I've had a bird that I've seen on cam for past 2 years (had a broken feather on right wing that stuck straight out). He ran with a Jake last season and was still buddied up with him this spring. He didn't have a super strong gobble, it would fool you thinking he was farther away then he was. I hunted him a few times last season, but since I had tagged one already, I choose to just let him go. This spring I chased him 5 times since season opened.
First hunt he gobbled 2 times and pitched out onto a flat. He strutted around about 75 yards away with 4 hens and his buddy. They moved off with no chance for a shot. 2nd hunt he gobbled a few times with his buddy. I snuck up just under the flat. I called a few times and he came by strutting at 40 yards heading to the hens calling over the other side of the flat. Hunt 3, very little gobbling going on. I creeped up to the flat, poked my head around a tree and see a red head. I dropped down, called softly and he gobbled. I stuck my gun around the tree and tried to get on his head, he moved about the time I shot and totally missed. I watch him fly off. Hunt 4, him and his buddy was gobbling crazy at daylight and after fly down. I called a few times and hear him gobbling 150+ yards away. he gobbles coming in and at one point he was just over the ridge top when he gobbled. next few gobbles were getting farther away.
Sunday AM, I got up late and decided to go anyway. I just got to ridge listening spot when he gobbled once. I snuck around to this flat as he gobbled a few times. He would turn in the tree cause one would be within 75 yards and next sounded like he was 200 yards away. I got at the end of the flat where the finger ridges goes down to his roost. I soft call a few times, he hammers back. he continues to gobble at birds and road noises. I go quiet at one point for a few minutes. I call a couple of times and he gobbles from other ridge. at one point he gobbles at my 3 on that ridge. I cut hard on my slate and he fires back. I go quiet and he gobbles closer. The next gobble he is at my 12 within 50 yards. He gobbles again just to my right. I get ready and see his head poke up over the crest. when he puts his head down, I swing the last few inches to get on him. he comes back up with his head and I pull the trigger. Drop him at 21 yards. He was 24.12 lbs, 10.750 beard, Left spur, 1.375", Right was broken and was 1". Had 2 big scars on him.
After I get home, it hits me that he won't be there gobbling any more. No more hunting of him and making memories. He was a great adversary and hope I find another like him in the future. Some times, when the hunt is over, I feel sad that he won't be there gobbling and bringing the excitement each spring.
First hunt he gobbled 2 times and pitched out onto a flat. He strutted around about 75 yards away with 4 hens and his buddy. They moved off with no chance for a shot. 2nd hunt he gobbled a few times with his buddy. I snuck up just under the flat. I called a few times and he came by strutting at 40 yards heading to the hens calling over the other side of the flat. Hunt 3, very little gobbling going on. I creeped up to the flat, poked my head around a tree and see a red head. I dropped down, called softly and he gobbled. I stuck my gun around the tree and tried to get on his head, he moved about the time I shot and totally missed. I watch him fly off. Hunt 4, him and his buddy was gobbling crazy at daylight and after fly down. I called a few times and hear him gobbling 150+ yards away. he gobbles coming in and at one point he was just over the ridge top when he gobbled. next few gobbles were getting farther away.
Sunday AM, I got up late and decided to go anyway. I just got to ridge listening spot when he gobbled once. I snuck around to this flat as he gobbled a few times. He would turn in the tree cause one would be within 75 yards and next sounded like he was 200 yards away. I got at the end of the flat where the finger ridges goes down to his roost. I soft call a few times, he hammers back. he continues to gobble at birds and road noises. I go quiet at one point for a few minutes. I call a couple of times and he gobbles from other ridge. at one point he gobbles at my 3 on that ridge. I cut hard on my slate and he fires back. I go quiet and he gobbles closer. The next gobble he is at my 12 within 50 yards. He gobbles again just to my right. I get ready and see his head poke up over the crest. when he puts his head down, I swing the last few inches to get on him. he comes back up with his head and I pull the trigger. Drop him at 21 yards. He was 24.12 lbs, 10.750 beard, Left spur, 1.375", Right was broken and was 1". Had 2 big scars on him.
After I get home, it hits me that he won't be there gobbling any more. No more hunting of him and making memories. He was a great adversary and hope I find another like him in the future. Some times, when the hunt is over, I feel sad that he won't be there gobbling and bringing the excitement each spring.
