I am getting a little extra money working about 20 mins east of where I live. I have a colleague that lives within 10 mins of the hospital so she let me hunt. Her husband and I were standing on the ridge top, in one of their fields and this guy cut loose about 730 last evening. He gobbled a second time and I knew where he was. I was up at 345, out the door at 400 and set up at 530. It was a long walk. I set up right infront of some greenbriars and put a down fall limb to my left where I thought he would come out. He gobbled at 550 and I responded with a soft tree yelp. He gobbled a few minutes later and I yelped again. I did a short fly down and a light yelp and he answered. I knew he was coming. In about 5 minutes he gobbled like I have never heard before about 20 yds away. He was to my left and behind me so I sat still. I finally heard him and then saw him and he came through the fence 5 yds to my left. Walked straight to the decoys and then past them. I shot him at about 40 yds. He never strutted nor payed a lot of attention to the decoys. He flopped some. Man he is a nasty bird. Wound on his head and under one wing. Tail is all beat up. Seems to only be a 2 yr old with 1" spurs. Also, beard just has a few strands in the center and a 2nd beard broke off right at the nub. My first double beard on the ground after only 23 mins.
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/5%206%202011%20Double%20Beard/827e2ce1.jpg)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/5%206%202011%20Double%20Beard/659d888c.jpg)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/5%206%202011%20Double%20Beard/d28acf5d.jpg)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/5%206%202011%20Double%20Beard/e1a06042.jpg)
(http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/ww336/sugarray40/Hunting/5%206%202011%20Double%20Beard/ce96d567.jpg)
Congrats on the bird, Ray. Do you figure he was shot before, or did he get the wounds from a fight? Either way, he is a dandy.. Well done..Mike :you_rock:
Congrats on a great bird! Looks like he had been whooped up on :z-guntootsmiley:
Quote from: Basser69 on May 06, 2011, 04:54:51 PM
Congrats on a great bird! Looks like he had been whooped up on :z-guntootsmiley:
This is what I think. His tail was all beat up too.
Congrats!
Congrats!!
Congrats!!!
:z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley:
Very nice,congrats!!!
:you_rock: ;D You need to get the bird that whiped his butt.
:z-guntootsmiley: Congrats Ray !
Congrats!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!! :you_rock:
Way to go Ray ! Congrats. :wav:
Congratulations on getting that gnarly old tough guy! :you_rock:
Congrats on a great gobbler !! :newmascot:
Great Hunt Ray!!!
Wish we (you) could have seen what he looked like before he got all beat up!!
Congrats!!!!!!
God Bless,
David B.
Congrats. :anim_65:
Congrats Ray!
congrats on a neat looking bird!
Congrats on the bird. Man, he's had a rough season.
Congrats on a great hunt Ray!! You sure are having a heck of a good season!!
Congrats on the double beard!
Congrats on a nice gobbler Ray.
TRKYHTR
:icon_thumright: Congrats!!
Nice job Ray!!!!
congrats
Way to go Ray,your right he is a nasty looker but you still got one down. :z-guntootsmiley:
:happy0064:
Congrats Sugarray.
Quote from: Jay on May 06, 2011, 07:44:59 PM
:you_rock: ;D You need to get the bird that whiped his butt.
I agree he should be a stud, congrats!
Congrats on a great bird Ray! Been gone for a bit but tell your son I said congrats as well!
Congrats on the bird Ray.
:you_rock: congrats!!