As a rule when you think of Massachusetts you think of a bastion of liberalism such as the Kennedy compound at Hyannis but there are some wonderful hunting opportunities if you know where to go.
Monday was our opening day for spring gobblers. Dad and I have permission on a small field to hunt with the bow and arrow. We were out bright and early that day and it wasn't too chilly. In the pop up blind you are very well concealed and protected. Shortly after sunrise we had several hens wandering about us as they fed and meandered about. I didn't do any calling as they were quite chatty themselves. Why call when I have the best calls in front of me. Some of these hens walked so close to the blind screen that I could have grabbed them. Somehow they were oblivious to me.
It was at 6:45 AM when to my left a nice gobbler came into view. He was in full strut but silent. I drew back the Bowtech Guardian and loosed a ST axis tipped with a 100 grain Slick Trick magnum head. The bird dropped in it's tracks at twenty yards. The bird dressed out at 17 1/2 lbs with a thick 9" beard and 5/8" spurs. What intrigued me was at the shot and the fall of the bird, seven hens came over to see what was wrong with him. One pecked him and after they all circled around him chatting away they meandered off. Strange behavior but one which would lead to success for my father later on.