SX3 is deadly!

raydaughety · Post by **raydaughety** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:51 am

But then again, what isn't at 7 yards. I haven't been able to walk far lately so I slipped up to the edge of a wheat field where an old tree had fallen over the winter. The tom was using a small mowed area at the top of the old tree as a strut zone. I arrived at 5:15 in the pitch black dark and waited but not for long. The longbeard scared me to death when he gobbled for the first time about 75 yards. When he flew down into the field and saw She-Mobile sitting there all pretty and willing, it was more than he could stand. He strutted down the mowed edge of the field and when he got within 7 yards, I clucked at him, causing him to break out of strut giving me an easy shot. He's quite a bird, I'll tally up his score and get it posted in a little while but here are some pictures.

He has a 10.5" beard

1 3/16" spurs

And weighed 23 pounds

munch · Post by **munch** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:39 am

nice bird ray

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:00 am

Way to go, Ray!

Pydpiper · Post by **Pydpiper** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:43 am

Thats a big one all right! Congrats.

mikej · Post by **mikej** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:02 am

beauty bird ray congrats way to go

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:19 am

Congrats Ray ..

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:11 am

good job Ray;) finally some US birds being posted

nice specs on the bird also

VixChix · Post by **VixChix** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:01 am

CONGRATS Ray!!! So glad to see that you got out! Looks like it was well worth it!

raydaughety · Post by **raydaughety** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:47 am

I totally forgot to register for the contest

. We have a good population of some nice birds in this area. I've been watching another big tom for Tyler but have to come up with a way to get him across a canal about 14'wide. Any ideas?

raydaughety · Post by **raydaughety** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 10:51 am

VixChix wrote:CONGRATS Ray!!! So glad to see that you got out! Looks like it was well worth it!

SHHHHHHH, my doctor doesn't know that I left the house

. My feet are starting to heal a little but it's going to take time. Now, I'm ready for another bigun.

mikej · Post by **mikej** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:47 pm

raydaughety wrote:I totally forgot to register for the contest . We have a good population of some nice birds in this area. I've been watching another big tom for Tyler but have to come up with a way to get him across a canal about 14'wide. Any ideas?

is it deep? could you use waders?

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:17 pm

raydaughety wrote: I've been watching another big tom for Tyler but have to come up with a way to get him across a canal about 14'wide. Any ideas?

Ah, Ray ... tell me about it, man.

The GUM NECK DRAINAGE CANAL is the bane of my hunting existence ... a 20' wide canal that runs through my farm and separates me from the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge. We own about 3000' of the canal on our western boundary, and have some land on the swamp side, in the refuge.

I'm always having to confront the canal barrier during hunting seasons!

There are two culvert bridges across it in the area, one about 1/2 mile to the south, and another about 3/4 mile to the north ... neither on our ground. It's now illegal to build more.

A foot / ATV bridge is in the works for this summer.

How many times I've wished I had wings!

Wishbone · Post by **Wishbone** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:23 pm

Very nice Tom Ray, Conrats. I like the gun too.

R.J. · Post by **R.J.** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:07 pm

Way to go ray ... nice bird !

fletch · Post by **fletch** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:43 pm

Congrats Ray nice turkey.