Setterman
Well-Known Member
Well as most know I don't post a bunch of pics or stories regarding my turkey season, but decided that the bird from yesterday deserved some public humiliation after beating me all season before he and I settled our differences yesterday morning.
I found this bird the opening Monday of the season, he was a jerk then and he and his bevy of hens and jake minions marched away shortly after fly down. On that particular morning a different bird had gobbled the entire time just down the mountain, after getting whipped I eased in on him and after a short series of calls killed him.
Fast forward to yesterday, I have tried to kill the original bird many many times and had him in range several times but couldn't get a shot, and one time just happened to have him range but let him walk because it was nothing more than an ambush and he deserved a more noble death.
This bird did all the hard bird stuff, gobbled like crazy, hung up in thick stuff, hung up just out of sight but in range, got drug away by hens, you name it he did it. But one thing he consistently did was gobble, and gobble a ton which makes even the hardest birds killable eventually.
Yesterday the weather was awful, but that doesn't bother me and he had shown over the last few weeks that he really got wild on nasty days. I ease into his territory in the dark and at daylight he announces he's still there, when he gobbles I give him my token tree yelp and am answered by him, a hen, and a pesky jake minion. In no time he's on the ground gobbling steadily but not budging, I know from past hunts he will generally work out onto a point and stand his ground.
Well yesterday I decided since the wind is ripping out there that he might drift back into the hollow on an old logging cut, needless to say I either guessed right or managed to trick him into doing something he had been reluctant to do before which was go the opposite direction he wanted. I'd like to think the latter, lol.
It took an hour and half for the entire wad to finally filter to me and he was leading the charge in full strut. The wet woods I believe kept him from skirting me as he had done before and forced him to stay in the open woods which led to his demise at 21 yards.
He's a really nice bird especially for a public land mountain bird IMO. Spurs measured 1 3/8" and just under 1 3/8", 9" thick beard and he weighed 19 lbs.
I found this bird the opening Monday of the season, he was a jerk then and he and his bevy of hens and jake minions marched away shortly after fly down. On that particular morning a different bird had gobbled the entire time just down the mountain, after getting whipped I eased in on him and after a short series of calls killed him.
Fast forward to yesterday, I have tried to kill the original bird many many times and had him in range several times but couldn't get a shot, and one time just happened to have him range but let him walk because it was nothing more than an ambush and he deserved a more noble death.
This bird did all the hard bird stuff, gobbled like crazy, hung up in thick stuff, hung up just out of sight but in range, got drug away by hens, you name it he did it. But one thing he consistently did was gobble, and gobble a ton which makes even the hardest birds killable eventually.
Yesterday the weather was awful, but that doesn't bother me and he had shown over the last few weeks that he really got wild on nasty days. I ease into his territory in the dark and at daylight he announces he's still there, when he gobbles I give him my token tree yelp and am answered by him, a hen, and a pesky jake minion. In no time he's on the ground gobbling steadily but not budging, I know from past hunts he will generally work out onto a point and stand his ground.
Well yesterday I decided since the wind is ripping out there that he might drift back into the hollow on an old logging cut, needless to say I either guessed right or managed to trick him into doing something he had been reluctant to do before which was go the opposite direction he wanted. I'd like to think the latter, lol.
It took an hour and half for the entire wad to finally filter to me and he was leading the charge in full strut. The wet woods I believe kept him from skirting me as he had done before and forced him to stay in the open woods which led to his demise at 21 yards.
He's a really nice bird especially for a public land mountain bird IMO. Spurs measured 1 3/8" and just under 1 3/8", 9" thick beard and he weighed 19 lbs.
