I decided to wait till after opening weekend before going out and trying to find a bird an hour from home.
Tuesday morning I left the truck at 5am and 20 minutes later was hiking passed a patch of timber when a tom erupted off to my right about 50-60 yards. I turned my headlamp off...BUSTED!
Then made a big loop and got around and above where the turkey had gobbled. It began getting light so I gave a couple of sleepy clucks and yelps...the bird blasted a gobble back at me. A raven flew over and the turkey gobbled at the raven's sqwalk. Gave him one more series of yelps and set my call down.
10 minutes later I was thinking he had hopped down and skedaddled out the back door...when I caught movement out front and slightly to the left. He came walking up to 30 yards angled out in front of me. Gave him a couple of YELP YELP's with my mouth and he stopped and stretched his noggin for a better look. 6:15 and the hunt was over! 8.5" beard but NO spurs!
Figured I needed to contribute to my primary feather supply as well as begging you boys & girls for feathers.
