Up early to the sounds of rain. Out to hunt by 5:45am with my two guest; Mike from Winchester and John from Stafford Va. Rain tappered off around 6:00am. By 6:15am the Turkeys were getting a little vocal. John did the call’n for his friend Mike ….. togeather, they had a nice Tom, two jakes and some hens mixed in. For over 45 minutes, John talked turkey with the flock. The ole Tom fell in love with John ……. but was harvested by Mike. He sported a 10 1/4 inch beard, and 1 1/4 spurs. The hunt was over by 7:05am. 

We were back out Saturday morning (26th) ….. bumped two Turkeys off the roost before 5:30 am. Worked the area … no responce …. moved up to the back of the farm …… worked the box call  …. no luck. Moved into a pine ridge …. worked both the box call and a new slate call, custom made by James Taylor (www.jltaylorcustomcalls.com) Bam!!! a gobbler came back to us from where we just left from the back of the farm. We worked that Tom for 2 hours. He came to with’n 40 yards from us with hens. We did not have any decoys with us …. but I feel if I did, he would have been more commited to crossing a small field. He worked us, and we worked him ….. in the end, both Mr. Tom and I got more educated. It’s not about the harvest as much as it is in the education gained from being part of the outdoor experience.    

Two for two … that’s what my guest; Fred did …. took a big Tom on Monday ….. and Tuesday - took his second big Tom. Tuesday started off great - The Toms were rattling the tree tops, but could not get anybody to dance w/ us ….. we moved by 7:00 am - spotted a hen - set up …. worked 3 types of calls ….. we were answeared with a loud gobble - brought him in ……. in full strutt.

Take’n a break until the end of April -  

WOW!!!!!!!! Dogwoods are flowering, shad and herring are running, and the Tom Turkeys are shaking the tree tops. Saturday showed great success for my Nephew. He took his first - 20 1/2 lbs. 11 in. beard, one spur. Monday (today) success came again for my guest, who worked a Tom w/ 3 seperate calls (plunger, slate, and at the end …. the box call).  We had 6 gobbling at 6:00 am, and by 7:30 am, our tag was used.