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.
