My job tends to be VERY busy in Spring and haven't been able to hunt turkeys for 12 years until last year. Many reasons - work mainly, living in TX for a couple years before heading back to TN and health issues (2 back surgeries with a possible 3rd pending even now). I had not been able to get out yet this year and decided I could sneak away for my lunch break into the woods to try to find a spot for me and my daughter. I only hunt public because that's what I have access to. I had hoped to get out early but wasn't able to get out until almost 11 am. Left the truck and entered the area I hoped to find sign from a different spot than normal. As I walked in I thought I heard a very muffled gobble - it was not a normal gobble but it was a gobble. I decided to sneak in and see what I could see. Figured I would make it to a certain tree and call very softly. Almost made it to the tree and out of the corner of my eye saw the very top of a fan, then another and then a 3rd. They were 80 yards out. Got down as low as I could and snuck into 40 yards. Tom to the left was hidden by his own fan so stood up slowly - hen to the right and gobbler to the right noticed my movement. Tom that was facing away from me looked at them and then my way and I pulled the trigger. He flopped and the 10 or so other turkeys just over the crest of the hill that I couldn't see scattered. First turkey in 12 years... Not the biggest but really don't care. Looked at my watch and 33 minutes from the truck to a bird on the ground. Probably will never happen again but it was a skipped lunch well spent. 21.52 lbs, 9.5" beard.
Only regret is my hunting buddy (daughter) was in school - would've preferred she get the shot for her first ever.
Only regret is my hunting buddy (daughter) was in school - would've preferred she get the shot for her first ever.
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