Finally tagged out

[alloutdoors]

Well, it's been a while since I was still hunting for myself this late in the season. The last few years I've been averaging a bird for every two days hunted, but it's been fun to have a longer season too. A few days ago I had this bird and his buddy at 60 yards in an open field at about 9:00 but they had a hen with them and I couldn't get them any closer. This morning I slipped in under their roost and got it done nice and early. It was about 4:15 when I parked, and there were distant flashes of lightning to the north and south, thankfully though the storms stayed away. The spot where the birds roost is just off the back of a plowed field, they usually hit the ground just inside the edge in a nice open piece of hardwoods and then make their way to the field. I set some decoys out in the field and then got set up about eight steps inside the woods facing away from the field and toward where I expected the birds to be. I figured I would either get a shot at them when they hit their strutting area or I could turn around and shoot them in the decoys if they made it past me (or flew out into the field). I didn't have long to wait before I heard the first hen start calling, she sounded like she was inside 30 yards up in her tree. I answered with a few soft yelps, pretty much just to be able to say I had called. Within a few minutes both gobblers joined in as well. At about 5:20 they both flew down and this one landed within range. The dot on my Fastfire was already on his head when his feet hit the ground and a load of HW7's ended both my morning and season.

 

18lbs, 10" beard, 15/16" spurs

 

 

My view looking into the woods from where I was sitting, the field with my decoys is to my back. The bird landed right in the middle of this clearing.

 

Lots of sign out in the field.

 

 

Edited May 22, 2014 by alloutdoors

[Big Indian]

He's a beauty, congrats !

[RTGobbler]

Awesome bird and nice planning to get him.

[whaler]

great bird. Pretty fan on that one!

[F-150]

congrats on agreat looking bird and story   !   

[34NY]

Congrats!

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[Pygmy]

Congrats, Partner...Nice bird and nice job.

 

I love your photos..What a beautiful place to take a gobbler.

[NFA-ADK]

Nice, congrats!

[Dr. Honk]

Great looking gobbler. I enjoyed reading your story. Thanks.