what a day.. i am sooo tired, i had to work midnights last night and got off at 6:30am.. i know it's best to be out in the dark but i had to get out there.. i set up by the pond at our spot that splits 2 corn fields.. had my hen and strutting jake out.. was set up and hunting by 7:30am.. did some calling but nothing, wind was blowing in a non favorable way for me.. so around 9:30am i decided to get out of there.. i figured what the heck, instead of going right to the van i will walk through the tractor trail in our bush and it will bring me out right by my van.. i stopped and called every 20 yards or so, making sure that when i stopped to call there was a nice big tree to sit by in case a turkey sounded off close to me.. well, glad i did because that's exactly what happened.. i called and BAM, i turkey gobbled and man, he was extremely close. the trail had an "S" bend in it, and this tom was about 50 yards away. i sat quickly and waited.. i was worried as i had no face mask, was wearing jeans ( i was intending on hunting just in my blind) and was in bright sunlight.. oh well.. i called lightly and he sounded off again, man he is coming in fast!! i see a bright white head bobbing it's way down the trail.. he steps out and is about 30 yards and spots me.. man, he looked huge.. he gobbled and again and i squeezed the trigger... I MISSED!!!! the weird thing is, he hopped up, landed and ran right at me.. lol.. shot again and stopped him dead in his tracks.. not to bad of a bird either... exactly 24 lbs, 10 1/2" beard and both spurs were 1 1/4"... what a day!!!.. first day out this year and hunted a mere 2 1/2 hours..
here is a pic of it , tagged, beside my gun..
here is a pic of me with my bird and my youngest back at the house..
