Mississippi Success

[jblackburn]

I took leave for the beginning of the MS season and took a drive up to the Homochitto.  Tough hunting up there, but I was able to locate some birds. They gobbled ok on the roost opening morning, but I made a terrible set up. After 20 years of chasing them I still make stupid mistakes.  That afternoon one of them came in silent but would not come closer than 80-90 yards, but I heard him fly up to roost.

Woke up to spitting rain and almost didn't go out the next morning, but the knowledge of where one was roosted was enough motivation to put on rain gear and head out.  I did not have high hopes with the weather, but hey, I'm ate up with turkeys. 

He finally gobbled once, fairly late nearly 7:30. Everything was perfect. I was about 120 yards from him, in the bottom they seem to like to fly  down to then head across the creek to private land. I was even between him and the creek. Then another tom fired up about 80 yards straight behind me and I nearly had to break out the Charmin. They started gobbling back and forth, then thunder rumbled in the distance and I swear they each gobbled until they were out of breath!  I was even in between them! Text book! I was pumped, nervous, shaking and loving it. I gave a couple of subtle clucks and they exploded! I'm gun on the knee waiting for wing beats, but they were too worried about gobbling.  Then a third fired up way off and they all were gobbling back and forth.  Then I hear wings. Anticipation. Eyes scanning the brush. Nothing coming. The one behind me continues to gobble. The distant one gobbles back every time.  More wing beats. I just know he's going to be right behind me. I look up to see him sailing over my head toward the third one. They meet up, gobble once 500 yards away and never make another peep. I hate turkeys.

11:45 am. I strike them back up. But they straight up get by me somehow. I still hate turkeys.

That afternoon I got back in the bottom. It's hot. Muggy. South Mississippi. About 4:00 he lights up several hundred yards away. I make a move in the bottom to keep the hill between me an him since the pine woods are still very open without leaves on the underbrush.  He was hot and and looking for love. Well more love, I guess. I figured he was alone but two hens appeared first and were coming straight for me. He finally makes his appearance and is lagging behind them 20-30 yards. One of the hens does not like the weird looking lump next to the pine tree and begins rubber necking, no putts so she's just skittish, not full alarm mode. He steps into a shooting window I had and made a mistake of lifting his head to look around. I won't talk distance, but I'm glad Gooserbat loaded me some TSS. He didn't even flop.

I call him a 3 year old, one inch sharp spurs and a nine inch beard. Poor guy needed a sandwich, only weighed 15 lbs 10 oz!

[daddyduke]

Congrats! Great read.

[tha bugman]

Love those woods!!!  Great story and Congrats!!!

[zelmo1]

Great day brother. Congrats on the nice bird 

[harleytom]

Love the story. Congrats

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[Sir-diealot]

Congratulations

[silvestris]

Come on man, talk distance.

[uarobert]

Congrats on a well earned bird.

[djrcm7]

 Nice work! Good read and that feeling of being in the perfect spot with hot Gobbs thundering all around is one of the greatest anticipation feelings out there

[jblackburn]

Come on man, talk distance.

More than acceptable OG range, but not obscene 

[Oxley777]

Great story! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for Arkansas opener!

[tomstopper]

Very nice. Congrats

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[cbhunter15]

well done, congrats!

[renegade19]

 

[harleytom]

Come on man, talk distance.

More than acceptable OG range, but not obscene 

Well said, gotta remind ourselves we have some TSS police on duty here.

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