As loud mouthed day before yesterday's two year old was, today's bird was silent until his one and only gobble.
Walked in this morning having no idea where anything was. First 1/2 mile in the dark. As it started to get light, I started up the hill. Slow and listening. Nothing. About a mile in decided to try to shock something. And I did. He was completely across the canyon with a marsh between us. No chance I'm walking around it.
Make it to the 3 mile mark, and have not heard a peep.
I sat and decided to just blind call. Every fifteen or so. Nice tree, nice stump to my left. Good pad, and lots of pine needles.
Called over an hour and a half, same spot. Figured I had 2 1/2 miles walking out to walk and call. Merriams are normally vocal. So you hear them coming.
Decided to eat my cold fajitas, before my walk out. Finished up, packed, gun laid to the side. Before I stood up decided , one last call. He cut me off. 50 yards left. Coming down the logging road. Mask on, gun turned and on the stump. He stepped out in strut. Walked to the 40 yard mark, turned sideways, stuck his head up just right.
3? Year old. 1" spurs, 16 lbs 8 1/2" beard. Tagged out.
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