Time: 6:25 a.m.

Beard: 4"

Spurs: 1/4"

Weight: 13 lbs.

I was late for the hunt as usual, My boss Walt and I got setup in the woods around 5:45 a.m. I setup a single hen decoy and waited for daylight to arrive. I started out with a few soft tree calls and was immediately answered by two gobblers not 50 yards away. We where in close, maybe too close. I let some time go by and then did a fly down by beating my hands on the side of my legs, I waited about 10 seconds to simulate a hen flying down and hit the ground and russtled a few leaves with my hand to sound like the hen landing. This was followed by a series of gobbles not only from the two on the left of us but also by two new boys in town on the right. Four gobblers close and still in the trees. I gave a couple assembly yelps again answered with gobbles and to our left no 50 yards away two gobblers flew right off the roost and landed about 30 yards away. They proceeded just below us, out of sight making a shot impossible, I kept up with light clucks on the slate with no responce. I put down the slate and reached for old reliable h.s. strutt box call, one series of yelps was met with 4 gobblers not 25 yards away to our right gobbling in unison. We sat and watched as the four gobblers worked their way to our position. Now standing only 10 yards in front of us, Walt whispered that he couldn't see any beards, I whispered back that they where all gobblers and I could instantly hear his breath increase. I kept up some small talk as the jakes eyed my hen decoy. Walt had his gun to the left and had to slowly work it to the right to the birds, now crossing 10 yards in front of us, I whispered for Walt to "take him" but he couldn't due to open woods and only 10 yards between us and the birds, his shot would have to wait. I clucked a few light clucks and the birds walked closer to my hen. Walt finally got his shotgun into position and let one loose. His bird hit the ground instantly at 12 yards. The other three ran down the hollow and took wing and landed in a maple tree not 75 yards from us. We walked over to claim his prize and as he lifted it from the ground the other jakes sounded off in the trees. It was a great hunt and Walts first spring gobbler. Pictures where taken at our construction field office and in less than 30 minutes we turned his turkey into a prime butterball. I later mounted the tail and beard. The price of my services that morning was "one pepsi", which Walt paid immediately. How often can you take your boss out, call in four gobblers to within 10 yards, hold them there for over 10 minutes and then let him take the one of his choice? "Maybe I should have asked for a raise instead of the pepsi?"