It’s always great to post hero shots of Wild Life regulars such as Jim Basham, who we all know is a turkey nut.

Here’s his great photo with his new hunting partner, and his story from opening day:

“I roosted this bird along with his friend on Friday evening but went on another ridge on Saturday. I heard nothing but this one and his buddy, and they were gobbling good.

I got in my truck and went after them but by the time I got over there and in the woods they were already on the ground walking away.  I hoofed over to them as close as I could and was able to call one back in and kill him.

After I picked him up and was getting my stuff together the other bird gobbled again and came up out of the hollow and stood 25 yards away gobbling, I just sat there and watched him for 30 minutes.  It was a pretty fun morning.

Things have gone really quiet this week but we are really almost 2 weeks ahead of where we should be with the late opener.   I predict by the middle to end of next week things should start on an upswing again with gobbling.  Fingers crossed.”

Jim sent this shot last week, so when he predicts that things will be picking up “the middle to end of next week,” that would be now.

Anyone agree? Disagree?

I hunted yesterday morning in Bedford County and had a really close call. The bird gobbled once on the roost, and once flying down. That was it.

There was another bird on an adjoining property that was absolutely tearing it up all morning.