Started opening morning off with a miss and that had my confidence at level 0.
Fast forward to April 9th and got right under some I roosted the night before. It went just as planned and killed my first of the season right at fly down. 10 1/4" beard,.1 1/8" spurs.
Left out this past Tuesday and headed East to hunt with knighrider. Wednesday we chased a bird in circles until 330 but couldn't do anything with him. Thursday morning 4-21 we didn't hear a peep on the roost. As we were leaving about 10 we heard a gobbler and a group of Jake's. We realized they weren't coming to us so went to them and crested a hill and all I could see was a red head and knew it was a male bird and shot. Knightrider and myself doubled up on Jake's. It was a great time as always and east TN is beautiful country.
Sunday morning 4-24 I knew about where they'd be roosted and sure enough they were there. I was a little late so didn't get too close. They flew down in the timber and got quiet. Finally about 20 mins after fly down he gobbled and was still in the woods. Seen him finally step out and ended up being 2 like I thought. He started going away from me and I got louder and he got more excited. He ran from about 200 yards to 60 and just stopped. He would gobble and look but wouldn't come closer. He then just turned around and strutted away. I guess he just got tired of looking for the hen and decided to leave. He got to 150 yards and I started calling loud at him. He spun around and gave me several gobbles and came back to me but stopped at about 45 yards. I heard a yelp behind me then seen 3 hens to my left going his way. I knew it was now or never so shot him at 40-45 yards. 4 bearded bird and my biggest to date. Beards are 10", 6", 4.5", and 4.5". Spurs are 1 3/16".
Now on to find some Ky birds hopefully.
Fast forward to April 9th and got right under some I roosted the night before. It went just as planned and killed my first of the season right at fly down. 10 1/4" beard,.1 1/8" spurs.
Left out this past Tuesday and headed East to hunt with knighrider. Wednesday we chased a bird in circles until 330 but couldn't do anything with him. Thursday morning 4-21 we didn't hear a peep on the roost. As we were leaving about 10 we heard a gobbler and a group of Jake's. We realized they weren't coming to us so went to them and crested a hill and all I could see was a red head and knew it was a male bird and shot. Knightrider and myself doubled up on Jake's. It was a great time as always and east TN is beautiful country.
Sunday morning 4-24 I knew about where they'd be roosted and sure enough they were there. I was a little late so didn't get too close. They flew down in the timber and got quiet. Finally about 20 mins after fly down he gobbled and was still in the woods. Seen him finally step out and ended up being 2 like I thought. He started going away from me and I got louder and he got more excited. He ran from about 200 yards to 60 and just stopped. He would gobble and look but wouldn't come closer. He then just turned around and strutted away. I guess he just got tired of looking for the hen and decided to leave. He got to 150 yards and I started calling loud at him. He spun around and gave me several gobbles and came back to me but stopped at about 45 yards. I heard a yelp behind me then seen 3 hens to my left going his way. I knew it was now or never so shot him at 40-45 yards. 4 bearded bird and my biggest to date. Beards are 10", 6", 4.5", and 4.5". Spurs are 1 3/16".
Now on to find some Ky birds hopefully.
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