Never give up. Last minute score!

[Bow Hunter Derek]

Well, it has been the most frustrating year that I've ever had as a turkey hunter. No gobbles, not seeing birds, too many hunters, just one thing after another.

My wife did not want me to go hunting this morning as it is Mother's Day and I am leaving later today to go bear hunting. But a little pouting last night got me the nod to go. One condition. My tail had to be in church at 9:00.

So, I went out to where I had had birds working yesterday morning. I left the bow in the truck and picked up the shot gun. No more messing around!

I got a bird to gobble at 6:15 several hundred yards away. I moved in and he flew down. He was working away from me non stop and I was running out of property real fast! I set up on him 4 times. Finally, I came up over a rise to a clearing and poked my head around a bush. There was a hen at 30 yards. I just stood there like a rock and decided to wait. Then he gobbled, barely 50 yards away, but out of view due to a small rise in the field. So I waited, while he gobbled. After about 15 minutes, I saw a red hed pass behind a bush, so I raised the gun and got ready for him to step out to the other side. Just then the hen cut and ran. I took one step forward and raised to my tippy toes and leveled the gun. There was the big red head I'd been looking for. He was looking right back at me, so I let the hammer down. At 50 yards, the 870/Rhino choke tube/Winchester #5 combination dropped him stone cold dead at 7:15 am, just in time to go to church. It was a shoot now or eat your tag moment. I don't like that long of a shot, but I could not bear not carring that bird out of the woods.

Needless to say, I am so releived. What a long frustrating season it has been. I leave in a few hours to go bear hunting for two weeks in Saskatchewan, so this could not be more timely to make the long ride more pleasureable.

Here he is. 21#, 7/8" spurs, and 9 1/2" beard.

[mo_hunter]

congrats. great bird, patience pays off

[arrow32]

Congrats on the great bird!

[huntinguide]

those last minute birds sure make you stress a little.

[hookedonhunting]

Congrats! That a way to keep at em.

[HONKERS44]

Awsome Bud congrats!!!!! Way to Go!!!!!!!

[Gus]

Nice bird, congrats

[borch]

Way to go!

Persistence pays off!

[VermontHunter]

Congrats on a mighty fine bird Derek..

[Tom2008]

Congrats on the bird and way to hang in there.

[maytom]

Way to stick with it!! Congrats!!

[Turkeystalker]

Can't get them fromt he couch..... Way to go.... great bird

[huntn4bucks]

Nice job Derek. You are exactly right...never give up. Congrats.

[wtnhunt]

Congratulations on the bird, and good luck in Sask.

[redbeard]

Many congrats! Perseverence is the key!