Old Rivals !

[timbrhuntr]

The reasons post by Guesswho got me thinking about hunting senarios and birds hanging up then as I thought about it began reliving some hunts with tough birds and old rivals that never make it easy.

I began to realize I have several old rivals but there is one that I especially look forward to going up against in the turkey woods.

3 years ago I ran into a wiley old bird I figure he was 3 or 4 when I first met him. He gobbled loudly and long from his big oak tree in a spot that seemed easy to get to. Finally while hunting other spots and hearing him hammer at first light again I couldn't take it and like a young school girl to a Justin Beeber concert he reelled me in. I ran to his tree the next morning with all the other hens to get a chance to meet him. I set up accross the field from his tree and everytime I called he gobbled. He was as good as dead. Then I saw something I had never seen before. In a space of about 20 minutes 1 then 2 then 3 hens walked accross the field and to his tree. When I guess they were at the bottom of his tree I saw him fly down. The next day I  set up closer as it got light he flew down. I began to call I was accosted by 2 geese that came out of  a concealed pond and harrassed me until I left. I listened from my truck as he gobbled to each honk from the geese. Later that day at noon I walked in to see the exact lay of the land and ran into him at 40 yards. He was magnificent. Bigger than any tom I had every seen and with a long thick beard that dragged the ground. His surprise was perhaps as great as mine and as I raised my gun I was struck by a single thought. This is too easy. I lowered my gun. He stood for a second then turned and in 3 steps took flight and flew accross the pond. That is the closest I have ever got to killing him. I hunted him the next year, when he moved to a big tree at the edge of gun range and the next year when he moved to a woods next to an airport runway and ringed with poison ivy . He shuns my decoys, laughs at my calls and leads me to poison ivy. I hunted other birds but only to take a break before going after him again.He drives me to distraction but I sure do hope he is there next year again. I doubt that I will ever kill him but then it may be better that way.

Anyone else have any Rivalries they both love and hate but need to hunt just the same every year?

[guesswho]

I have known many over the years.  Two Rocks, Gilligan, No Show, Cotton Wood, and Little Dot to name a few.  Most eventualy died from lead poision.   One I had the chance to kill but didn't feel like I earned him at that point and let him walk off, I wish now I'd have mashed his noggin because I never had him in range again. 

I currently have none that are buggun me, but that usually changes within the first week of the season.