Heard some gobbles off in the distance at daybreak, and we hung out on a field edge calling intermittently. About 8:00 there were two gobbles over past the far side of the field. They started getting closer, and eventually then were in the field headed right for us. I'm all ready to go, gun shouldered, breathing heavy... And my buddy goes, "It's all blurry, all I can see is the sticks in front of us." So I told him to manual focus it to infinity. And he struggled. I was trying to whisper him through it, even though we had just gone over it a half hour earlier. I wanted to reach over and do it my myself but we didn't want to risk spooking the birds. They stopped at about 50 yards out and started clucking. Apparently they didn't like the foam decoy. I asked if he was clear yet so I could shoot. By the time he eventually got the shot somewhat focused, I had too much grass in front of my gun and had to pass on the shot. The birds turned around and walked into a private woodlot. I was a bit frustrated. We saw a couple more distant birds with no luck calling.
Yesterday morning I tried setting up on top of a ridge above the lakeshore roosting areas. Heard a bit of gobbling through the morning rain, along with yelps and clucking. Never could get them to come closer. I got out of the blind and snuck about 150 yards closer over a couple of ravines. They were still gobbling but wouldn't come any closer to save the life of me. Eventually it died off. But, the area I was in had feathers and lots of roost trees, so I set the blind up there for this morning's hunt. In the afternoon, I sat again on the field edge. At 5:10 two hens followed by two toms crossed the opposite corner a couple hundred yards away. I didn't even try to call, knowing it would be useless and not wanting to wise them up any more. I had a decoy out so they would have come if they wanted.
This morning I literally tiptoed as slowly and quietly as I could to the blind by the roost. Heard the first gobbles early, a ways off. I figured they roosted in a different area. Then I heard two gobbles much closer, probably around 80-120 yards. As it got close to flydown, I did a couple purrs and light yelps. They responded. It seemed like they were getting closer, but slowly. Then a flutter of wings and two hens flew down. They were roosted not 30 yards from my blind. I couldn't follow them too well in the undergrowth, but they started yelping in chorus with the gobbling, and they went off in the direction of the toms. The gobbling stayed in the same area for the longest time, then it swung around along the lakeshore to where they were probably 80 yards away, then the gobbling died off and went back in the direction they came from and continued on that way.
So, I knew about exactly where those toms must have been posted up gobbling, so I took the blind down and walked over there. Along the lakeshore there is a flat area that's relatively open and dry, surrounded by trees and undergrowth. I figure they must have gone through there. So I set up and concealed the blind, and am going to sneak back in there tomorrow morning, the last day. I'll have to get past two roosted hens and near the gobblers' roosts unnoticed, but if they continue their pattern, I should have them come within range and put one down, or at least get some good footage.
good luck!!!!
