My Mother would be proud of me! I did not let my desire allow me to miss work. I just couldn't do it, I cant be not sick and call in!!! I don't miss work.
So, I got up good this morning and felt great, odd for me. Arrived 25 minutes early and packed up and started the walk, this is a small property and this guy is as his ancestors, like to roost on a ridge close to where I park. Its maybe a 600 yard walk at best.
I slide in there quite, face mask and gloves on before the final approach, I know where I am setting up. "I have thought about it all week". I set up in exactly the same spot as the second miss as I felt this would allow the most forgiveness. I set for quit a while before a bird even made a chirp!
The turkey had been gobbling really early to my standards. Today was different. I heard two turkeys a couple hundred yards to the west and thought maybe they had moved but something didn't sound the same. I stayed put for a while longer, finally I could see the Tom setting on the same limb as last week. He started gobbling and strutting on the limb, his buddy sounded off twice as well.
I didn't call, as soon as he got on his wings I yelped. Before he hit the ground I had a nice soft series of yelps in the air. But, today was different, he was not as eager as the two days before. "Maybe all the warning shots!!!" His buddy flew down and I could make them out in front of me, strutting, circling, probably 100 yards out.
A hen sneaks in right beside me and crosses in front of me at 15 yards. She makes an S pattern, starts on my right, crosses to my left and then hooks back into the two Toms. Now, I am enjoying this. I get to call, and, I am calling! She is ripping the clucks and I am shutting her down. Slowing they start coming out the ridge line.
They did take their time, seemed like forever but was probably only 4-5 minutes and I knew I was getting another shot at this gobbler. He stayed in strut the whole way, his buddy never did strut and the hen was quit. When he hit the 40 yard line and came from behind a tree I ended this beasts reign over me. Very nice hunt and a nice young gobbler. He was heavy, probably 22#, and sported a nice thick 11" beard. The spurs, well, they were as good as a two year old spur gets, he could even be 3 years old for the stories sake. Nice fat spurs, 7/8" long and blunt.
Vengeance is mine!
Pic to follow shortly from Tapatalk.
