The Silent Treatment

9 June 2009

After returning to Ohio from Kentucky, we made plans to hunt with Zink Pro-Staffer, Rick MacFarlane, in Pennsylvania. Despite in-depth scouting by MacFarlane and hunting partner, Bradley, the birds just didn't want to be movie stars that first morning.

Roosting birds that evening proved productive, as we located a small flock in a field between two blocks of timber. With that information, we positioned ourselves between the roost and the field - a great set-up, but it would mean getting into place long before daylight.

Not a problem, and we found ourselves on location long before legal shooting time the next morning. As the woods came alive, we were jolted awake by a gobble not far from our blind. After some back-and-forth conversation between ourselves and the flock, I gave a fly-down cackle...and then shut up. A few minutes later, and the field in front of us filled up with birds - unfortunately, the big gobbler wasn't one of them. GOBBLE! He was coming, though, and there he was, 80 yards away. Calling with both the Power Hen and a diaphragm, I had the old boy on string, but he was too far to Rick's right for a clear shot. Without warning, the longbeard started to walk back down the hill, moving to the left as he walked. Finally, though, he stepped into the clear, and Rick - and Mister Beretta - had the shot they were waiting for.