There was one gobbling on Catoosa at dawn. This may be the bird I'd been after for several days, he's usually roosted over a creek, along a bluff-line that's nearly impossible to access without making a ton of noise.
I grabbed my jacket, calls, and set out, leaving the decoy behind intentionally.
Well today he roosted in another spot, around 100 yards away. I started
making my way closer to him as quietly as I could, had to wade a small creek, and go up the next ridge. (That wasn't ideal, since I had plans to hunt all day, and it was 40 degrees at the time.)
He gobbled on his own 20-30 times. When I got to what I thought was within 100 yards of him, I gave a few soft yelps with the wing-bone call I made from my 1st Gobbler. He answered back, sounded really close. I had already picked out a spot to setup, and plopped down right there, already starting to shake with excitement. He stopped gobbling for about 5 minutes, and I thought maybe he was still on roost, and had seen me because the woods are still very open without any leaves.
Then he went off again, closer still. I saw his white head bouncing to my left, he was 40 yards away, looking for me.
I eased my hand behind me and scratched in the leaves 2x. Then scratched 2x more along with the quietest yelps I could possibly muster on the diaphragm call. He gobbled again, nearly blew the hat off my head, and turned back to the right. I had to wait for him to clear some thick stuff, as I watched him strutting at 35 yards. He stopped and looked for awhile several times, going in and out of strut. Then he took a few more steps into one of the only openings I had. After it was all over, I stepped it off and he was at 24 steps.
Weighed in at 20.5 lbs, 10.25 inch beard, and 1.25 inch spurs.
That's the third Gobbler I've ever killed, all 3 of the from the same WMA. I was even able to make it home before the kiddos left for school, and got a picture with my Son. What a great morning!
I'm blessed beyond measure!!
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