26/05/2018
It's very rare for me to post too many pictures on FB when it comes to hunting. Today was an achievement. Last day of turkey season. I knew where there was a big mature tom. He had alot of pressure the last couple weeks and had eluded me last weekend as well. Smart bu**er. Nothing harder than hunting an old smart tom that has had constant pressure. I woke up early to the alarm and felt like rolling over instead of rolling out. I knew what my chances were. I rolled out. Go to the gas station and got a large coffee that promptly spilled all over the inside of my truck as I pulled out. Perfect.... tired and half crazy for being up and now my truck is swimming in Colombian Supreme... I get to my destination and park a long ways away. I get set up wondering if my plan will work this week. I don't even know if someone else may have gotten this bird already. I sit sipping my coffee and hear a gobble on the roost. That's a good sign. He's still there. As it gets light, I hear him gobble multiple times. I can see him at 100 yards and he has a hen with him. He sees my decoy and keeps gobbling his head off. I give him the silent treatment as planned. The hen starts to walk away from me and he is going to follow her. I give a couple soft yelps and he gobbles instantly and starts to strut. He strutted for 10-15 minutes waiting for my decoy to come to him. I give him a couple soft clucks and he starts to make a move towards me. This bird gobbled and strutted 100 yards all the way to me. He stops at 17 yards and really is trying to show my decoy what a stud he is. 21 pounds, 10 1/2" beard. It was bittersweet to pull the trigger. I post his picture here not to brag, but, to pay homage to such a wiley adversary.