So far this season I've hunted 4 days and I could have shot a longbeard every day.
The first day I just got greedy and passed on a big tom in hopes of killing his even bigger buddy that refused to break strut and follow the crowd. No kill.
The first Tuesday I killed a big Tom with the shotgun that had 1.25" spurs.
May 8th I took my Dad out for his birthday and he killed a pig with 1.25" spurs.
Today I did a quick glassing of a local field after I got home from work and helped my wife get the kids out the door and off to work herself. There was a Tom with two hens heading away from me and over the horizon into a big green field.
When they disappeared, I made my move to the top corner of the hidden field at a fast walk. I got the fan situated on the bow stabilizer and eased out around the corner of the field to glass for the birds. I spotted a hen feeding about 60 yards out quartering to me so I just sat patiently watching her. Suddenly to my right I saw movement coming up the hedgerow.........It was the Gobbler in full strut and he was coming right past me at less than 10 yards.
I thought for sure I was busted because there was absolutely nothing between us but some knee-high grass, but I got the release on the loop, drew back, and put the pin on the upper edge of his wing butt. He fell straight down in a puff of feathers and barely twitched as I walked up to him. I believe I severed his spine for him to drop that quickly.
He weighed 17.6 pounds.
9.5" beard
1 3/16" spurs that are needle sharp
29" tail fan.
And it goes without saying:
CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION......If you decide to do such things.
