Well once again the greatest time of the year has just left us here in South Carolina. I am going to miss it greatly, but what a wonderful time it was with great memories and friendships. I must admit that this spring was one of the toughest ones for me since I started chasing the glorious wild turkey, but it was one heck of a ride.
I was blessed with the opportunity to go hunt Alabama with a friend March 20th-23rd. This trip earned me the largest in weight bird I have ever killed at 21 lbs. It was an amazing hunt that this ole bird put me through. Thinking about the interaction and conversation between me and that ole Tom brings back the adrenaline rush from the hunt. We were both successful in our trip but the greatest part was the friendship that has come from the trip. I have greatly enjoyed sharing my season with him through text, photos, etc and I have greatly enjoyed seeing his, all 5 of his birds including an awesome double beard he killed.
Opening day of the SC season was a great experience with 5 different birds gobbling within 100 yards. One came in gobbling and strutting, but he through me a curve ball and I struck out. That old boy beating me at the game gave me a smile and we will meet again. The following day was a bit quiet for myself but the evening before I roosted a bird and told a friend where he was. I got the opportunity to hear his gobble and hear the 870 roar as the warrior was laid to rest. It was a humbling experience to see the warrior laid on the truck after being harvested. He lived a good life and by looking at him he was quite the Tom, I for one would not have wanted to get in a flogging match with him.
The farm was a struggle this season. Birds were not gobbling as they normally did. Hens were everywhere but toms seemed timid and shy. It was a bit surprising to me but I later discovered what the issue was. There was a new gang on the property. They were not big birds but there number was large, I seen 12 - 15 different Jakes this season and only 1 was seen alone. Watched a team of three surround a Tom and beat the snot out of him. They were all around him beating with their wings and throwing spurs. He was trying his best to break free from the beating and eventually did to take off out of there like a horse out of the gates at the derby. Next season should be a blast!
It was a great spring and I am going to miss it. With my boy being born in February I did not hunt as much as a normal season, only hunted about 12 days. The good Lord did bless me with the harvest of 3 birds and watching 2 others fall.
It is also bitter because my friend and hunting partner CJ Stahly has moved on in his career to another location. We shared the tree together on quite a few hunts and I will miss not sitting with him at roost as many times through the year, but the longbeards better not make the mistake of thinking we will not hunt together again because that would be foolish. I also missed the opportunity to hunt with Spur Hunter. We tried to get it together but with prior commitments and life getting in the way it just did not happen this year. Next season I will surely make sure to enjoy and day in the woods with him. Watching him work in the woods is amazing and I learn so much, but his companionship and conversation is what I enjoy the most from our hunts.
Oh what a year it was and now the countdown begins for next season, only 334 days to go!
In the words of Ben Rodgers Lee, "I wish I could breathe life back in him, if I could I'd hunt him again tomorrow."
A couple set ups:
A visitor at a set up:
Some birds of friends:
