Got a gobbler on Friday morning

Copiah County, MS


With the St. Patty's parade this weekend and us riding in it I decided to take off Wednesday-Friday to hunt birds on the opener. Heard a few gobbles Wednesday and Thursday but didn't get close to anything.

Thursday evening I set up on a foodplot where I assumed some birds may filter through heading to roost. Sat down at 4pm, and gave a call a few minutes later. I hard footsteps coming so I ready the gun and I see a bright red head come over the hill. As he clears the hill I then see he's a jake. Made for a fun encounter but I watched him and his jake buddy walk off.

An hour before dark I hear steps again but they stay on the downhill side of the plot and I never see it. Then the bird flies up to roost about 100yds from me. I can not find the bird in my binos to save my life (after seeing it fly up. they disappear in trees somehow). I sneak out through the back and get to the 4 wheeler. Right at dark the owls sound off and he gobbled! See ya in the morning!



Morning comes and I'm a pot of coffee down and seated in the same spot as the night before by 6:15. I didn't want to make any owl noise or anything because he should be right where I left him. Around 6:40 I hear the first gobble, about 1 mile back, nothing from the near bird yet. Then another turkey gobbles, he's 400 yards away over the creek (didn't gobble last night). Still nothing from the close bird. Finally after the other 2 had gobbled a fair amount, the one that went to roost near me gobbled! I waited 5 minutes and gave a quiet tree yelp on the slate, he didn't answer, and I didn't call again.

When he flew down I couldn't see him but heard the branches and wings, he no doubt flew down to the plot I was in but the far side, out of sight. I waited and waited to no avail. He didn't show up. 10 minutes pass and I hear a bird gobbling north of me where the 2nd closest one was. I call and he answerd. I wait. 10 more minutes. I call again and he answers again, but further. I hop up and take off. Traveled about 300 yards to attempt to get around him. I yelped on my mouth call then heard the loudest tree rattling gobble not 80 yards out. My butt hits the ground at the 1st pine tree I saw.

No less than a minute from sitting I see a white head coming through the trees, then another and another. 3 gobblers come into view at 60 yds in full strut! They hang up there strutting, looking, and gobbling. I made some soft yelps in hops to bring them in closer but they were holding still and scanning for the hen. After about 5 minutes of this stand off, one of the birds comes in 15 yards closer and presents a shot. I squeezed off and he balled up!

I couldn't have been happier. The way it all unfolded was just what you'd hope for. Hearing them drumming and gobbling and the subtle thunder sound after the gobble. If I didn't have my face covered up someone could have seen my smile from New Orleans as these birds were working in.