Patience is an understatement

Andy S.

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 26, 1999
Messages
23,690
Location
Atoka, TN
Yessir, that is pure dedication and how to make chicken soup out of chicken chit. Nothing like persevering and fighting to the last minute to get the knockout. Congrats Setterman, thanks for sharing the story and photos.
 

gobbler32

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2006
Messages
245
Location
centerville
Opening found me in a familiar area, at daylight the only gobbling I heard was a two day hike away. However, several hundred yards out a lead from me a group of Jake's and hens were having quite a party. With nothing else happening I decided to head that way. I set up and called to them and was greeted with a cacophony of Jake yelps and hen talk.

muttering to myself this is a waste but suspecting there had to be a mature bird with this group as it wasn't just a few birds.

soon I hear them start flying down, and once it seemed all were on the ground I cut really aggressively at the group. Low and behold a bird hammered back.

over the next 8 hours, yes 8 long grueling hours I stuck with this flock only being able to keep track of them by hearing the longbeard drumming and occasional hen clucks.

I sealed it around hour 6 when they began to drift towards a point I knew well, and circled out in front. It still took two hours to coax the hens to me and past me dragging him behind them.

At 25 steps I ended one of the longest most grueling kills I've ever had. I was starving, aching, and drained. But found success. It wasn't the perfect game as he only gobbled the once, but it was a quest to rid the world of his non gobbling genetics haha. The group had 6 jakes and probably 12-14 hens.

1" Spurs, rat 8.5" beard. Really surprised he wasn't a brute with his harem and watch dogs.
Man, 8 hours is dedication for sure. Ive logged 5 hours once and 4 hours a few times working a bird but hats off to you for hanging in there and taking a well deserved bird.
 

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