22 pounds, 12 inch beard, 1 inch spurs.
It was Wednesday and it didn’t take long. I slept in so I didn’t get out until 8:00. As I was putting my decoy out I had two toms skirt the edge of the field. About 20 minutes later another tom comes out and I was able to get him to come my way. He strutted all the way around my but kept at about 70 yards. I could however see the three beards he had sticking out of his chest. Awesome! Never seen one like that in the wild before. I moved around a bit and heard a few birds in the distance but nothing seemed to be moving. I figured they were henned up. After about 2 hours (a nap or two) I hit the call hoping the morning hens had had enough. Sure enough, I had two gobblers on the next hill to my east. We went back and forth and they sounded as if they were getting closer. I kept talking to them and after a half hour I heard something behind me. It turned out to be a hen that beat me in a stare down. She slowly clucked off. I thought I had just let my chances of bringing those toms in when a live hen started going the opposite direction. After I knew she was gone I hit the call softly once again and the toms were right below me (coming up the hill). I quickly shut up and got my 20 gauge in position. Then I saw them at the edge of the woods. My heart wouldn’t slow down. One popped out of the woods and started strutting. He looked as if he was going to go away from me so I decided the next time he’d stick his head up I’d take him. Boom! 51 yards. Kind of a stretch with a 20 gauge, but It wasn’t the first bird taken at more than 50 yards with this gun. My only regret was that it happened so soon and their ended my hunt. Those breasts sure are going to taste good smoked.
Chad
May 9, 2006 at 5:00 am
#210622
