jkratz5
Well-Known Member
Second season behind the gun for my son Ryder. I had been seeing a few birds for a week or so straight in the same field about the same time so was pretty confident we were going to have a good hunt. The only thing I didn't know is where they were roosted so I needed to figure out if I could get to the location I wanted early enough to keep from spooking the birds. Saturday morning the 22nd we made our way about an hr before sun up to the location in the field I had been seeing birds. It was a cold, crisp and calm morning (about 35 degrees) and I was pretty confident the birds would be fired up. About 6:20 two birds sounded off within 150yds, however they sounded like Jakes. They had a very rowdy hen with them on the roost who didn't shut up in the tree for about 30 minutes. Finally, a bit more distant a mature gobbler started to hammer. The jakes decided to pitch down first and on a string came to our setup and started to harass the Avian Jake.
A couple still shots from the video of the spread and early visitors!
![1683909612998.png 1683909612998.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113091-f76fbfc20b0e85c14192b92ed5b5f3f9.jpg)
Ol Boss Hen did not like the Deception Boss Hen one bit!
![1683909667106.png 1683909667106.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113092-5fadcd5b443d262878bef1715d041540.jpg)
Finally, between the rowdy hen yappin in our spread and me calling the mature Tom started to close the distance. He hammered at what sounded to be 150yds and I was pretty confident it was on. About 2 minutes later he gobbled on a logging road at less than 50yds. We couldn't see him yet due to the setup so that gobble got the ol heart racing and puckered me up. About a minute later he strutted out of the woods and put on a show for us.
![1683909749124.png 1683909749124.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113093-be9420b9fed19656cc119d6bba9dafda.jpg)
Calm before the storm!!!
![1683909794923.png 1683909794923.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113094-1fb472267246cae05144914d0d3d9a83.jpg)
He was about 15yds when Ryder let the 12ga. eat and crumpled him without a flop!!
Not sure on weight
9.75" beard
1 1/4" spurs
Glad last years hunt was a grind because this is one of those "perfect drawn up hunts" that rarely happens and I don't want him getting to use to that
. Never thought the day would come when I would be more excited about my kids harvesting an animal than when I am doing the shooting, almost like I am 12yrds old again hunting and cant contain myself!!!! Congrats again Buddy!
![Ryder -2.jpg Ryder -2.jpg](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113090-b10eff0bd723c0f3d984dcd3650eb1cb.jpg)
A couple still shots from the video of the spread and early visitors!
![1683909612998.png 1683909612998.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113091-f76fbfc20b0e85c14192b92ed5b5f3f9.jpg)
Ol Boss Hen did not like the Deception Boss Hen one bit!
![1683909667106.png 1683909667106.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113092-5fadcd5b443d262878bef1715d041540.jpg)
Finally, between the rowdy hen yappin in our spread and me calling the mature Tom started to close the distance. He hammered at what sounded to be 150yds and I was pretty confident it was on. About 2 minutes later he gobbled on a logging road at less than 50yds. We couldn't see him yet due to the setup so that gobble got the ol heart racing and puckered me up. About a minute later he strutted out of the woods and put on a show for us.
![1683909749124.png 1683909749124.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113093-be9420b9fed19656cc119d6bba9dafda.jpg)
Calm before the storm!!!
![1683909794923.png 1683909794923.png](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113094-1fb472267246cae05144914d0d3d9a83.jpg)
He was about 15yds when Ryder let the 12ga. eat and crumpled him without a flop!!
Not sure on weight
9.75" beard
1 1/4" spurs
Glad last years hunt was a grind because this is one of those "perfect drawn up hunts" that rarely happens and I don't want him getting to use to that
![Ryder -2.jpg Ryder -2.jpg](https://iowawhitetail-1dc41.kxcdn.com/community/data/attachments/113/113090-b10eff0bd723c0f3d984dcd3650eb1cb.jpg)