After last year, 20 days before I even found my eastern. I scouted yesterday in a spot I gave up on last year. Last year no sign at all, not a feather, dropping or track. This year, I think I could have filled a dump truck up with the sign. I followed my instinct. And ran head on into one of the biggest toms I have seen on the west side. He had 9 healthy hens with him. I could hear him drumming 1/4 mile away and snuck to within shot gun range and watched him for an hour before he walked off. All the while, he and the hens were being swooped on by a couple ravens. Those darn buggers, why dont they let us open season up on them. Many a time I have seen them fly over carrying a turkey egg. Anyway things are looking up again, for completing my slam early. We will see. Contemplating trying bow this year. I have allready gotten them of course with shot gun, and also muzzleloading shotgun.
