WV Jake

Where I hunt in WV has two separate seasons. The entire state has a 9-day season. If spring gobbler harvests are at least 0.5 birds per square mile, there is another 7-day season beginning the last Monday in October. The mountain counties have a season that continues through mid-November, regardless of spring harvest figures (I have never personally hunted over there).

West Virginia was action packed for us this season. I was very excited to hunt there since some of the areas I hunt were part of the Brood XIV periodical cicada emergence this past spring/early summer.

During the first week, I hunted Columbus Day and the following day. Both days yielded separate gobbler breaks. Unfortunately, I was not able to connect with one. I did get to heard some awesome gobbler talk and had three close calls with those birds.

I headed back down opening day of the second segment. We went on a good hike in the morning and had no luck (previous post). I decided to check out one of the gobbler breaks areas that afternoon. Both dogs were acting birdy as we made our way into the woods. About 300 yards away from where we had a break two weeks prior, Lily found a group on the top of a small knob. Levi joined in the break and I watched a hen fly to the west. As we were setting up Lily kept ranging out 185 yards to the NW. I made the mistake of not setting up facing that direction. 

The break wasn’t a very vocal one, but I did hear a bird make some light clucks and yelps behind us. I turned around and focused my attention down hill and never seen anything, though I could hear it walking around. I eventually didn’t hear anything and turned back around. A few minutes later, I hear something over my left shoulder. I looked over and seen a Jake slowly walking about 15 yards away! He seen me move and began pitching off the knob. I pulled up and was able to make an excellent shot!

Both dogs found more  birds at the base of the hill aswe were making our way down to bird. 

It was nice 10 lb. 10 oz. Jake, undoubtedly he enjoyed the cicada emergence after he hatched! I hunted that same ridge on the last weekend of spring turkey season. The cicada chorus was deafening after temperatures began to rise in the morning!