<p style="MARGIN: 0px">Took my buddy from opening day out this morning. I only have about an hour and a half before work, so it has to happen first thing or he's screwed. He doesn't really know how to call yet.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px">We went to one ridge top and all the gobbles were on the next ridge over. We huffed it over there and by the time we got to the top, the birds had moved to the creek bottom. We setup directly above them on a logging road and setup for the call through. The birds didn't gobble at any of my calls until I hit the gobble shaker. I knew that there were at least 4 birds down there and that is the only time I will use it. They hammered it everytime and made their way up the hill and hung up at 51 yards. While they were coming up the hill, I was walking back and forth on the opposite side of the ridge top calling with every step like a lost hen. They showed up and there was 2 big toms and 4 jakes with a bunch of hens. The 2 big boys were strutting it up but wouldn't come to the decoys. Everytime the jakes would make a move towards the hens or decoys, the toms would double team them and whoop them. The hens moved off to the opposite end of the logging road and the toms followed.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px">We gave it about 15 minutes and slowly crept towards them. We rounded a bend and saw them strutting and fighting in a powerline clear cut about 70 yards away. There was a fallen down tree that we knew we had to get to in order to have a shot. We crawled on our knees until we made it to the tree. The big toms then moved out of site and to the left, but were still only 15 yards out through some brush. I hit the calls and they went nuts, but the first birds to show at the opening was the 4 jakes. They came into less than 10 yards, but I couldn't get that tom to clear that brush. M</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px">I guess my buddy decided that he wanted a jake, because he pulled the trigger without telling me! I don't know how, but he MISSED cleanly with not one, but two shots at less than 10 yards. At that time, it was time for me to leave for work and he stayed. </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px">Saw 3 strutters in another powerline clearing about 200 yards away from him on my way out, so I'll let you know if he connects. (Doubtfull)</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px">Felt good to hear the woods awaken this morning. It was a great morning for hunting with the sunshine and all.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0px"> </p>