Wil calls in his 1st Longbeard

[DoveHunt]

We have not had much time in the Turkey Woods this year with business picking up and Wil's Lax schedule. We managed to get in a hunt this Saturday before his 10:30 game. Started on a property that held a bunch of birds in the fall, but as is usual they are not always where they are in the fall in the spring. Had one bird gobble maybe 5 times on the roost and very spread out. No love after fly down so we walked the prperty from one end to the other checking all the plots and big woods, not a peep. Decided to move to a property that is about 10 min from the lax field and give it a cut n run. We had 45 min or so to cover some serious ground. About 1/3 the way around the property we here a distant bird respond twice but no love. Kept moving all the way around cutting some near the property line produced no response then moved toward a food plot before heading out. Popsy and Wil stayed back on the road as I eased up to plot to glass, nothing noda nobody home. Waived popsy and Wil up and time to call it a morning. "Dad let me try my NWTF Jakes box call once!!" says Wil. After a couple yelps his eyes where as big as saucers and Popsy and I where like "what!" Wil says you didn't hear that??" nope "lets go back in woods and try again!" ok...Sure enough he slams back from a long way off on the other side of property line where we just came from...Set up decoy in road, set up against a big oak.. me, Wil, and Popsy side by side. Wil keeps yelping and the ol boy keeps screaming back getting closer and closer. Then popsy gets excited and is whispering "there he Is" The gobbler steps out on road about 80 yds down and heads for the decoy full strutt going sideways. Wil does a great job keeping his head down and pointing at his lane and does not even look up at bird coming. He steps in the lane and Wil takes a few seconds and next thing you know the gobbler is feet higher than head. A tru Jelly head. What an incredible morning. What makes it so special is that Popsy was there with us and was backing Wil up. Wil got a Jake a few years ago, after many years of trying Popsy has not been able to get one close enough to witness a shot. High fives all around.

[thoffman]

way to go. He called kim and killed him!!! Congrats to Wil. That's one heck of a beard on him. Got any specs on the bird? Looks like a good one.

[DoveHunt]

Most likely a 2 yr old. 9 1/2 inch beard 1 inch spur. Did not get the weight.

[oftenn]

Great job Wil and Pops. That sure is a beautiful long beard. Thank you for the pic. Time to go get another

[NY Bearhunter]

GREAT DAY FOR SURE...

[Dave Sikorski]

Congrats to all three of you. That's what I call a great way to spend a morning in the woods.

-D

[WAHOONBOX]

WOW....YOU EVEN BROUGHT BROTHER ERNIE OUT WITH THIS COOL STORY!


WIL YOU ARE MY HERO DUDE!!!

[weekender]

that thing has a paint brush for a beard, CONGRATS all around, again, WAY TO GO WIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ace1st]

Nice calling there WILL......you were obviously tellin that bird something he wanted to hear. Those JAKES box calls got a sound that makes them TOM TOMs come runnin. Sounds to me like you need to do the callin while Dad and Popsy do the shootin. Way to go!!