Planned a trip with a buddy of mine that I've grew up in the deer camp with and now work with. He wanted to go to Florida late season so I agreed. I decided to change things up for myself on this trip
And opted to take my Thompson Center Treehawk muzzloading shotgun. The same one I used in Iowa a few years back. Except this time I used a plastic wad and TSS load I came up with. GAME CHANGER
We left at 4:45am and arrived at the camp house around 2:30. Our buddy asked us if we wanted to go give it a try this evening and we of course jumped at the opportunity.
We went to a farm I'd never been to and he said we could either split up or hunt together. We opted to better our odds and split up. I went walking the big field edge towards a murder of crows giving something heck. I had a feeling o knew what it was but getting to them was going to be a challenge.
I eased down the wood/field edge and spotted a hen and the crows were going nuts on top of her. She eased off into the woods and I slipped farther towards the corner of the field. I found a nice thick spot next to a big oak tree that would give me
cover and shade from the evening and setting sun.
I let things settle down and I made a soft 3 note yelp on my copper pot call from Redbeard. I was just scanning and looking through the brush out on the field where some more crows had started cawing. I see a black bird in the field and think crow. But then it goes into half strut. My first thought was oh crap this may really be happening. I cock the hammer and try to control my hyperventilating, something I haven't done in a long time. He's closing the distance from 90 yds to 50 now he's at 40 and in a good opening of sorts. He half struts then stands straight up and looks around for the hen he had heard. I said a quick prayer and settled the iron sight on his head and repeatedly told myself to squeeze the trigger and don't snatch in case of a hang fire. A larger boom and a cloud of smoke rolled into the field. This bird looked like he got hit by a Mack truck. He never moved. Stoned him at 40yds with the muzzleloader. I had to sit for a while. Apparently the smoke makes my dry heaves worse along with my back locked up and I caught a leg cramp. It was something I have missed so much.
Once I finally am able to get up and go put my hands on him I was in total awe of what I had just harvested. The Lord really blessed me with a fine one. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250416/7ad578f96c87de88d62943260bac9033.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250416/c68ea23cf70a1d1b98c529247bd87be0.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250416/59f5aa08a665dd2334c3748720625604.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250416/754a3a74ee5413c57b21758f02a7301d.jpg)
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Brother, that was epic! I love the narrative images and your description of your reactions. This ain't your first bird, but you still seemed to be as excited as you would have been if it actually was. Superior hunt and a great gobbler!
Cheers ;D
FC
Great story bro, that's the feeling that I need too. :turkey2: :turkey2: Z
Dude, that gobbler is MUCH bigger than I originally thought! Fantastic bird taken by any means. Well done my brother.
Cheers ;D
FC
Congrats, that is a great bird!
Congrats teammate