I tried one spot, and just did a series of loud yelps from the road to see if anybirds across this valley would gobble - nothing, so off I went. I opted to try a spot those of you who are regulars may remember a bit... Last fall I noted finding a new bit of land with access from the north and a pond which was town land abutting DCR. I made a game of it for folks with a grid and a "where would you hunt"... Well, I figured it would be a nice walk and knew there were some birds.
First stop on top of the hill, no responses... But about half way down, I get a response - and it was danger close. I picked the closest big tree - an ancient old white oak, and sat down. strapped my favorite crystal call to my leg, put the aluminum call away and stuffed the diaphragm in my mouth.
The bird clearly was coming, but it some how seemed slower than his gobbles belied. I figured he may have a hen... Then I saw a fan just over the edge of the slope. Jake, with that tell tale "stepped" fan. He's gobbling and fanned out and it's fun. But as he walks more up the hill, he's super limping. Just barely getting up the hill, and doing his best strut imitation. 30yds, 20yds, 15yds and closing... Finally the limp gets to me. I was not going to shoot a jake, but that limp... Sooo BOOM.
That was that. That Winchester ammo Spike suggested a year or two ago just patterns awesome, and at that range, it was almost like shooting a really big rifle and basically all the pellets were in a 4-5" section of his neck. I tagged him up. loaded him in the pack of my turkey vest and hiked out, getting to the car with about 15' left in legal time.
On necropsy, it looked like he'd been shot or something in the leg. That sounds impossible given there were no pellets elsewhere... But there were a few holes in the leg just below the hip and a substantial blood clot in that area. I suppose it could have been a predator, maybe a bobcat grabbed him and punctured (I didnt find pellets in there) the tissue... No idea. So it's still mostly a mystery, other than the big clot and substantial limp with a few holes in that general area. Weird.
He's ready to be sausaged or stirfried now :)
I've often wondered, if given the chance while hunting, would I take an animal I'd otherwise have passed, because it appeared hurt... Now I know. Yep.
Spike, the beard looks legit, and at 8" it's not shabby... but he had the longer tail feathers mid tail with the step down on the side 4-5 feathers of the fan on either side. He had good sized spurts, close to half inch. Maybe he was just a late maturing 2 year old... I'm just programmed to call em a jake when the fan has the steps on the sides...
After the covid vac/side effects monday, doggo going in for oral surgery tuesday and yesterdays rain in the am...Today would have been my first day out but I forgot to set the alarm. barely made it to work on time. lol
Will...could he have been spurred by at boss tom in a fight?? that should at least get him more street cred anyway. lol