Got up Thursday morning and decided to give it a go. Wasn't really expecting much since I hadn't seen or heard a gobbler the past 2 or 3 times out but I went anyway. Sat up on the opposite side of the pipeline where I know they roost and at 5:44 a bird gobbled almost above me. He was on my side less than 50 yards but I've been seeing a jake with a fully mature gobble so I thought it might be him. I yelped hoping he'd fly down in the pipeline but instead pitched down behind me toward the barn. Once he hit the ground he gobbled 3-4 more times and then shut up. I knew I had to make something happen quick as the farmer comes to feed normally around 6:00 so I got up and eased down where I could see him and that's when I realized it was not the jake but the big boy. I could see one hen with him but then he just walked around the barn and I looked up and saw the farmer's truck so I decided to get on the other side of the pipeline and make a circle to the backside and cut him off from where I thought he was going. As I'm moving I stopped for a second and look up and see him and thought I was busted but he fanned out and went to strutting for his 2 hens. I finally sat down with my only hope being the hens would feed by me and bring him in on a string and that's exactly what happened. He never gobbled but was spitting and drumming the entire time. At 6:51 and 28.5 yards the 835 barked and the game was over. Not the heaviest bird but he's got the longest beard on one I've ever killed.
18 lbs.
12" beard
1" spurs
18 lbs.
12" beard
1" spurs
