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Mike Roux: Patience pays off when hunting Tom Turkey

It was at least 40 minutes before sunrise and we were still 300 yards from the spot where my turkey hunting buddy Trey Reneau wanted us to set up. I tell you that because we were both shocked to hear five or six toms already gobbling on the ridge across the river.

The bottom field where Trey had us put out my decoys was below the ridge where the birds were roosted. Trey told me this spot was either feast or famine. He said if the turkeys pitch off and fly across the river to us, the field would fill up with big black birds. If they came straight down they would go to the ridge and we would never see them. We had our fingers crossed.

The gobbling off the roost was as good as it gets. As we heard the morning flydown start we both began short calling sequences. The toms responded but at 7 a.m. the only turkeys to make it to the field were two hens.

Meanwhile, across the river a single tom gobbled twice, a mile behind us on a distant ridge. At 7:30 a.m. he gobbled again, but now he had cut the distance in half. The next time we heard him he was in our field, about a quarter-mile off. I eventually saw him with my binoculars.

As we called to him he answered and like clockwork the two hens in the field went right to him. We heard them again at the top of the hill and then they were gone. We stayed until noon.

However, before we left we went to the corner of the field where he came out. We prepared our spots for the next morning. If he came out there again the second day we would be waiting on him. Also, if the river bottom birds pitched off into our field they too could see our decoys, giving us an equally good shot at getting their attention.

That night I was the guest of Trey and his lovely wife, Brittanie. I got to meet their son, Brantley, and mesmerized him with some elementary magic tricks. The Reneaus own and operate Tater Creek Whitetail Outfitters in Fulton County near Ipava, Ill. Along with more than 1,000 acres of amazing white-tailed deer hunting and comfortable accommodations, they also have some of the finest turkey hunting habitat I have ever seen.

The next morning we were in our spot like burglars on a good night. Finally a couple of toms across the river woke up. The gobbling on the second morning was not nearly as intense as the previous day. Fewer toms were gobbling and the ones that were talking were not at all fired up.

Worse, there was no activity above and behind us. The old boy we had set up on was nowhere to be heard. "This is frustrating," Trey said to me quietly. "They have lockjaw," I responded.

About 7:30 a.m. two hens came into the field. They were feeding quietly and did not appear to have a care in the world. Trey did not have much on his mind, either. He was laying on his side and snoring lightly.

At first I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. I could have sworn I heard Tom drumming somewhere behind me Then nothing. Darn!

Later, I thought I heard it again. But then nothing but silence.

The third time I heard it there was no doubt in my mind whatsoever what it was. I distinctly heard the spit and drum of a strutting gobbler. And he was close.

I slowly pushed the safety off on my shotgun. Shortly thereafter the tom stepped out about 15 yards to my left and went straight to my strutting jake decoy. That is where he died.

You can reach out to Trey Reneau at Tater Creek Whitetail Outfitters at (309) 224-7028 and www.tatercreekwhitetailoutfitters.com. Ask him his deer hunting opportunities, as well. Tell him I sent you.