SneakyJake Camp 09

[sneakyjake]

We had a great time this year.  Four hunters, we all filled our tags on nice birds, most of which came into calls.   Had my kids come to camp for the first time and really enjoyed them being there.  Secured some more private land that really tied in all of my other properties.  Still spent a lot of time on public cuz the birds were there and the people weren't.  Couldn't get to half of my area due to snow second year in a row.  Took my first tom off of a snippet of private greenie land in the middle of my area.  You gotta love that.  Bird was walking down the fince line at 4 pm with some hens when we passed the house on the way home.  Parked, ran into the woods and called him through the fence line and popped him at about 10 feet in full strut.  Sorrry greenies. Next two birds to go down were a  double of jakes we called in.  Steve missed the tom in the group as they were coming at us up a hillside.  Jakes just kind of stood there after the shot, Steve couldn't contain himself, premature jakeelation.  Now that he was tagged out he had to watch us sluice a string of gobblers for the next 4 days while he called.  It was good for him.  He called in a tom from about 300 yards accross the face of a ridge.  I was on the other side and could hear everything.  Fred nailed him at 20 paces.  I called in five toms at the same spot 2 hours later while a hen was on her nest yapping her head off.  Dad shot the first one that showed it's beautiful red/blue head.  We could have shot the others, but we let them go so we wouldn't spook them.  Shot first tom off of the roost in a long time.  You know how it is; lots of show, lots of noise, rarely a shot.  Third morning roosted three toms, got under them at 60 yards, they pitched the opposite way as usual.  Could hear a massive amount of gobbling and yelping around the hill as they frollicked.  Then the rarity, the silent strutting tom appeared at 30 yards.  Thought he could get a piece of strange from Fred, but all Fred had was 3 1/2 5's.   My family showed up and I sat in a blind with the kids two mornings in a row.  Had five gobblers strutting, fighting, &*%&%&^.  Lots of hens and jakes with them.  I'm glad they finally got to see why we come over.  I didn't connect in front of them so the last day I went out alone.  Got busted on 4 properties in a row.  The last flock caught me 30 yards from my truck.  They didn't see much, but they left the field into the woods.  I ran 400 yards around to flank and call, spooked a rabbit out of it's den.  Rabbit screamed bloody murder all the way back towards the field.  Multiple gobblers shocked at the rabbit from about 30 yards (I didn't even know where they were).  I gave a couple of yelps and they ran 10 yards straight at me and I filled my tag and made it back to camp just as my kids were getting loaded in the car.  Great year.  My wife says she wants to get her license for next year.  Pandora's box?

[sneakyjake]

more pics

[sneakyjake]

more pics

[turkey slayer]

Nice pics and looks like alot of memories

[wastickslinger]

Looks like a great time!! Good looking birds.

[Wacenturion]

Great looking pictures....thanks for sharing.

[LITTLEBUCK]

Steve, just to bring bacK a little memory for you from the fair grounds, JAKE KILLER, JAKE KILLER, JAKE KILLER.  Good job guys, see you next year.

[turkeydancer]

Sneaky - Nice looking birds.  You know you must take the Sereness ... no is not an option here buddy !  So is Steve now known as tghe Jakester?  Sorry I wasn't at the fairgrounds this year ... probably back there next year though.  I here the pole barn was a truly lonely place this year without me there (just kiddin') ...

[Machias]

Congrats, thanks for sharing the photos.

[bowhunterforever]

Awsome pics and congrats on all the birds!

[fishunt247]

Sweet deal. Congrats on the season

[sneakyjake]

Thanks guys.  It was a great season.  I got there on Monday and left on the following Tuesday.  I was the last one at the fairground.  I haven't spent that much time there since I worked over there.  It was nice to see everyone at the campground and also meeting some new people.  We are trying to get back over for deer season this year.  I have not hunted deer there before, but it might just be fun to see the place in the fall.  Maybe kill a fall bird.  I haven't shot a bird in the fall since I lived in PA.  I am trying to prepare my wife to smokepole a deer, good luck, I hunt archery and don't know schmack about guns.  Neither does she.  Camp wasn't the same without you AL.  Hope everything goes well.  Don't laugh after the surgery, it's a bugger.

[fc2038]

Looks like you had a great trip. Congrats!

[robb92]

Great pics!!! Looks like you all had a really good time!

[Phantom Gobbler]

Sneaky,

Holy smokes, you guys cleaned up this year!   Really enjoyed the pictures and the blow by blow details of your hunt.  Some of my hunting partners have the fever bad this year and just headed back over for weekend number three!  Rampant NW Longbeard Fever may be gaining on the Swine Flu!!!!!   

Let us know if your secret weapon is still your Backwoods Call(s)?