Had a great hunt yesterday morning! Our season came in Tuesday. Between running my gill nets in the early mornings then hopping on the corn planter until dark, I haven’t had the chance to get in the woods, or even do my homework scouting! I went to my honey hole on a blind hunt. A 18 acre corn field secluded with couple hundred acres of pines. Hunted this field since I was 11, but it can be tough to set up on. It’s a big enough field to give the turkeys plenty of options.

Anyway, I knew I had to get in early, because I had no idea where the birds were roosting. There’s a big cedar tree right in the middle of the field, with enough brush around it to hide in. I usually sneak to the tree, wait for the first gobble, and make a quick move to set up. I arrived to the tree plenty early, 5:15 am. I was waiting with all my gear, for the sky to turn colors and a bird to fire off. 6:00 came and the only birds I had heard were a ways off. It was getting light, so I decided to just crawl my gobbler decoy out about 25 yards into the field accompanied with a hen decoy. As I was crawling back, a bird gobbled - close. Close enough my mind wandered, crap I’m busted. Got back to the cedar tree and he continued to gobble. Couple yelps with the lynch box call, had him going off. 6:15 came and a bird dropped into the field, a hen. Followed by a pair of strutting long beards. They approached quickly as the hen fed my way. The two gobblers never dropped strut, and covered 200 yards in 8 minutes. They side stepped around my strutter decoy, and were absolutely fired up. Heads going from white to beet red, spitting and drumming. I chose the one I wanted to take, and hammered him, putting an end to their show. 6:23 . I swear he was seconds from hopping on the decoy. Great morning and my mediocre plan worked out well.

Kids always want to be in the turkey pics lol.

John

Another nice bird!

Nice, thanks for sharing your story.
Awesome family pic with the kids

Congrats John. Hoping to find the time to get out one of these mornings.

Good Job. I will finally be able to hunt in the morning after work.

Awesome!!!

That is a nice one, congratulations!

Great picture.

I've got the same Lynch box and for the life of me cannot get it tuned right... way too raspy on the low end... I run it with the front bands on, back off... chalked well, played around w/ the screw... not really worth it to pay shipping both ways to Lynch... any ideas? BTW, congrats...

Very nice so dark cool!

another nice bird tman guys got some good dinner

Dandy

I am hitting the like button

Greta hunt and story! Great bird too! Thanks for sharing!

Good work. Looks like a nice bird.

WTG, thanks for sharing

Coop, those Lynch box calls are pretty “fool proof.” I hold it in front of me, hinge facing up and bands off. Makes nice yelps. I used to use this as a back up call in case my slate striker was damp, but from the results it became one of my top calls now.

Maybe yours needs sending back and modified if it’s too raspy?

Nice bird John.

Awesome
Great photos

Nice work and a beautiful bird!!!!

Awesome story and love the family photo. Family is truly our only assets that matter in life. Thanks for sharing.