I've taken my brother in law 4 times this year and finally got it done yesterday morning. Two hens flew down at 5:33 and he followed at 5:38. Got a headache at 5:48 that ended it. All that said it's been a comedy of errors.
1st hunt - opening day and heard a bunch of birds but never laid eyes on any.
2nd hunt - got on 3 gobblers early and he missed. Got on them again 3 hours later and he missed again. Days later when trying to figure out what was wrong he noticed his base was broke.
3rd hunt - got on a lone gobbler who was fired up in a field so I sat up at the end of a little draw so if the gobbler came to me he'd walk right past him. Bird came to about 25 yards and hung up. I'm saying to myself for him to shoot but he never did (he was using my gun). Bird walks off so I'm thinking the hill rolled over and he couldn't see him so when he says "no I saw him" I asked why he didn't shoot. He wasn't sure how far he was and I told him less than 30 yards. I was sick to my stomach so now we're 0 for 3.
4th hunt - yesterday morning we set up at 5:00 and it was dead quiet. Owls hooting and nothing so I made a soft yelp and one gobbled behind us. Used my hat twice to mimic birds flying down and he gobbled both times. I'm thinking this is great until 2 hens to our left pitched down in the field. Just knew we were in trouble and 5 minutes later he pitched down. He was quiet at first but then the hens started working our way and he followed while gobbling. He got to about 25 yards and I told my brother in law to kill him and about 2 seconds later "click". I loaded the gun because he was still using mine apparently didn't let the bolt close hard enough. Told him to chamber another as that was our only option so he did and then boom game over. Luckily we had some trees in front of us giving us some cover. Had my phone up to video but apparently when I hit record it didn't so I didn't get the kill shot but he finally had a bird. He had a bad limp and was basically hopping on one leg. When my brother in law cleaned him he said his left leg was shattered so not sure what happened to him.
17 lbs 12 oz
10 1/4" beard
1 1/16" spurs
1st hunt - opening day and heard a bunch of birds but never laid eyes on any.
2nd hunt - got on 3 gobblers early and he missed. Got on them again 3 hours later and he missed again. Days later when trying to figure out what was wrong he noticed his base was broke.
3rd hunt - got on a lone gobbler who was fired up in a field so I sat up at the end of a little draw so if the gobbler came to me he'd walk right past him. Bird came to about 25 yards and hung up. I'm saying to myself for him to shoot but he never did (he was using my gun). Bird walks off so I'm thinking the hill rolled over and he couldn't see him so when he says "no I saw him" I asked why he didn't shoot. He wasn't sure how far he was and I told him less than 30 yards. I was sick to my stomach so now we're 0 for 3.
4th hunt - yesterday morning we set up at 5:00 and it was dead quiet. Owls hooting and nothing so I made a soft yelp and one gobbled behind us. Used my hat twice to mimic birds flying down and he gobbled both times. I'm thinking this is great until 2 hens to our left pitched down in the field. Just knew we were in trouble and 5 minutes later he pitched down. He was quiet at first but then the hens started working our way and he followed while gobbling. He got to about 25 yards and I told my brother in law to kill him and about 2 seconds later "click". I loaded the gun because he was still using mine apparently didn't let the bolt close hard enough. Told him to chamber another as that was our only option so he did and then boom game over. Luckily we had some trees in front of us giving us some cover. Had my phone up to video but apparently when I hit record it didn't so I didn't get the kill shot but he finally had a bird. He had a bad limp and was basically hopping on one leg. When my brother in law cleaned him he said his left leg was shattered so not sure what happened to him.
17 lbs 12 oz
10 1/4" beard
1 1/16" spurs
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