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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 102
3 point
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3 point
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 102 |
Been going back and forth with this old boy for over a week. He rooted in the head of a bottom that had a nice clover field on top. Heard him gobble from the roost several times since opening day but he would never come to my calls and only entered the field sporadically. My tracking cameras showed him there on days I hunted elsewhere or didn't hunt so I told my wife I was gonna lock in on that field and hunt there until I got him or season ended. Yesterday morning I sat up before dawn and he began gobbling at sunrise. He was not firing off quickly even to my calls but just letting everyone know he was there. He gobbled about 3 times after fly down and began to walk down the bottom as was his routine. I figured he was henned up but still gave him a few light cutts and yelps. As he seemed to get further away I decided to just go quiet. After a few minutes he gobbled again and I thought he sounded much closer but I just continued to wait. About 10 minutes later he popped up on field edge about 45 yards away. He as eyeing my decoy and went into half strut. I had an awkward shooting angle (of course) so I was going to wait. He wouldn't move an inch and then he gobbled hard at the decoy. Fearing he was suspicious I took the shot. To my dismay, I missed, and he began running across the field parallel to my left. I swung the 20 gauge on him and shot again. The load of #9 TSS caught up to him at 52 yards and he rolled up without a flop. Standing over him I almost regret not being able to hunt him again. He was certainly a cagey old bird and I must have just caught him on a morning without his hens close by. Many memories made on this bird and very impressed with the performance of my gun and load. 21 pounds, 9 @3/4 inch beard, both spurs 1 @ 1/4 inches. 
Last edited by lalongbeard; 04/03/16 04:01 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,700
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,700 |
I've got two bird I've been chasing for a couple years now. If I can take one more bird I'm Gona chase those two till seasons end. Congrats on the trophy.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,702
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,702 |
Congratulations. ....good story too. I have been thinking of doing the same thing .....just patience is something I struggle with
Let them walk ...and grow them big
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,768 Likes: 40
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 8,768 Likes: 40 |
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,763 Likes: 32
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,763 Likes: 32 |
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,622 Likes: 21
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 8,622 Likes: 21 |
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 93
spike
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spike
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 93 |
What make is that 20 gauge?
Nice bird
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,787
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,787 |
Looks like a Franchi Affinity
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,623
10 point
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10 point
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,623 |
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,682 Likes: 28
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,682 Likes: 28 |
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
8 point
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8 point
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547 |
Congrats!
A fifty-two yard shot on a running turkey is impressive. Do you feel like that optic helped? (Burris SpeedBead?) Did you have any trouble getting the mount to work on a 20 gauge?
Colt1917
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 12,567 Likes: 8
Doesn’t Know His Code
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Doesn’t Know His Code
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 12,567 Likes: 8 |
IKNOWMYPHUCKINGCODEDAMMITYOUDICKHEAD!!!
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 102
3 point
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3 point
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 102 |
Thanks guys. By the way, my gun is a Stoeger 3020. My first season using it, was hesitant to make the switch but I have been blown away by this gun.
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