Today was an action packed hunt! The Sheriff of my Department has wanted me to take him hunting all year so this was his 2nd time out this season for spring gobbler. He’s never taken a long beard. The 1st day another guy took him but they didn’t even hear a bird. Well I knew where a few birds were so we went and setup. Right before sunrise we heard 4 gobblers roughly 200 yards off. We just knew everything was going to work perfect! Since they should (note the should part) work right around a ridgeline into the field where we had the decoy set. Well after about 50 gobbles they flew down and decided to stay silent. Well isn’t this great! We stayed there for a good 40minutes just in case they decide to hit the field. Nothing. So we moved out of that area. I didn’t want to risk walking in the woods and spooking them. We hit another field, but heard nothing. Well its about 8:15am now and we decided to ride back by that field and guess what. 2 big birds were strutting just about 20 yards from the corner we had setup in. Lovely! We tried to circle them but only could get within 75 yards. It was a good show, but the 2 hens they had with them didn’t like my young hen call and took their men off. Well by this time it was approaching 9am and my partner had to head off for little league. However, my day wasn’t over yet. I tried a different area I hadn’t hunted yet. I scouted and roosted a bird there 3 days ago so I know one was in the area. It’s a long logging road that goes for about 1-2miles. This was perfect for late morning walking and calling. Well after walking a good mile (no joke) I was about to head back. I tried one last yelp and GOBBLE GOBBLE about 125 yards away. I stuck the decoy on the edge of the road and moved back 20 yards. The area was wide open so I couldn’t move hardly any for a better setup. I found a big oak and settled in. I called 2-3 soft yelps and nothing. This is where once upon a time I would screw things up. I would normally call loudly here since he didn’t answer. Instead, I set and waited 5mins and hit the slate softly. GOBBLE GOBBLE 75 yards away. He’s coming! I held off the call and I could hear walking (sounded like a nice buck coming LOL). Then he appears in the oak flat right off the side of the logging road. It was a beautiful site! He spotted the decoy but he was walking parallel to the road, opposite my side. I had my knee up with the gun rested and the glass call on my waist. This comes in handy when you are solo hunting since you can actually hold the gun on your shoulder and still use your hand to make the calls on the glass/slate. He exploded in full strut with the THUMP sound. 40 yards now! But then he decides to keep walking. Playing hard to get it seems. This was a close as he’s going to get. The woods is wide open and I have great faith in my guns pattern out to 40 yards. I rested the double beads on his neck and pulled. Thump he was done. He was actually 42 yards, which is my longest shot to date with my 11/87 for turkeys. I normally wont take that shot, but it was PERFECT conditions. So my 2nd day out and bird #2 is down. The measurements are about the same as my other bird from opening day.
Weight – 22 1/4th pounds
Beard – 10 1/4th(had some broken off but no big deal)
Spurs – 1inch
I have 1 tag left but plan on taking friends the rest of the year. I’ll hold out for something I know is good, but right now I’m perfectly happy with these 2 birds. The time of this kill was 10:22am.
Here are a few pictures of this bird. Yes this ones dry and wasn’t drowned by flodding rains…HAHAHHAHA BTW, I called the Sheriff and he wasn’t happy. Well he was, but wasn’t at the same time LOL You can guess why. Thanks for reading and goodluck to everyone else!
Congrats!
not saying I speed though 
