I have been defeated, again

[superstrutter]

I had one last confrontation with the gobbler Sunday morning. As usual he gobbled on roost and on the ground for a little while. He was way off on another property, but being the last day I went after him. Fortunately he was on property I have permission to hunt. He was in a clearcut. I called softly to him, but as usual he ignored me and went the other way. I was going to circle around him but bumped him. About two hours later I headed back to the clearcut. I did some soft calling and to my surprise he answered. He was also heading back to the clearcut. He crossed a road to the clearcut before I got there, but as I crossed the road I bumped a hen that was following him. She went the opposite direction and he never knew it. I now knew this would be my best chance to finally get him. He gobbled for her. After a while I did some soft purring and he would gobble back but would not come a step closer. I slowly crawled closer to him. This went on for about 45 minutes. He was determined the hen was going tocome to him or he would just leave her. When he slowly started to go the other way I made my move. I crawled about 75 yards purring and scratching leaves towards him. I had enough cover to do this. He would gobble every now and then. I finally came to spot where I could see a little and looked for him in the clearcut. I knew he was there but couldn't see him. I waited for about 10 minutes before I finally saw his red head pop up. He was only about 30 or35 yards from me. The only problem is we saw each other at the same time. Away he went without giving me a shot. By the time I started crawling and the time I blew it again, about an hour and a half had gone by.It almost worked but he beat me again and for the last time. My season is now over, but it was a good one. Two birds is not bad at all. I enjoyed hunting this one bird and he probably enjoyed giving me the slip somany times.The good news is hopefully we will both be back next year to dance again. I look forward to it. Good luck to the rest of you still hunting, I'm done.

[mauser06]

ive had similar expiriences in the passed 3 years.

thats why i havent tagged a bird in the passed 3 years

every year i find a big ole king of the forest..and i hunt him pretty much every day i hunt. they are always exciting and fun to hunt...and every day i feel like ill kill him the next day and the next...but they always end up whooping my butt..mentally and physically...no joke i had one that LOVED to strutt. the first day i hunted him was the closest ive came...35yds in a field strutting...watching the show waiting for him to come out of strutt saftey off gun on him...when a herd of heffers came and chased him away. no joke in full strutt his beard was hitting the short grass in the pasture. no doubt he was the king of the hill..he beat me EVERY day...i wanted him worse than anything that spring...

one thing i learned is hunting ONE bird wont usually result in a filled tag...but ALWAYS leave me smarter and better than before...i keep tellin myself im not falling into that trap this spring...we will see...

[RIStrutStopper]

I know the feeling well. My season is just about to start later this week in RI and next week in CT. I have birds that have eluded me in both states last year that I plan to pursue (and hopefully grill ).

[r33h]

I am sure you have learned quite a lot this year. It seems that I always learn something every year that better prepares me for the next year. Hopefully he will be around for the next season!

[jepcho]

Too bad you didn't get him, but like you say, hopefully he will make it till next year and you can get another crack at him.