Saturday was a perfect morning!!
I was hoping so, as Friday was raining and drizzling.
My friend Mark and I had plans to try another double on Saturday. We almost succeeded.
We heard several birds, and actually moved from a bird we actually laid eyes on with hens, to one gobbling a lot. We got set up again, and the bird went directly away from us, crossed a hollow, to another ridge.
We looped around on him and went as far as I dared. Mark sat down on a big tree, and I learned after the hunt, as soon as he sat down, he saw a white head 200 yards away. I moved 50 yards in back of Mark and called. No answer. I was just about to get in a good dream and GOOOOOBBBBLLLLLLEEEEE-GOOOOOOOOBBBBBLLLLLEEEEE!! I had my hearing protectors turned up, and about wet myself when the bird sounded off 80 yards away from me!!!
I called back, and about wet myself again when Mark shot!! Never saw the bird coming in the oak flat.
Mark started to stand, but I started aggressive purrs and clucks, and he sat back down. I saw through the trees, and heard, his bird getting flogged. A little later I had two red heads appear on the side of a big oak, 45 yards away, but I couldn't see their chest for any beards. No shot.
The birds wandered out in the oak flat, and eventually got cranked up again, with gobbling to my calls. A hen was with them, and I figured there wouldn't be any coming close to me, so I scooted across the road into the oak flat when the gobbling told me it was safe to do so. Drumming had been going on for a while, and I was able to trace the birds movements.
Eventually a redhead was seen, and I got the red dot on him. His neck was extended looking for me, and I was about to pull the trigger!! Wait a minute, he's standing right next to a small pine tree, parallel with his neck. He moves a few feet to the side, neck extended, and BOOOOOM!!!
Awww Crap!!! When he turns and flies off I realize I made a mistake in distance. He was 60-70 yards away!!!!!!
Well, it was bound to happen some time!! He flew up in a tree 60 yards in opposite direction, and flew off 5 minutes later when I went to look the area over. He's educated now.
Regardless, a good 2 year old bird for my Brother Mark, and one of the better hunts with the birds gobbling and answering the calling!!
Spurs were 3/4"; weight was 18.34 lbs. and 9 15/16" paint brush!!
God Bless,
David B.
