Cast & Blast - Turkey Hunting - Turkey Hunting

Wednesday and Thursday the 15th and 16th were the last legs of my cast and blast for the spring of 09. Wednesday morning I got in tight before light and the woods were thundering with gobbles. I had a pair of toms within 100 yards of the field edge I was sitting on and one other bird a bit farther out. I heard them pitch down and could tell from their gobbles they were slowly closing the distance to the field corner. Finally I spotted them up the edge, but I couldn’t get them to commit that last 20 yards. They lost interest and headed in the direction of the other lone bird. I made the decision to loop around and try to cut them off. As I was sneaking along the woods road that cuts through the property I could tell I was too late. They were still gobbling and they were beyond where I was headed. I snuck up the road and got about as close to the edge as I figured I could. From last years experience I thought maybe they would come back so I stayed put. Sure enough. About 30 minutes later I could tell their gobbles were getting closer. Now if they would just come that last 20 yards. As soon as I saw them I knew I was in trouble. They were coming, but they were 50 yards out in the field. They strutted and gobbled and put on a heck of a show, but they were in no way going to come any closer. They finally moved up the edge, so I took off and went back to my original morning position. It was now about 9:30 and they had quit gobbling. I sat down and called softly every now and then. About 10:30 I see 2 hens followed by a jake about 75 yards up the field edge. They are angling in front of me and will only get as close as 50 yards. Suddenly I spot the 2 toms following the hens. They all filter past and that pretty much was the end of the activity for the day. Thursday morning I set up a bit closer to where they came out Wednesday. They started to gobble and I could tell they were pretty close to the opposite field edge. With plenty of darkness left I made the decision to follow the woods road and get set up on the other side. I made it over there and they were still roosted. About 10 minutes later they flew down and gobbled maybe 5 more times. I figured they already were with hens and I was pretty much at the hens mercy as to where the toms would head. I called a time or two and got no response. Suddenly about 60 yards up the edge I heard a gobble. I got ready and a minute or so later the hens started to stroll past. I knew it was going to happen if they didn’t spot me. Right behind them were the 2 toms. The first one never left strut. I concentrated on the second and when they got right in front of me I let him have it. 1 3/8″ spurs and a 9 1/2″ beard. The picture is a bit blurry. Check out the Mississippi Walleye forum for the cast.