Slam complete

[misfire]

I live in Georgia, so the Eastern has been a main stay for me. Back in 2008 I got a chance to go to south Florida and busted a nice Osceola. Still didn't consider going for the slam, even though the hardest was in the books. That all changed two years ago when I got an invite to Kansas to hunt with a great friend and his son. Took him up on it and by the second afternoon I was done with the Rio. So last year I took a chance and went to Nebraska where I got beat like a rented mule for 6 long and agonizing days. Had a couple of opportunities the second morning, but thought I could do better. MISTAKE! So this year I booked a trip to New Mexico and the second morning everything fell right where God wanted it. Steep doesn't begin to describe the terrain, nor does adding in the fact that I was hunting at 9000+ feet above sea level, definitely put a hurting on this old fat guy. That morning I knew a bird was roosted on a ridge, so I got there extra early and began a long trek up the side of that blasted mountain. Had to stop 5 or 6 times to catch my breath. Found a small plateau where I thought the bird would pitch down too and sat against a tree with my gun pointed to that spot. The bird began gobbling in the dark and I knew he was only 40yds from me, even knew which tree, just couldn't see him yet. Finally get enough light and I see him strutting on the limb and gobbling. When he finally did fly down, he flew away and my heart sank. He would gobble, but I could tell he was walking away. Just then a hen starting clucking up the hill from us, every time she would cluck, I would hit her back instantly. Well, that fired up a nasty ol hen that was with the gobbler. So I started hammering at her on a slate call, that really ticked her off. I have never hit a call so hard, thought I had cracked the slate. She came up the hill and dragged him with her. He was 20yds behind me gobbling, so I had to maneuver around the tree, put the dot on his head and dropped him. That's when the fun began. I dropped my head and gave a few words of thanks to God, then the gobbler started flopping and rolling. Now I am on my feet, chasing that darned heathen BACK down the stupid mountain, he even rolled under a barb wire fence and kept going. I finally caught up to him, thankful and worn out. Then looked back up the mountain and my knees buckled as I had to go back up there and retrieve all my gear

[cramerhunts]

Congratulations on the slam and great job on the story. Enjoyed the read and could picture that old gobbler flopping and rolling down the hill.

[Bowguy]

Congrats

[SteelerFan]

Congratulations on the slam! 

[merocustomcalls]

Congrats!

[nitro]

Way to go Lee!!!

I know you well enough to predict what you said as you looked up the hill " CRAP"..



Congrats again. Couldn't happen to a better person!!!! I'm proud of you.

[GobbleNut]

Congratulations again, Lee.  ...Enjoyed having you here!
Jim

[trkycaller]

congrats 

[Greg Massey]

Congrats, on a great job...

[Ruger M77]

Congrats!

[renegade19]

 

[owlhoot]

Congrats on your slam

[WiLL B]

Congrats!! Enjoyed the story!!

[mwr]

 

[Smooth_Operator]

Congrats Lee! Sounds like quite the adventure, way to go bud...