Spent some quality time w/ my Mother over the weekend. We were back out Tuesday, guiding Mark and Steve from Stafford, Va.. The day was long ….. Turkeys were very tight lipped. Never heard a gobble. We made many sets - worked every call we owned. Changed up on our plans, and made an afternoon set. Put one jake decoy out along a field edge where we could see that the birds were “bugging” and dusting.  Had Mark up in the woods about 5 feet from the edge watching the decoy, and the fields edges leading up to the decoy. Put his pal; Steve on another set, using 3 decoys ( jake, hen, and a strutting Tom). Mark made his harvest 45 minutes into his afternoon hunt - nice Tom weighing 20 lbs, w/ 11 inch beard and 1-1/2 spurs. Two hours later, Steve made his harvest …. a young Tom w/ 4 inch beard. Great hunt!!!

Went back out this morning w/ my guest; Cody, from Virginia Beach. We set out a hen and a jake decoy along a field edge, next to a swamp. By 6:45am we had 3 hens and a jake that was too young to harvest (no beard). They worked that field around the decoy for awhile, then moved on to the woods. We moved, made 3 more sets … no luck. Made our way into some big oaks, with a good running creek. No decoys - hit the call once …. and we got a gobble!!! Worked this Tom for about 15 to 20 minutes … he wanted us. Got him in at 30 yards, 8 inch+/- beard. Gave Cody the go-ahead. Cody fired one shot. The whole load connected with a tree branch, and both him and the Tom got an education.  Great hunt …. good hunters, good weather, and sly Turkeys. Time to plant food plots for fall - take care. 

Ahhh - was it cool yesterday morning. Temperture was at 41 deg. and the Turkey’s had lock jaw. Had a few gobble early …. then the morning was silent. Set up in a high populated Turkey spot …. but nobody was interested in our clucks and yelps. Moved by 9:00am to another farm. Worked a pine knoll … nothing. Moved to a back field - worked the call …… got a responce from across the pond. Got set up to work the Tom across the pond, when a hen was spoted in the field with a tall Tom strutt’n his stuff. Tried to get him to look our way …… but the real thing was to good to leave. No luck …. but it was fun!! Tak’n a break until after MOTHERS DAY.

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.  

It’s almost time …. We have been scouting our fields and wood lines for Turkeys. This past week we have spotted several flocks w/ Toms strutt’n. Not much gobblin going on in the morning …. the temperature is still cool.