Colorado Mountain Gobbler 2017

[hunter22]

I just got home from a public land hunt in the San Isabel National Forest of Colorado. I took this Merriam's gobbler the first morning of the hunt at 8000 ft. elevation. It was 25 degrees when I left that morning with quite a bit of snow still on the ground. I got on him gobbling on the roost and after fly down I yelped at him on my Schaffer Sapele glass over glass and he went into full strut at 80 yards. He strutted all the way in to 30 yards. Hunt lasted maybe 30 minutes.

[spaightlabs]

Nice job!  Looks like he has some spurs on him?

[The Woodsman]

That's awesome Rickey!

Congrats

Denny

[hunter22]

Thanks Denny. Those mountain birds are special to hunt. Nothing like turkey hunting with elk/mule deer all around you.

The gobbler did not have much for spurs. I think they were rubbed down a bunch. He was a really heavy bird with about a 9 inch beard. I saw some later bigger than the one I got. Too bad you can only get one over the counter tag in Colorado. 

[birddogdoc]

Awesome job...I hunt the same region and have had several similar experiences.  Well done!

[West Augusta]

 Congrats Rickey

[Gooserbat]

Nicely done

[Gold Spur]

Congrats, nice bird.

[Txag12]

That is awesome! I bet that is a beautiful place to hunt

[letinmfly]

Congrats Rickey!! 

[Spring Creek Calls]

Congratulations!

[hobbes]

Congrats!
Good looking bird.  The Colorado Mountains are a beautiful place. 

[MISSISSIPPI Double beard]

Congrats!

[WiLL B]

Congrats on getting one in some beautiful country!!

[wytrat785]

Nice bird and congrats. You get to hunt 'em in some beautiful country!