Down in Florida hunting Osceola's on public land.
Saturday mourning I was able to talk this guy into coming home with me in the truck.
I was hunting the back side of a cypress swamp near an oak hammock. What a great roost area to hunt in. Probably the prettiest area I have ever had the pleasure to hunt.
Took him almost 2 hours after he came of the roost to finally come out and check the hen that had been calling to him. He never gobbled once after he flew down and if the swamp hadn't been fairly dry and crunchy with dry leaves where I was I don't think I would have even known he was coming in until he putted right behind me.
Shot him at 38 steps.
He had an 11" beard, one 1 3/16" and one 1 1/8" spur. Weight 15 pounds. Biologist at the check station said earlier in the season he would have been 3-4 pounds heavier. But with all the signs of breeding he showed he probably hadn't eaten much for a few weeks.
I will post more detail when I get back home.
