I spent just over 4 hours in a Wal Mart Turkey Thug chair and finally killed this gobbler at 10 am. He responded well to calls from Hooks Sassy Gal 3, Sneed Hot Hen with hand carved oak striker from my buddy Rickey and a stabilized spalted Maple trumpet from Robert Glover.
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/C6143B47-FD56-4D3A-8217-C65AD6CF143C_zpsi9xzo0tx.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/drenalinld/media/C6143B47-FD56-4D3A-8217-C65AD6CF143C_zpsi9xzo0tx.jpg.html)
He gobbled at first light about 300 yards from the truck and two more sounded off about 100 yards from him. The two gobbled regularly making it easy to course a quick route ti them. When he wiuld gobble, it was obvious he was dominant. Before 6 am I was set up less than 100 yards from him at 10 o'clock and at least as close to the other two at 2 o'clock. The hit the ground early with the dominant tom having a few hens and a couple jakes that would yelp each time he gobbled. The other two appeared to be alone. I have never spent so much time down the barrel in the direction of drumming thinking I would kill one any second. Four hours of drumming will fry the nerves. The two lesser toms would approach from the right drumming inside gun range but I could only see 15 yards in their direction. The big gobbler would gobble hard and they would back off. Three different times a pair of yearling bucks come walking down the trail I was sitting in and left blowing and stomping. Talk about nerve-wracking. Never spooked the turkeys. The two subordinate turkeys finally wandered off. A few minutes before 10 I yelped softly on the trumpet and he double gobbled at 60 yards. A hen yelped back and we exchanged a few yelp sequences then I got ready. I saw the hen cross a lane first then a big tail fan crossed at maybe 50 yards. I clucked and purred on the mouth call and he gobbled again. The drumming was closer!! Then he strutted out into narrow lane just inside 40 yards and crained his neck to look. The HW 7's buried him. He never flenched. I need a valium!
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/A5AE2CFA-1F27-4819-8270-6B1D151C7A68_zps1gavovj5.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/drenalinld/media/A5AE2CFA-1F27-4819-8270-6B1D151C7A68_zps1gavovj5.jpg.html)
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/A50E9D90-6F58-45B0-8E2C-26BA3342C1B4_zpsudevtai4.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/drenalinld/media/A50E9D90-6F58-45B0-8E2C-26BA3342C1B4_zpsudevtai4.jpg.html)
22 lbs, 1" sharp spurs, 10-1/4" beard.
He had something lodged in breast muscle. My best guess is a stick or branch that was decomposing inside the gristle that had surrounded it. It was about pinky sized. 1/2" diameter and 2" long!
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/E717F7F8-95E2-4E1D-AEC6-FC5DE8606F64_zpsilbh9xjm.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/drenalinld/media/E717F7F8-95E2-4E1D-AEC6-FC5DE8606F64_zpsilbh9xjm.jpg.html)
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/3B06492F-70FC-4A22-B388-C620929D8BB7_zpsc8vmedqb.jpg) (http://s1108.photobucket.com/user/drenalinld/media/3B06492F-70FC-4A22-B388-C620929D8BB7_zpsc8vmedqb.jpg.html)
Nice bird! I have the same chair its a game changer fer sure
Great bird and hunt David. Way to get her done. I am not sure I could have made it four hours with intense gobbling. It was your turn after helping get your brother his Arkansas gobblers.
I think I had heart palpatations a couple times!
Congrats on a fine bird and great hunt David. I got one of them chairs before season and love it. For $15, you can't beat the comfort. I found another strap from a camera case and got rid of the short one.
Awesome gobbler. Love my Turkey THUG Chair too.
Congrats David ! Great story & Great Gobbler ! Glad you got to break in your M2. :icon_thumright:
Awesome, how much does that chair weigh?
6-7 lbs. I carry it in game pouch of vest.
congrats
Congrats!! :icon_thumright:
Congrats.....
Good Job.
Congrats!
congrats on an awesome hunt
I love my turkey thug chair too,best 20.00 for turkey hunting that I have spent in a while
Nice bird! Congrats .....
:icon_thumright: way to go
Congrats on your bird! I've got one of those thug chairs too, and really like it. I just don't carry it very much to stay as light as possible. I move around a lot, and these Tennessee hills will wear you out. I usually find myself wishing I had it though about the time I've climbed to the top of a ridge and looking for a place to set up.
I love your story's David, you tell them so well, I feel as if I'm right there with you. I couldn't help but laugh at your predicament.
Robert, did you notice which call I used to finish him?
Nice bird congrats
Quote from: drenalinld on May 06, 2014, 09:01:17 AM
Robert, did you notice which call I used to finish him?
Yes I did David & I really appreciate it.
Congrats on a great hunt and bird!!
congrats
I have a Turkey Thug chair for the grandkids and a Gobbler Lounger for me. They will help get turkeys because they make the sitting easier. It's easier to be patient when you're comfortable.
Way to hang in.