The Chess Match

9 June 2009

Day Four of our Pennsylvania hunt found us playing cat-and-mouse with another mixed flock of hens, jakes, and longbeards. Cameraman CJ White and I were hunting these birds, when we received a text message from Pro-Staffer, Rick MacFarlane. Rick told us that he had gotten permission to hunt another property, and that he was watching birds feed and strut as we spoke. It didn't take us long, and we were on our way!

After glassing the birds briefly, we set up - a great location, but it just didn't pan out. Same story with our second set-up; the gobbler would only come so close, and then drift back to the hens and jakes. But CJ had noticed where the tom was turning around - the bird's Comfort Zone - and our third move put us right there. With the camera running, I gave the old boy a short series of yelps - That did the trick! With one of the jakes just eight yards away, the longbeard hesitated for just an instant - but it was all the time I needed. Checkmate! Lesson learned!

If a bird seems hesitant to come those last few yards, find his Comfort Zone - and then get in it. It can, and often does make all the difference.