4 17 10 bird
Had a great morning with a bird that I've had some history with this year. I could tell it was the same bird because of a broken tail feather.He would gobble his head off on the roost and would still gobble when he hit the ground. The only problem would be that every bird liked him, he would have at least two other toms near him and the girls would cut me off every time. I decided to give this bird a break and hopefully get after him at the end of the season Hoping that nobody else would not figure him out by then.
Left my persimmon farm alone for about two weeks and decide to try a late morning hunt at the farm and lucky for me he was still around . Ended up getting a response from him at about 1130 and actually saw him from about 400 yards through my binos strutting in a cow pasture field. I decided to try to cut the gap fast and found out he was doing the same thing. We ran into each other about 100 yards into the dash and he ended up hauling tail the other direction. I gave him a two day break and was at it again yesterday(Sunday) morning.
The tom was roosted on a poplar flat next to a creek and I managed to snuk up to about 100 yards with about a 20 yards brier thicket between him and I. Did a couple light tree yelp and waited until he hit the ground. Then I heard the girls talking and I thought it was going to be another win for Mr. tom. Ended up being a battle that then ended up with the girls taking him away. This tom was just playing with me all morning. He would get to about 40 yards into the thick stuff then walk back about 80. I would then sneak up a little closer and do some light purring and some leave scratching ending with tom doing the same thing. It started to get into a rhythm and decided to sneak up about 50 yards and not say a thing only to have him gobble right were I started in the morning. Was getting a little frustrated but was enjoying the challenge and at least he was gobbling about every 5 to 10 minutes. Then a hear a hen yelp between the tom and I and at around 845 it was over. Another win to Mr turkey... tried finding another bird with no luck.
While driving home I was already figuring out another plan for this mornings(Monday) hunt. I decided if a can replicate the sound of the hen with one of my diaphragm call that this would seal the deal. Got up this morning around 330 and head to the farm. Sneaked into the area that this bird frequently roosted in and sat and listened only to have him gobble about 200 yards above me around 6:45... Started to do a slow stalk up to him and ended up getting about 75 yards away from him. Sat down and got ready for battle. It was about 550 and the woods were still pretty dark. At about 600 another bird started to gobble and the tom that I was after would cut him off every time the other tom would gobble. I decided to do a couple tree yelp just to keep the tom from taking a long glide to somewhere else.
At about 6:05 the to Tomflies doen to my right about 75 yards away. I give him a couple light yelp and he cuts me off with a gobble. wate for about 3 minutes and he gobbles a little closer. Then I hear him and he is getting close. unfortunatley for me and my camera set up I catch move ment to my left about 20 yards. he is strutting on a rock break and is moving closer but he is to my left. he passes by a tree and I swing the gun barrel his way and waite for him to exted his neck. he gobble one more time at about 15 yards and a shoot dropping him in his track.
A tough weekend turns out to end on a great note. Check out the vid
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZddqxvdmfc"]WV Tom Vid[/ame]
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