Originally Posted By: JUGHEAD
Signed out for a good area this morning and only one other guy was in there who is a pal of mine. We talked and he wasn't going anywhere close to where I wanted to go....perfect. Got to the parking area just right and eased out to my first little listening spot and got my gloves on. I gave a one note owl hoot and a bird answered not 150 yards away, not too far off the fence. I started easing into the woods, without getting any closer to him, to try and find a place to setup. While slipping in I bumped a bird off the roost. I knew immediately what I had just walked up on....I'm standing under his hens and he's just over the hill close by. I've been there and done this a few times and decided I needed to gamble just a little. It was still pretty dark and some fog had rolled in so I eased about 40 yards closer to the bird before setting up, hoping I could get to him before he got to the hens or they got to him. He gobbled probably 5 more times on his own while I was sneaking in and I got sat down just fine and got my slate call out and put my favorite purring/clucking mouth call in. I no more got my gun up and I heard him pitch out over there. I figured I better hurry up and let him know I was there so I purred real soft at him on my mouth call and gave him a 2 note yelp and he gobbled, but was up at the fence up the hill from me. I shut up and spun around on the tree a little bit toward him and started the search looking for him to show up through the fog and foliage. I didn't see or hear anything for a couple of minutes and then I started hearing him drum straight out in front of me, 45 degrees from where my gun was pointed....crap! I kept still and finally saw him at about 50 yards strutting and drumming. The fog kept rolling in and out and I would lose him for a few seconds and then pick him up again. He went behind a huge pine tree and I eased my gun around toward him and got down on my sight. I had a lane to him a couple of times as he was strutting to me but it was still dark, foggy, and thick enough that it was hard to get on his head. I eventually had to let him come on in to 31 yards and get to a good lane and I just shot him while he was strutting and rolled him! He never even flinched. Exciting hunt!!!! Thank the Lord once again...no idea why I've been so blessed this year but I'm truly grateful!!!

17 lb. 12 oz.
1" sharp spurs
9" beard (might have strands longer....think the guy who measured it only measured to where most of the strands were)

Will post pics this evening.



Nice! Congrats Team mate.

Turkeys be damned.