this morning at about 10 minutes to 8 i killed my best bird ever to come off the forest.
21 pounds, 10 inch beard and 1 5/16 inch spurs.
was not the bird i set up on yesterday morning or this morning. this bird i think saw me or heard me. he shut up at 0605 but did gobble 1 more time on the ground around 0645, did have him close enough to here him drumming. same bird i fooled with opening day. he left and gobbled a couple time to say good bye....
i had heard a bird gobble about 3 or 4 times on another ridge about 400 yards away(of course). so i head towards where i heard him. as i am climbing the ridge i hear him gobbled 5 or 6 times by his self. get on top of the ridge and head closer. i figurard i amd about 150 yards from him and find a real nice spot to set up. big pines, good and open. i yelp nothing hit the box he gobbled, wait 5 minutes box again he gobbles.
15 minutes or so later i aint heard a thing, i yelp with slate then box nothing. i am think i might have to move closer to where he was. i am wondering where is he, the i hear split and drum close, there he is. he cam down the side of the ridge in and out of the thick stuff. i see him at 40 yards, i first think its a jake. i just saw a small beard or what looked like a small beard, he takes couple more step and he is abouut to get in the open area i see beard and he is full strut. easing towards the opening. i get the gun on him and lean around a pine thats 15 yards in front of me and when he steps around the pine. MR BROWNING SPOKE. down he went. i get up not see him at all, as i am walking towards where i shot him i see no bird nothhing. then i see that low spot. he is laying ther no flopping. i walk up to him look at beard, good one, turn him over to look at the spurs, i about fell down but then started dancing a jig..... HOOKS baby.......
took some pics and left walking towards the truck, according to my gps its 1.2 miles straigh as a arrow to it. big hill to go up.
best bird from the forest....
looking to where he was at.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/hootn/DSCF7177_zps41a75a97.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hootn/media/DSCF7177_zps41a75a97.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/hootn/4-12-14bird_zpse3caea4c.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hootn/media/4-12-14bird_zpse3caea4c.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/hootn/DSCF7179_zps5e3f6a5c.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hootn/media/DSCF7179_zps5e3f6a5c.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/hootn/DSCF7178_zps4a5e6f36.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hootn/media/DSCF7178_zps4a5e6f36.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/hootn/DSCF7172_zps80d3ed85.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hootn/media/DSCF7172_zps80d3ed85.jpg.html)
very nice bird like the hooks congrats. :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
Congrats!!
Congrats on a nice bird!! :icon_thumright:
Thats a great bird! Congrats!
Congrats!!
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great bird! congrats!
Congrats
Congrats on the great bird! :icon_thumright:
Congrats on a successful hunt and a fine tom.
Congrats! nice bird..had that happen where a bird shuts up and comes in silent..good thing you stayed and didn't get up..i ruined many hunts getting up to move on a bird I thought " wasn't coming"...in my younger days...Awesome bird!
Great hunt!
Congrats on a great hunt and a fantastic bird.....
thats one to hoot about. congrats :icon_thumright:
Great bird! Congrats
That's a bird! Congrats! !!
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Nice, congrats!
WTG Scott!!
Wow, that's a dandy !!
Congrats nice bird
Strong work. Nice bird.
Great bird, congrats
Real nice bird...Congrats!
Congrats! Those are daggers!
Congrats! Beautiful bird.
:happy0064:very nice,congrats
Great story, great bird...especially from public... great pics and great memories...Thanks for sharing.
congrats on a great bird
Nice hooks ! Fine gobbler !!!!! Way to go.
We'll done Scott, well done. Congrats!
Very Nice!
Awesome bird!
Congrats nice bird. nothing like a public land bird
:happy0064:Very nice gobbler,congrats!!
Congrats on your best forest bird, he's a nice one! :icon_thumright:
Nice bird. WTG
Congrats on a great public land kill!