**Illinois "BBD" Big Bird down"

[dartonman]

Let me start off by saying....I am truly blessed.....my son Hunter James, who is 13 has a very close bond with two very good young men....Trevor, who was fortunate to take on video a couple seasons ago, his first turkey (30 pounder) and now our buddy Chip, who sat with us last season....and is now a seasoned turkey hunter with his first bird (26 pounds, almost 10 inch beard, and 1 1/4 inch spurs that are as thick as your pinky finger)......we hunted hard in the cold wind on Saturday, no birds played nice....last day of youth season (Sunday) we had most of the flock avoid our set up and go cross country to their favorite piece of private land that is the "untouchable zone". So, the decision was made by the out of shape and not a good runner D-man that we (Chipper and Trevor) were going to run, and run far to get set up before any more birds got by us....so we ran, and ran, and ran...lol...almost farther than I want to speak of....then I had the boys belly craw into position near the property line of the "untouchable zone"...well, I can thank Verizon wireless for what happened next....my son Hunter and Trevors dad spotted two very large mature gobblers, and they were headed our way, and fast....needless to say, as soon as the boys got on one knee and guns up, the king of the forest, and my particular flock leader was on his way to ole D-man's sweet purring....and ole blue head came bopping over the rise, only to be met when he was in strut by two very excited, but dead eye turkey hunters....the bird dropped strut, and said his last prayers, as his last thoughts soon left his jelly head with a load of 6 shot.......so now, I present you with "Chipper Kruse" and his buddies Trevor, and my son Hunter and the monarch of the forest, who died in dignity by young men that never whined about the cold, or the running, or the belly crawling through thorn and thicket...yep true turkey hunters.....they will make our sport proud for years to come........Im glad I could be a part of their lives.......al ( PS Thanks goes to Buckee who will post all the pics for me)

[toddyboman]

Sounds like you guys had a very eventfully hunt!! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Congrats!
Wheres the pics?? http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[dartonman]

Buckee will be posting them hopefully tonite buddy...thanks, I wish you luck for you and your team....this bird is a hog with feathers........al

[toddyboman]

LOL. So you guys will be having a BIG turkey feast!! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[buckee]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/buckee/member%20favours/Turkey2007013.jpg

[toddyboman]

Al those are some GREAT pictures. Those smiles say it all! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[buckee]

That's an awesome bird. Heck I was so busy trying to sort through the pics, re-size them, turn them and get them uploaded and posted, I didn't have the time to sit back and appreciate them.. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

AWESOME pics Al , AWESOME hunt, and AWESOME bird .
Yer da man Chipper !!!! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Sounds like you all had a hoot of a hunt. Gotta love all them smiles eh http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[maytom]

Awesome pic's!! WTG!!

[bowhunter56]

Great picturs an story al,,,hope you got some prints made to frame...

[Rhino]

Atta Boy Al. Congrats to all the boys...including you. http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Great group of pics of the troops and that big old bird. Great talking to you yesterday too and sharing the hunt with me.

[Mach1]

Very nice.

[Hoyt03]

congrats

[turkeygirl]

Wow!! Congrats! Illinois not only has big bucks but big gobblers!!!

[BAMABUCKS]

congrats to all of you!!!

[huntinguide]

great looking bird....

[HoppeMan]

Congrats to them all!!!!! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif That bird looks great! Enjoy the feast http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Take care,
Nathan

[Chrud]

That is awesome Al! Congrats to all!

[Bonemass]

Tell Hunter Congrads from me D-man. That looks like the same field Trevor took his first Turkey ...Is it ?

[ruttinbuc]

Thats Great!!! That is the kind of hunt that will last a lifetime. No reason to question why we hunt! http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[PAstringking]

awesome bird

[Bowtech_archer07]

Congrats!!!! That is an awesome bird!!!

[boomer]

Congrats!!

[IowaDeerHunter]

That is awesome Al, way to go!!!!

[Tom2008]

Awesome story Al and the pictures are great too! What are the statistics on that monster bird? Sorry if I missed it in your post. Congrats again to the youth hunters on a very successful day!

[dartonman]

That is within 70 yards where the 30 pounder was taken a couple seasons ago...this ole bird was just over the 26 pounder mark, just under 10 inch beard, with almost 1 1/2 inch spurs as big as your pinky thick......thanks for all the kind words folks, its truly a turkey hunters dream ( at least in mine) to teach the young people today that there is more to life than video games).......gotta get one in the woods to share the passion...........al

[buckee]

[ QUOTE ]
its truly a turkey hunters dream ( at least in mine) to teach the young people today that there is more to life than video games).......gotta get one in the woods to share the passion..

[/ QUOTE ]

Amen to that Al. Keep up the good work http://www.realtree.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[KirkV]

Congrats on a nice story and a very nice bird.

[hoyt19]

Great job Al, something those kids won't ever froget.

[gobblergetter15]

Nice bird.Congrats.