ok so the past few weeks have been rough and had a bunch of close calls but something kept going wrong. I decided to go with a buddy of mine to his place this morning to try and turn my luck. We went out to this same place a week ago and had 2 nice LB's fly down 80yds out but once the hens flew down they went away from us (of course). So this time we had a plan to split up by 80yds or so further down the field just in case they did the same thing one of us would have a shot.
we get in early thing morning and set set up, i put 2 decoys out 8yds from me and quartering behind me just for something to cover my sound (not much cover where i was) and behind that was 2 fence rows and a house so i didnt think anything would come from that way. Well as light came up we had birds hammering everywhere but around us
(again go figure) but finally had one fly down on the other side of a wood line from us a few hundred yards out. I didnt think there was any way he was coming but at this point i was going to try anyways.
So i put in the mouth call and started to yelp and hit a very hard cut......WOW one gobbles literally RIGHT BEHIND ME, i mean withing 20 yds. My heart sank immediately! as i turn just a bit i can see him strutting in the decoys i put out and there is NO WAY i could turn to shoot him as i was aiming the opposite way. Then (this may be the only time i ever say this again) some hens that were roosted in front of us flew down and landed 75 yds out in front which still i think is the only reason the morning was saved.
once they hit the ground i knew there was a chance as long as he didnt bust me sitting there. Well instead of coming down the line he was on (which would have had him walk right infront of my barrel) he decides to loop around and come out to the right of me...I can hear him drumming and purring as he passes literally 6ft from me on my left (at this point i am about to puke my heart is racing so fast praying he does not bust me). he goes into strut and starts picking up steam heading to the hens. Now the dilima is i have to move my gun all the way over to him without getting caught yet fast enough to get on him before he is out of range. At 35 yds i am finally on him and he is about to go into a creek bed, if he goes in thee and comes out the other side he would be just out of range. I put the gun on him and pull the trigger only to find i never took my safety off during all the madness. by the grace of god he had not crossed over yet so i eased the safety off and BANG he rolled over at 40yds. only bad part is he rolled right into the creek and flopped for a bit so when i picked him up he was one wet bird lol.
was a great hunt and a lot of things could have gone wrong but thanks to god alone for allowing this joyous hunt to be a success!!
24lbs 10 1/8 beard and 1 1/4 spurs. Pics dont do the spurs justice as they were very curved and i could not get the tape measure to read them right until i got to work and used a different tape, but then i forgot the camera to update them. I will try and get some updated ones tonight after work.
we get in early thing morning and set set up, i put 2 decoys out 8yds from me and quartering behind me just for something to cover my sound (not much cover where i was) and behind that was 2 fence rows and a house so i didnt think anything would come from that way. Well as light came up we had birds hammering everywhere but around us
(again go figure) but finally had one fly down on the other side of a wood line from us a few hundred yards out. I didnt think there was any way he was coming but at this point i was going to try anyways. So i put in the mouth call and started to yelp and hit a very hard cut......WOW one gobbles literally RIGHT BEHIND ME, i mean withing 20 yds. My heart sank immediately! as i turn just a bit i can see him strutting in the decoys i put out and there is NO WAY i could turn to shoot him as i was aiming the opposite way. Then (this may be the only time i ever say this again) some hens that were roosted in front of us flew down and landed 75 yds out in front which still i think is the only reason the morning was saved.
once they hit the ground i knew there was a chance as long as he didnt bust me sitting there. Well instead of coming down the line he was on (which would have had him walk right infront of my barrel) he decides to loop around and come out to the right of me...I can hear him drumming and purring as he passes literally 6ft from me on my left (at this point i am about to puke my heart is racing so fast praying he does not bust me). he goes into strut and starts picking up steam heading to the hens. Now the dilima is i have to move my gun all the way over to him without getting caught yet fast enough to get on him before he is out of range. At 35 yds i am finally on him and he is about to go into a creek bed, if he goes in thee and comes out the other side he would be just out of range. I put the gun on him and pull the trigger only to find i never took my safety off during all the madness. by the grace of god he had not crossed over yet so i eased the safety off and BANG he rolled over at 40yds. only bad part is he rolled right into the creek and flopped for a bit so when i picked him up he was one wet bird lol.
was a great hunt and a lot of things could have gone wrong but thanks to god alone for allowing this joyous hunt to be a success!!
24lbs 10 1/8 beard and 1 1/4 spurs. Pics dont do the spurs justice as they were very curved and i could not get the tape measure to read them right until i got to work and used a different tape, but then i forgot the camera to update them. I will try and get some updated ones tonight after work.
