JALA RUT

First day back out here since last Monday and after dedicating this past Fri, Sat, & Sun to some fishing time. All's quiet at the usual roost site only hearing spring peepers, song birds, and some distant crows so far but still feels good to be back out here. Hopefully the turkey action picks up though.

A little luck this morning in the turkey woods. No goobling heard from roost or early morning. At about 8:45, I fired one up with some excited clucking&cutting. He sounded off so distant, I wasn't actually sure he responded to me or just a coincidental gobble way off. I then did some yelps and got no response. So to test if he had responded to me, I tried clucking and cutting again. He gobbled and sounded like he was a little closer, but still a ways off, so I gave a few reassurance clucks and purrs, then put down the pot call and waited for him to hopefully show up. After about 10 minutes and not hearing or seeing anything, I got nervous when some crows sounded off in the area and he didn't shock gobble at them. So, I decided to cut again to see if he was still in the area. I gave a series of clucks and cutting and he hammered right back with 2 gobbles and was now really close. After a few minutes I could hear him walking in the leaves and he let out a massive gobble right behind me...Love that sound, close up! I could hear him thumping going in and out of strut behind me and then he finally came into view, but walking on the wrong side of me. He walked by my right side at about 7 yds and I knew there was no way I could turn on him for a shot. I figured to let him go by me and turn for a shot if I got a chance when his head went behind a tree. But then, he caught sight of my decoys (jake with 2 hens) to my left and he crossed in front of me at about 10 yards, heading to the decoys. He strutted around the decoys for about 30 seconds and I was able to get the gun in position when his head was blocked by his fan. When I shot him he was standing right next to my jake decoy at about 15 yards. What an exciting hunt! About 1" spurs and about a 9.25" beard.

Set up on stand waiting for daylight. Funny how days differ with activity. Yesterday all day sit and only saw 1 doe the whole day...makes for a long day on stand. Day before that, saw 4 different small bucks and some does. Today's sit will only be until noon and then packing it in to go to a wake. Feels very deery out here. Good luck all!

Packed in for 3rd all day sit in a row. Small bucks are chasing again at least, so hopefully some big boys will be in on the action soon. Yesterday passed on a small 6pt chasing and grunting behind a doe and later a small basket racked 8pt that meandered by on the does trail. Seen 4 different small - medium sized bucks yesterday. Today already had a deer cruise by in the dark while sitting on stand waiting for daylight. Feels like its going to be a good day. Good luck all!

Packed in for another all day sit. Hopefully there'll be more action than yesterday. Only saw 3 doe yesterday. Good luck all.

Can't beat a lunch 20' up.

Packed in for first all day sit of the season. Been on stand since about an hour before sunrise and nothing seen yet. But it can change in an instant and today starts my huntcation, not back to work until 11/9. Good luck all!

Bow is my favorite by far but still enjoy slinging my rifle and my muzzleloader duing those seasons too.

Finally, first sit of the season. Feels great to be on stand again! Good luck all

Close...was on my boat instead of kayak but did hook into a nice northern. Catch and released after the pic

Thank you for the BD wishes.

Anybody out today hearing any gobbling? Dead quiet in the woods that I'm in this morning.

I actually just got the same one off Amazon about 3 weeks ago but haven't put it out yet. I'll be getting it out there over the next week or two.

So, this is pretty cool...On the hike yesterday when I found the sheds, I got pics of a buck still holding onto one side of his shed antlers. I think he might be the buck that dropped one of the sheds I found. His antler looks pretty similar to coloration and symetry to one of the ones that I found...and he was in the general area of the direction where the fresh tracks were going.

Found yesterday on my hike. Plus seen a bigger buck with 1 side dropped.

Me too! Only 282 days until Oct 1st...My count down has already begun.

By location or encounters when created. My property: Creek Ladder Creek Mound Cousins Ladder The Blind Short Ladder Pine Rock Back of Pond Ladder Behind Pond Ladder At cousin's camp: Powerlines Stand Original Powerlines Stand Twin Ponds Crows Nest Pine Run #1 #2 Red Pines Blind Red Pines Stand Dog Leg Ladder Clear cut

So sorry for your loss NYTracker. Hope you find the peace that you're looking for in the woods... and a deer.

Packed in for another all day sit. 8 doe seen yesterday, 0 bucks. Passed on 6 of the 8. Today may be a doe patrol day instead of waiting for a buck. Good luck all.

Just set up in the stand waiting on sunrise. Planned all day sits today and tomorrow to wrap up the last weekend of gun. Good luck to all still out there.

I had one lay down next to its mother after I shot her,. Stood there until I climbed out of my tree and walked towards them. Then he walked back a couple of times before finally taking off after I threw a stick at him. Nothing against guys that do, but I won't shoot a doe with a fawn after that. I know the fawn can survive, but I just felt like crap inside.

So sorry to hear. Happy travels over the Rainbow Bridge Remi. Feb 1 will be 3 yrs for my little buddy Colby and still miss him dearly. Got him as a puppy at 2 months old and he was 16 yrs and 3 months old when we had to put him down. It was such a hard decision but the right one for him. Never had the heart or ability to replace him...I just couldn't. They truly are family.

Out of work and in stand by 1:30 for the last few hours. Feels deery out here with the rain passed. Good luck all out.

Rain stopped in 8F, out today until about noon and not back to work until Monday. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and good luck to all out.

Feels good to be out here for another opening morning. Hunt hard, hunt safe, hunt ethically, and have fun! Good luck all.