Well my Maryland season is complete with flint bird #2 for the spring. Been hunting a piece of public land near home and hearing a few distant birds, just enough to keep going and trying them. Today I had one gobble a hundred yards away at dawn, got 20 yards closer, set up and began the game. He gobbled quite a bit but at flydown saw several hens go to him. Not a gobble after that, but for the next two hours I could occasionally see birds moving in the woods 50-80 yards away. Big beaver swamp behind them, so knew they likely wouldn't work away from me. Saw the big bird once, 50-60 yards, big beard swinging, but he never got closer. Eventually one started searching for my soft calling and leaf scratching, got just enough glimpse to see his jake beard and when he stepped in a gap in the pines and blueberry shrub I let him have all 90grains and nearly 2oz of #4's. Fifteen paces, he barely flapped.
Forecast to be the last cool - 50 degree - morning of the season and the skeeters were still bad enough that I'm glad I'm done before it gets warm!
