After 6 days of calling and several walks with Pi trying to find them, we got er done on Monday. Flat wore her out during the heat of the day trying to find them Friday and Saturday, mixed in with am and pm teal hunts. Sunday pm skipped the teal and talked to several birds for an hour or so. Pi was whining off and on, anxious to go find them. We took a walk but just pushed the birds off the property.
I left her in the truck Monday am and set up close to the same spot. I spend 3 hours talking to several birds on both sides of me. It slowed down a little and figured I better go water and let her out of the truck. Sure as shoot as soon as I let her out the calling to the west gets louder with several birds coming. I get her and me around the other side to hide, but we were busted by not only the birds to the west but also the group to the east.
It was about 9:30 so decided to take a drive to the other end of the property before heading to the house for breakfast. I thought I spotted some birds sitting under a shade tree, got out the binoculars and took a look. Couldn’t see a thing, so I started up the truck, went another 25ft and saw a head pop up in the same spot.
Game on, I let Pi out and we we’re in pursuit. They were about 250 yards away, Pi quartered the cover in front of us well and locked up tight at the shade tree. The birds were on the run, I sent her on and off we go. I tell myself stick with the dog and I did. Another 100 yrds or so through the willows I spot her and they flush. They were 60-70 yards by the time I could get a bead on any them so didn’t take the shot. Look up and there were still two small Jakes not 30yrds from me standing with their heads in the air looking. :sniper:
I really wanted to shoot one on the wing over her, but I didn’t hesitate taking him on the ground. She did her part big time and I’m really pumped, this is something I've wanted to do for years. A little jake but my first turkey and I had the pleasure of getting him with my partner, Pi Baby, my Honey Pi.
Pics didn’t come out too good, discovered after the fact I had big water spot on the lens so part of the pics are cloudy….must have been from the teal hunt Sunday am.
Pi’s a little tired but sure proud of her bird. After two hours cleaning and plucking, I was glad it was a small jake. A few pics from our teal hunting