After taking 3 birds off private property I wanted the 4th to be from public and with the .410. So the quest began Tuesday about 10am. I went to a WMA that I've had success in the past. Started checking fields and when I made to the far end of the property and was about to make the loop back to the truck I heard one gobble at a crow. Listened to him gobble until about 2. Set up on him 3 times but couldn't pull him to me.
Wednesday morning I went back to the area where I'd heard him on Tuesday. This time I used a different access which put me closer to this area. Got in there little late and just set down and listened. He started gobbling about 20 mins later but was on the private property next door. I'd call but he wouldnt budge. I moved closer and he'd move farther away. I figured out that I probably wouldn't be able to call this bird in. He would stand and gobble his head off but he wasnt going to come to a call.
Thursday morning I got in before fly down but never heard him on the limb. When he hit the ground he lit it up. He headed straight to the private property where he went 75yds and got on a logging road and gobbled and gobbled. I figured out that he was roosting about 150yds from the private property on the WMA and he was within sight of the path most every hunter walks to access this area. So he probably saw me walk in there but I had turned up the hill before I got close enough to spook him.
Friday morning I went back but came in a different way. He gobbled good on the limb and this time I was between him and the private property. I could see him in the tree and watched him pitch down 60yds out the flat from me. He gobbled just over the rise and I knew he was heading my way. I'm watching for movement then I hear him spitting and drumming I know he's close, then a gobble and I see him at 40yds half strut. A few steps later he stuck his head up at 35yds and I pulled the trigger. Don't know that I've ever figured a bird out like this one. This was by far the best hunt of the season for me. Tooks 4 days to get him but man it was fun.
20 lbs
9" beard
1" spurs
Wednesday morning I went back to the area where I'd heard him on Tuesday. This time I used a different access which put me closer to this area. Got in there little late and just set down and listened. He started gobbling about 20 mins later but was on the private property next door. I'd call but he wouldnt budge. I moved closer and he'd move farther away. I figured out that I probably wouldn't be able to call this bird in. He would stand and gobble his head off but he wasnt going to come to a call.
Thursday morning I got in before fly down but never heard him on the limb. When he hit the ground he lit it up. He headed straight to the private property where he went 75yds and got on a logging road and gobbled and gobbled. I figured out that he was roosting about 150yds from the private property on the WMA and he was within sight of the path most every hunter walks to access this area. So he probably saw me walk in there but I had turned up the hill before I got close enough to spook him.
Friday morning I went back but came in a different way. He gobbled good on the limb and this time I was between him and the private property. I could see him in the tree and watched him pitch down 60yds out the flat from me. He gobbled just over the rise and I knew he was heading my way. I'm watching for movement then I hear him spitting and drumming I know he's close, then a gobble and I see him at 40yds half strut. A few steps later he stuck his head up at 35yds and I pulled the trigger. Don't know that I've ever figured a bird out like this one. This was by far the best hunt of the season for me. Tooks 4 days to get him but man it was fun.
20 lbs
9" beard
1" spurs
