3rd Bird's a Charm

**Rhino** · 04-07-2009, 08:30 PM

After getting a phone call to join one of my turkey hunting buddies at our camp late yesterday and with near perfect weather conditions this morning I couldn't wait to do battle with the birds. After hearing a distant loud mouth bird in the distance I quickly made tracks to get in position with the hope to work some magic.

The bird had been gobbling on the roost for almost 20 minutes by the time I neared his location. As I got to the spot I was hoping to set up on the bird gobbled from ground level. With that I hit the nearest tree to start doing battle. This bird would gobble at any hen talk I threw at him but he made a mark beyond the 100 yard line that he just wouldn't break. After about 20 minutes of this I realized my chances were slim he'd break through the line he'd drawn in the dirt. This bird just seemed to have his mind set that the hen he was hearing had to come to him. With that thought I decided to give him a good reason why his hen was reluctant to come. Out came my gobble call again (yep 1 more time

) and I threw some hen cutting out to him that he promptly gobbled to. I followed his gobble with a gobble of my own. That was the last call I made. Moments later his loud coarse gobble made it obvious, HE'S COMMING! Within seconds of his last gobble the distinct sound of pftt...dooooom began. That sound always makes my hair stand on end.

His drumming got louder and louder as he slowly approached. It seemed like forever but probably only a minute or two before finally at about the 50 yard line I began to see his black body moving through the foliage. I followed him with my holosight centered until he hit a clear lane close the the 30 yard line. He stopped right there, stretched out his neck and a Nitro load hit it's mark. My 3rd MS Eastern bird is the oldest bird to fall for me this year. He toted a 10 3/4" beard along with 1 1/4" hooks. That limits me out now in MS but these sort of turkey hunting encounters are what turkey hunting is all about to me.

I still have a few rookies and my son to work with this turkey season but outside of that you can stick a fork in me cuz I'm done.

TennesseeTurkey · 04-07-2009, 08:40 PM

I shouldve drove 4 more hours and went hunting with you

**layin on the smackdown** · 04-07-2009, 08:49 PM

Congrats!!! looks like you are really gettin it done down there! I hope i am 1/3 as lucky as you! Way to go!

Yes Will, you shouldve gone the extra 4 hrs...He's been posting birds on here all week!