I suspected the birds would roost along the side of a deep ridge over a small creek like they had been doing for over a month.I was right. The first gobble was less then 100 yards from our setup and this bird wasn't alone. Two toms were going crazy double,triple and quadruple gobbling like nut cases. I thought for sure they must be two year olds! I only called to them a couple times very softly on my new gobblestalker slate and the responded lustily .They soon flew down but instead of pitching down in the woods they flew right out into the center of the field we were hunting. More intense gobbling ensued . They were close but not really moving. We couldn't see them but could hear them drumming like a band!
A few minutes later a bearded hen that hadn't made a sound flew down beside us on the opposite side of the gobblers and this proved to be too much for them! Now they were coming,drumming and gobbling at every step.What a show!!!! Tony saw them first and then I saw both fans coming over the slight rise in the field. They saw the hen first and I yelped at them softly. They turned and strutted side by side right to Paris who was looking as sexy as ever. Tony kept whispering" now? now? now?" It was pure torture but I knew they were fully committed. We needed their vision covered so we could raise our guns over the cover and shoot. These were classic buddy birds with one looker and one strutter.Soon the closest tom about 18" closer then the other one was brushing up against Paris and his fan covered but birds heads. I whispered now and Tony knew he was first up to bat. A few seconds later Tony's 870 roared and the first tom was down for the count. About a second or two later I put the second one to sleep with my 870. What a hunt!! I don't think it could get any better then this morning! That's what turkey hunting is all about! Tony said he nearly had a heart attack!
These birds were both stud toms!!! They had the exact same length of spurs but each had very special beards. MY bird ended up being the strutter and Tony's the looker and like other buddy bird doubles I've been in on the looker was much heavier then the strutter.
My bird was: ....................... Tony's bird was:
17.2 pounds ....................... 21.9 pounds
1 3/16 + 1 1/8" spurs ................ 1 3/16 + 1 1/8" spurs
12 3/4" beard! .................. 10 7/8" + 9 5/8" beards!!!!!
I better guys couldn't have shot that bird and the pleasure was all mine! I'm looking forward to next year already! Here's some pics!
6;24 am
Can you see Tony? The turkeys didn't! He took off his mask for this picture.
what is the name brand of your decoy. ? It looks very realistic.