Maybe patience? Maybe staying focused on what's really important?

The last two days of hunting have been exciting as it gets, without actually filling a tag. Yesterday, I got set up on a group of birds that have been feeding on an adjacent farm, across a small road from one of the farms that I hunt. It was a gobbler with around 5 hens, and he was fired up. I watched for over an hour as he strutted and gobbled and slowly worked his way down towards the road that seperated the two properties. They ended up crossing further down than what I expected, so once they dropped out of sight, I had to make a bee line down the fence to try to get set up close enough for a shot when they crossed. Evidently, one of the hens must have seen some movement during all of this, because when they crossed the fence, they were moving at a pretty good clip - not running, but not nearly as leisurely as they had been. They disappeared behind a "hump" in the field and I used the opportunity to belly crawl up to the high point and peak over. when I did, I saw the top of the gobblers head off to my right. I couldn't see enough of it to take a shot, so I made the mistake of popping up on my knees. Of course, he saw me immediately, and before he could bolt, I put my shotgun bead on his neck and pulled the trigger...then watched as he flew off unscathed. It was a longer shot than I realized, and one that I shouldn't have taken (in retrospect).

Today - Today, I was determined just to sit in one spot and wait for something to happen. I didn't want to trampse all over the farm just trying to get something to gobble. So, I sat down, leaned up against a big red oak and proceeded to take me a little siesta. I was awakened once to two whitetailed deer feeding about 10 yards behind me, which was a pretty cool surprise...for both of us! A short time later a nearby gobble quickly brought me back to the task at hand. A few soft hen calls and he gobbled again. I could tell he was up in the big field behind me, so I worked my way around and slipped up to the edge of the field behind a big tree that was laying over. Sure enough, he was out in the middle heading away from me. I began to call to him and he quickly spun around and started to strut his stuff. For about 10 minutes, we went back and forth and he was SLOWLY headed my way. Two steps, strut and gobble...then gobble some more. I didn't want a repeat performance of yesterday, so I was determined to get him in to 20-30 yards. When he was somewhere around 50 yards out, the inevitable happened - a real hen, with a jake in tow show up on the opposite side of the field. Of course, he quickly turned his attention to the jake in an effort to show him who was boss. Long story, short - the Tom never closed the distance, and I wasn't able to get back on him before it was off to work. Another great morning hunt, but still no breast meat to deep fry!

I have to work tomorrow morning, but will be back in the woods Sunday with high hopes. Stay tuned, this season ain't over yet!!!