I haven't posted here in awhile, but I wanted to share a bird I killed earlier this season.
Big Bird Down!
The monster gobbler (limbhanger) from this morning:
Beard 1 = 10 6/16"
Beard 2 = 7"
Spur 1 = 1 2/16"
Spur 2 = 1 4/16"
18.2 pounds (that's pretty heavy for a swamp bird)
NWTF score = 76.625
I'm pretty sure that's a record gobbler for me. I have killed 3 other double bearded gobblers, and this is the 2nd one in SC (4th overall)...2 double bearded gobblers in SC, 1 in GA and 1 in CA.
Thanks to Ted Cramer and his mouth calls. I was using the Slammin' Hammer mouth call to call him in to lay the Remington Versamax, Jeb's Headhunter choke and Winchester Longbeard XR 3.5" #6 turkey load hammer down on him.
I stopped my truck to call at a place I know birds tend to travel and where I saw a big gobbler Saturday morning. I called once and he gobbled back. So, I parked the truck fast and to get it out of the way of logging trucks and ran to the swamp. I went in about 50 yards and sat down and then heard the hens getting vocal. I knew I could move in closer, so I moved in another 20 yards. That was just right...they eventually came my way. I actually pulled this gobbler away from 2 other gobblers/Jakes and a few hens. I was singing the right tune today at the right time and that gobbler came running in from behind some palmetto frowns at 35 yards...he shouldn't have done that. BOOM! BBD!
