Team 10 that is. I worked all night on Thursday and didn't get into the woods until about 7:45am, but I decided to give it a shot. I made the decision on where to go and parked the truck and started walking down the road towards a green field where there's been a lot of sign. As I was walking, I noticed an unbelievable amount of tracks and strut marks in the road. I mean you couldn't take a step without stepping on tracks and strut marks. This really got me pumped. I got to a draw below the green field and got set up behind a mound of dirt that was pushed up by loggers and did some light calling, trying to pull a bird to me if he was in the green field. After a few light yelps, one sounded off behind me about 100 or so yds. I worked this bird for 1 1/2hrs. He would gobble his head off, but wouldn't come any closer. I decided it was time to move and try something different even if it was wrong. Well, that's what it turned out to be. I misjudged the terrain and he evidently spotted me and left. I got a little disappointed, but decided to try another green field that also had some good sign, so off I went.
I quietly stalked my way down the road towards the green field looking through the thinned pines and the road bed for sign. When I topped a hill, I looked around and saw a gobbler about 120yds through the thinned pines approaching the green field. I thought he'd spotted me also and I was in the process of taking a step and had to freeze. I stood on one foot for about 5 min because that white head was just standing there starring at me. I knew if I moved, he'd be gone. Well, after 5min on one foot, I had to move or fall. So I put my foot down and stood really still and looked a little closer and it turned out that the white head, was a flower! I had to laugh at myself on that one, but I needed to get back to the road to intercept this big tom. I slowly backed out to the road about 15yds and got set up just around the bend from the green field and got my call and did a light yelp. There he was about 50yds in full strut!!!!! His head was behind a pine tree from me, so I got my gun up. He disappeared behind some honey suckles. I scanned the area....no bird. I'd dropped my call, so I felt around for it. I found it and did a real light yelp. I heard a squirrel on the ground and I believe he did too and thought the hen was leaving. He came around the bend in the road and I laid the smack down on him.
He had a 10"beard, 22#'s, and a matching set of hooks at 1 1/4" each. This was my best bird to date. My hunting buddy decided to go home and go to sleep after work that morning.
I woke him up to take some pics
and I'll post them when I get them.
Got one for the team on Friday.
