What a trip

**Lphunsjr** · May 4, 2020

Went upstate with my good hunting pal and my wife. Hunted the opener and had great action. Heard a gobble right off the bat but he got hung up out of my sight. Big smart gobbler. Started to rain so sat in one of the blinds we set up overlooking a field. Friend starts calling and had a huge group of Jakes come in and a few hens. I passed, waiting for the Tom, but he didn't come in. Had a late night but told the wife to meet me in the blind at 8, but we were still going to try for the Tom early in the morning. Set up on him a little deeper and my man had him going right out of the gate. We were competing with the neighbor,,,,as we can here calls in the distance. Tom went toward them but turned around as he must have liked buddy's call a little better. Again,,,,,he comes in but out of range! 5 Jake's follow him, but I pass. Getting close to 8 so I make a move to the blind, set up a Jake decoy, and meet the wife. She is in there maybe 5 minutes and I here a gobble from the other direction. I scratched the call and sat. I peak out and see a bird,,,,,, it's him, the big boy! I freak out and tell her to get ready. Told her as soon as he picks his head up, put the bead on his neck and squeeze the trigger. Next thing ya know,,,,,BOOM. The 1187 barks. I peak out and he's flopping around. Unbelievable experience that all happened so fast,,,,we were both happier for her than if it were us. Huge congrats to her. Maybe the secret is to sleep in and hunt for 15 minutes, lol. Moving on to day 3, I told myself now I will be taking the biggest Jake I see tomorrow, lol. We set up and heard gobbles from every direction. It was unbelievable. After a few calls, 8 Jakes cross the top of the ridge and come down into the field. They were met with 4 more Jakes and a few hens. Birds everywhere!! I wait because we are still getting answers from across the field. Look up and 4 more Jakes are making there way to some hens. We Have 20 birds around us at this point. I get the Mossberg 835 up on my knee. The Jakes are gobbling but so close together, I can't shoot or I will take out the pack. One Jakes fans out and the other 3 step away. He was the one. I put the bead on his neck and Boom! Dropped him in his tracks. Beautiful, nice sized Jake, my first turkey kill. Super pumped. Sat another day trying to get my buddy on a bird but it was a slow morning. 2 Jakes out of range and a big hen. Left NY with 2 birds, wife taking the trophy but I couldn't be happier. My buddy didn't even care that he didn't shoot anything, but helped us each get our first bird and I am grateful. Thanks to my other pal for letting us hunt his property. When I showed my wife my bird, she said " Oh, he's cute" . It's gonna be a long ride home, but I couldn't be prouder. Add a Jake to Team Pork Roll.