One more for the Tominators!

Well, it took a while but I busted one late this season. Last Thursday morn at 6:15 I pulled the trigger on a decent Rio. The best part was that I was close to the check-in station. There's a small corner pocket that holds some birds that almost everybody drives past. I saw a strutter in there a 3 weeks ago, and on my latest trip I set up there and finally connected.

He came in silent and I first saw a white head peak around some rocks in the direction of my calling at 50ydsto my 10 o'clock. A few minutes later, he walked around the other end of the rock pile and up to my decoy "Effie", 20yds to my 1 o'clock. I let him circle the decoy a few times wating for a show. He wouldn't go into full strut while the BMOC was gobbling. He curved his neck undermy decoy's headbut never made any sound. Two jakes came over the rocks, but only looked for a minute and rejoined the larger part of the flock. The restof the flock started to move off andmy guy looked their way. As soon as he turned broadside, I busted him.

I used a 3"Rem. Hevi-shot in #4. I've only killed 2 gobblers with Hevi-shot, but I like how it works. It's definately some "mean green". I can't wait to try the newer HD stuff. He dropped like a bag of hammers. His spurs had just enough curve to hang from a limb. I figure he was a 2+ year old bird.

(pix coming)

Rio Grande, Mauna Kea.
weight: 15#
beard: 8.5"
L spur: 15/16"
R spur: 1"