Winds that were forecasted, didn't materialize. Set up right at dawn with Gobblers popping off all around me. Had 3 longbeards come by the decoys right after daylight, on a mission...couldn't hook 'em in.
About 15 minutes later, I heard this guy gobbling his way in. He drummed and strutted his way around me, and went to the top of the hill. I Peeked out the side window, and saw him in full strut, looking at the decoys. A little sweet talking got him heading my way, but not "all the way" in. Took him out, as he was ready to walk away at just under 20 yards. Double beards, 9 1/2 and 3 1/2 inches, respectively.
My Wife worked a Graveyard shift last night...I actually beat her home, and greeted her holding the bird when she drove in, lol !
One thing I learned a few years ago is it is easier to call them to where they want to be (like the top of the hill) than where you want them to come to. There is a landing from a logging operation on a ranch I hunt where the birds like to strut. Having repositioned from the landing toward gobbling birds and having them go right past my set-up's to where I had just come from, I learned that the hard way. Twice.
Matt, the top of that hill, is definitely a strutting area for a lot of the birds in the area, I totally agree that I could get them to come right in up there. I just haven't found a good place to put the blind up there. The giant live oak is sort of an anomaly, and it is right between the roosting and strutting areas, the perfect backdrop for the blind.
I'm going to have to do some more recon.
