This morning was a good morning, not because I went turkey hunting, but because I slept in and heard more gobbling than i have all week.

I woke at my usual time of 6:30 am to get ready for school, last night i had opened my window to let in some cool air...well I was laying there and thought i heard a gobble, no big thing, well then i hear it again, louder and more pronounced...I am fully awake asking myself...what?

Well, he sounded off across the road from my house, there is a nice stretch of fields that are about 800 yards wide, bordered by the road and a river.

I jumped up, took a quick shower, got out, it was 1/4 to 7, get all my stuff on and go across the road to see what i can get going, I got him to gobble once before i had to go back in at 7:05. get back in and take a ride, you see there is a set of old railroad tracks that are bordered by fields on either side, and since i couldnt see him, only heard him once, I figured he was on the other side of the tracks.

Get dressed and get in my car, take a ride down the road, and there he is, 30 yards off the railroad tracks in the back corner of the field near the river.

I call my hunting partner, and tell him what's going on, he says hes going after him.

I go to school and my phone buzzes at about 845, right in the middle of an exam. Finish it, and check my voicemail, He Got it.

Originally I hadnt seen any hens, but there were two with him. my buddy went to the tracks looking for him, got up on top and gave him a couple yelps, the tom just looked but wasnt leaving, so he decided to "crawl in typical marine style" to the bird...got about 20 yards from him in an open field and leveled him with his 20ga. First bird with that gun.

What makes this all so special is that in a season, there are only 2 - 3 times when the birds fly over the river to this side of the river. and a couple years ago, my buddy's brother shot a smasher in the same spot, that one scored 69. This one had one 1 1/8" spur, other broken (didnt give me a measurement), just a hair over 9" beard, and wieghed about 18-19lbs. A superb tom for this area as they are super-competitive and heavily hunted.

Very impressed with this bird and his skills, and tomorrow I hope 3 of us tag out with some video's of the hunt. Gotta Love It.