I've had 4 misses that haunt me, the first was 2007!
#1 - set up with a bird over the ridge on neighbors land. I call a few times, nothing, call a few more times, nothing. after about 20 mins, i cut hard on a box and he was 20 yards over the ridge going from left to right. came by me with my gun out of position, swung fast and missed him at 11 yards.
#2 - had a bird hammering for days up on this flat, but couldn't get him to move off it. roosted right on top of it. finally i decided to flank him and come up a spine on a ridge that ran into it to make a "L". I get in, i'm 40 yards from where i want to set up and spook 2 hens. they fly off, but causes another bird to gobble 2 ridges over. I set up on the boss, call some, nothing, call a little bit later, nothing again. Sun is up over the ridges, I cut real hard on my glass, bird gobbles at my 3 o'clock 50-60 yards away. i wait about 10 mins on the edge of the field and i hear spit and drumming as he comes in. he's in full strut at 40 when i see him and walks to 20 but i can't get a shot because of the brush. he sees something and turns to walk away, at 30 yards walks into the woods and I have clear shot, i miss him! run over to where he's at and he's pitching off the side of the mountain. I pack my stuff up and to walk up on the flat 80 yards away. the boss flies out of the tree with 3 hens. None of them ever came back to the spot that season. Farm was sold last that year just before deer season. Killed 7 on that flat over the years.
#3 - Same farm as above, hear one a main finger ridge, i work my way to the top of it. they fly out and onto the neighbors. it's 8:30 and time for me to head to work, I walk down this finger ridge to my truck, rip a few calls off and a bird gobbles from other end of ridge (200+ yards away). I walk about 40 yards down the finger heading to truck, call again, he gobbles way closer. I think i should find a tree, i do, get set up and he gobbles 40 yards above me. Had a big tree right in front of me and had to decide which side he would come too, I choose left along the spine of the finger, he choose right side of tree. AT 8 yards, I swing on him and miss as he comes out of strut. flies up into a tree about 30 yards away. I try to put another shell in, but I was leaning down hill against the tree and can't get myself out of the bind. finally flies off as i put the bead on him.
#4 - Bird hammering on roost, flies down to flat on top of mountain with hen. i'm 40 yards off of it. he gobbles a few times then goes quiet. I wait about 45 mins, hear a bird out the mountain once, i think it's him. I ease my way to the flat, i see the hen 10 yards from me looking at me and 25 yards away is this bright blue head in half strut. i raise my gun, put it on him and watch him sail off the mountain on the neighbors. he gobbled over there for the next 2 weeks i hunted...lol
