bowhunterfanatic
Well-Known Member
Been chasing a group of 5 toms and some hens that haven't busted up yet the last couple days. Thought we had two of them dead last night but the lead bird got to 45 yards and got a little uneasy and ended up leaving the field. Went back there this morning and the birds had gone a long way last night, so we left them to go check some other spots. Didn't find a bird anywhere else, so I dropped my brother off at home so he could go get some work done and headed back to where we started. Of course the gobblers beat me back to the field so I made a huge circle around them in the cutover and set up about 80 yards off the field on the edge of one of our food plots. I hit them with some soft purring and clucking on a Pittman slate and got no response. Waited about 10 minutes and noticed a bird on the edge of the field a couple hundred yards out and decided to call again. Still no response. Started scanning the field edge again trying to keep tabs on all the birds and realized a different bird had started easing up the field edge right in front of me looking for a place to cross the ditch. Called to him one last time and put the call down and got ready. I expected him to come straight up the little drainage I was sitting in but of course he makes a huge circle and comes straight at me from the right. Luckily I heard him before I saw him and there was a rise between us so I was able to get spun around his way. Waited for him to walk through my opening and let him have it at about 20 yards. I don't think his buddies down in the big field ever knew what happened. Got to him and realized he had a double beard. Upon closer inspection when I got him back to the house I realized he actually had three beards. I didn't even take the time to measure them but I'd say they were 9, 5 and 4 inches long. Worn down 1/2 inch spurs. First bird I've ever killed that came in silent to a call. Pretty awesome hunt.
