I went out this morning, and was at one of my exclusive honey holes. The wife convinced me to go there this morning, even though it costs me about 35 minutes of sleep.

I wasn't disappointed, as I had one all fired up on the roost. Only one problem...the one that came in quiet from my offhand, which had worked down a slight gully until clearing the only knoll higher than my tree. He decided to spit-n-drum & gobble 30 degrees behind me, keeping two large oaks between us. He high-tailed it outta there after about 15 seconds, not sure if he was spooked by me or the thought of the bird that was gobbling. He never putted, and I acutally worked him from about 75 yards for over an hour. He eventually wandered off, and I walked off the distance between us...SIX paces. I've never had a mature tom THAT close before...boy, what an absolute thrill...

Yeah, I was screwed, even though the gun was up and in the ready position. At that range, even with a red-dot scope I didn't contemplate a left-handed shot, as the gun throws a slug pattern. Afterwards, I postulated that I probably wouldn't have taken a right-handed shot, he was just too close. I harvested one last year at 12 steps, and that was closer than I would have liked...off the same property [8D]

How close have you had a mature strutter?