By Brett Kiser

James (Jay) Hill and Brett Kiser second weekend of season...

Jay had scouted the area and knew where the birds were roosting and flying down from each morning. He had pinpointed a few hot gobblers that got quiet when they hit the ground. We set up Saturday morning with Jay at the top of the hill, me 40 yards down the slope and only 60 yards farther, the gob!

He started gobbling at the first owl hoot of the morning about 20 minutes before daylight and continued to gobble endlessly for 45 minutes. I was sitting so still for so long that I could not feel my left leg and my toes were numb. I was afraid to move being so close the roosted bird. He had not yet flown down and I was begging for him to get on with the show and for me to have some relief. There were hens below him already on the ground yelping very softly. Jay already had a plan and we were ready!

He struck a few yelps and aggressive cutts on his slate and then lay the call down. We waited. That 2 year old bird had him pegged and was interested enough to come to check out this sassy hen up the hill. When that Tom flew down, he got quiet and headed right up the trail and practically across my lap. The double-team worked like a charm! Success was realized the second my sights touched his ruby red head and the shotgun roared. He went down like a rock and I looked pretty funny hopping down the hill after him with my leg half-asleep.

We headed back to the four wheeler at 6:30 and then to town for some hot breakfast! Success comes in two's! Double-teaming really works and counts as successful for both!