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Flint

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
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495
Location
Springfield, TN
Day in the turkey woods. They've been gobbling nearly all day in my neck of the woods. I got set up in a bottom this morning at nearly 6:00, too late I thought. Heard one gobbling up on the ridge above me. He wasn't coming down to the bottom so I went up on the ridge and followed him for about a quarter mile until he finally quit gobbling. I went back down at about 8:30 and then I hear one gobbling back from where I started. When I get to the edge of the woods, I can see him struttin in the field close to where I was set up this morning! It's the big gobbler I saw on opening afternoon. He's got a white head and neck - he almost looks like a crossbreed except the rest of his body looks like a true wild turkey.

Another turkey starts gobbling across the creek and the big one heads that direction - he pays no attention to my calls and disappears over the creek bank. I wait about 15 minutes and just when I think I'm done, I see a different turkey appear from the creek. He gobbles like crazy when I call and heads my direction from about 150 yards away! After what seems like forever, struttin, gobbling, and calling, he's in range and get a good look at his beard - it's only about 6" or so. I decide to pass. But it sure was fun.

I went back this afternoon with the decoys and set up where I was this morning. Several gobbling all around and one silent one surprises me and comes struttin past me at about 8 yards headed to my decoys. He pauses long enough for me to get a good look at him and seems to get a little spooked. I can't move or raise my gun because he's too close. A little gust of wind turns my gobbler decoy and he charges it! I take him at 20 yards. 9" beard, 3/4" Spurs, and 20 pounds.
 

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Congrats.

I do have to ask, when the first bird was doing all of his strutting did you not notice a jake fan then? If not sounds like he was a gobbler. Could have been beard rot. He played like a big boy so in my book he can die like a big boy. I would much rather have that type hunt over a silent 2 yr old.
 
PalsPal":3fk94b95 said:
Congrats.

I do have to ask, when the first bird was doing all of his strutting did you not notice a jake fan then? If not sounds like he was a gobbler. Could have been beard rot. He played like a big boy so in my book he can die like a big boy. I would much rather have that type hunt over a silent 2 yr old.


Thanks.
He wasn't a jake, just a young gobbler. I would have shot If he had been my first bird of the year.
 

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