Always like trying to get me a birthday bird and I was oh so close this year. I had my 410 with me. Wouldn't have mattered if I woulda had a 10ga. Did manage to get a buddy from Tennessee a bird in MS this morning so he told me happy birthday lol.
Got to a spot just before first light and was surprised I was alone. He only gobbled 2 times on the roost and that was me hooting.
So I slipped down to a small dim trail that I knew of that went down a ridge close to him, he roosted on a tree in a bottom. I was set up as close as I could get to him (125yds) on the roost and I just used my wing and scratched. Clucked 3 times on my pot call and 10 min later he was standing there looking for me. Never heard him pitch out. But he knew exactly where I was. I think he got nervous when he didn't see the hens
I had just told myself I should just aim down the road and when he pops out happy birthday to me. But I heard a stick pop over the hill to my left and I looked over there. When I eased my eyes back to the right he was standing there at 55yds. My gun was at 11:30 he was at 1:30. I never moved anything but my eyes but he tucked his wings and disappeared. Even though I didnt get a shot it was a great gift just to have it all play out, win some learn from some.
Question 1 . I've never been really good at getting on a bird after they bugger up like that. He wasn't gobbling at all and just slipped in and slipped out. How or what would you do to try to get back on that bird? Or just go find another one and come back later for this one?
Question 2. What would you do if you found this on the piece of public ground you were hunting? This was found about a mile from where I got on the bird.
Blind
Wheat and milo