Even though I knew the bird was close, I didn't know I'd be able to hear him pitch down. His wings crashed through the leaves and he gobbled as soon as his feet touched the ground. I couldn't see him, but he had defiantly pitched my way in the woods and he was threatening to enter the field. My heart began to race as I visualized the bird's approach. I slowed my breathing as much as possible and tried to stay clear headed as my hunter's intuition was telling me that it was going to happen. I made an almost involuntary click of the safety on my gun.....pretty much confirming that the bird would step out and lay eyes on the decoys very soon. He gobbled.....right inside of the woods this time. I gave a few more soft yelps and scratched in the leaves. Then, I heard him drum. An unexplained numbness came over me.....and all of a sudden....to the opposite side of my set up...."ooomm". I looked....there in the sun light was a half strut gobbler. He hadn't said a word all morning and had slipped into my set up and was now headed straight for the decoys. He staggered as he entered the field drumming the whole way and cocking his fan from side to side. He got to the decoys and started purring as he postured at the jake look a like. He backed off and went back into a full strut while stepping right outside of the decoys. I clucked twice...he raised his head.... "BOOM!"
It all happened so fast. At first, my confidence was low for not being able to locate a workable bird. Then, I am one on one with a hot gobbler and out of nowhere another one hits the scene ready to fight. It is truly something amazing and hard to explain to those who choose not to hunt these monarchical birds. When I think back.....I don't hardly remember the whole thing...all i know is that the feeling is something irreplaceable and I'll go back for that reason alone.