I tried posting this earlier, but for some reason it never showed up. I am just learning the ropes here.
Anyhow, here is a picture of my bird I shot during the WI 2nd season. After my daughter Danielle filled her tag on Thursday, Mike and I were off to different locations to try and fill our tags. The land I went to, we have hunted the past 10 years. The plan today was to do some running and gunning this morning as the forecast predicted 80 degree temps for the day. Plan was to bag my bird and hit the Mississippi for walleyes. Set up on an old logging road and waited for the gobbling to start. Was greated by several gobbles throughout the valley. As soon as the birds hit the ground the majority of them decided to go up and over the ridge, opposite of where I was positioned. I did have one tom in the field below me and would answer me until a hen joined him and took him over the same ridge as all the other toms went. At this time i decide I should climb to the top and do my running and gunning from up there figuring it would be easier to slip down the ridge if I had to. That morning 6 separate shots rang out on this ridge where all the toms traveled to. Each time I would hear a gun shot, I would immediately hear gobbling. Not sure if any birds fell that morning, but I felt that with the pressure on top of the ridge I would have better luck moving back down and setting up near the field in the bottom of the valley. So I slowly worked my way back down trying not to bump birds as I went. Before I get to the field I slowly scan the field to make sure there isn’t any birds before I run out and set up a decoy. As I am just about to enter the field I notice 3 black objects about 400 yards away. I freeze right there, then all of a sudden, one of the three fans out. Perfect! And they are headed my way. I slowly get to my knees, take off my gear and have to belly crawl so they don’t see me. I need to make it to a log about 20 yards away so I can use it for cover when they make their way to me. After making it to the log, I carefully get into position, but no birds…I am thinking they busted me. I sat up, gave a call and one sounds off, they are only about 100 yards and closing, they are just over a little hill in the field where I could not see them. As they approach, they are fighting, gobbling and strutting all the way to me when I realize all three are jakes. I had already told Mike and Dannir that if a jake presented itself during the season I was taking it so I could have a fan for B-mobile. I took out the range finder and picked out a spot that was 53 yards and figured if they get there I would take one. Everything was coming together, the 3 got in my zone, made a soft call to stop them and let the Mossberg loaded with Winchester 3 1/2 inch number 5 shot do its job. The jake hit the ground and I had a new tail fan for B-mobile along with more turkey meat for the grill.
Another exciting, memorable hunt. This Saturday I will be hitting the woods to see if I can fill my 4th season tag as my wife joins me for that hunt. Next week, Mike and I are off to Minnesota to try and fill our archery tags, and the following week we close the season in Wisconsin. We love this sport and this time of year. For us, it’s never been about the kill, but spending time in God’s creation, and sharing it with the people you care about the most.
