Went fishing Wednesday with son and grandson which was also the first day of my turkey season. Got enough bluegill for a couple meals. Went hunting yesterday morning. Got set up about 10:30 planning to sit till 4:30. I seldom hunt turkeys off the roost anymore as I've gotten older. It can be exciting but I'm not an early morning person anymore. I have shot a lot of turkeys between 10 and 4 o'clock after they leave the hens. I put out a Jake decoy with two hens and hopped in my blind.
I made the Jake decoy about 20 years ago out of an old rubber hen decoy using real dried turkey wings and a real replaceable tail. Lol It's been fooling turkeys for me ever since.
By 3:30 I had only seen a lone hen show up. Was gonna give it one more hour and call it a day when I noticed movement right outside the blind. Three adult Tom's had come in from behind the blind and approached the decoys. They were all in a tight group at full strut circling and pecking at the Jake at 15 yards.
One finally separated so I could make a shot without hitting more than one. The Jake decoy did it's magic again!
The tom was 23.5 lbs and two beards, 9 1/2" and a spindly 6".
The Rem. 870 did it's job and this was the 29th bird it has accounted for in Wisconsin.
Now it's back to fishing and Jake can rest up until the next hunt.

Congrats!

Thats pretty cool, Walt!! I might copy that decoy. The Boy and I are going to try once more Sunday.

Way to go, Walt....and Jake!!!!!

Moosetrot

Good luck to you and the boy. A hunters luck can change from bad to fantastic in a second. Keep the faith!

Congratulations

At 15 yards I an surprised it still has a head. Nice big bird. I've got two weeks to go.....jk

Noticed a lot of younger birds in WI with good beards this year but they lacked the mass of a gobblers body. The younger birds here have pinky sized beards that are pencil thin.

Thanks for sharing the story. Nice bird

Yeah, me to. I skinned out the head and from the waddles forward was nothing but bloody mush under the skin. There's no room for error when they're that close. Would have been a nice shot for a bow.

You did great!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Thank you for sharing. I too use blinds as I have trouble staying still. I can do crossword puzzles while I wait and cluck. I still go out early but I don't know why exactly. The last 8 years I have got 7 toms and 5 were around 10 AM to 11 AM.

Bryce

WTG, thanks for sharing

Congratulations, nice bird and story. Now go get some more fish!