[]Opening weekend in Northern New York! I found two BIG lone gobblers -moved in on them and tried a call--I could barely hear the gobble. They both came RUNNING! I was forced to take " prone" position--all the while very worried that I might miss (I have NEVER taken a gobbler from this shooting position--I need to PRACTICE shooting from this position and also shooting left handed-that' s another story)...anyway, I picked a spot that when the biggest gobbler got to I would pull the trigger (the edge of a tree shadow-about 30 yds.)...the gobbler walked in (full strut)..stuck his neck out to look and BANG!....both birds JUMPED then started running down the meadow. To my surprise--both birds slowed to a walk and started gobbling again....I made a big circle around them...set up on the edge of the woods (they were both in the woods and gobbling). I started calling and got an answer from a hen the closest gobbler gobbled loudly and started moving in closer. I yelp softly and soon I could see his head bobbing through some brush. When he stepped out, I was tracking him from a MUCH better shooting position (using my knees as a rest. I took him at a little over 20 paces. He went 27 lbs....10 3/4" beard and sported 1 1/8" spurs.

EVERY time I have missed in the past was due to IMPATIENCE more than anything else...they were ALL coming in and all I had to do was wait for a GOOD OPEN shot!

One time I thought missed a gobbler at about 30 yards...I had a good shooting position...my sight picture was PERFECT...right on the middle of his neck. I shot and was stunned to see him launch into the air and fly off ....I even waved to him and said out loud, " See ya!" I was watching him fly off when he folded up and crashed into the next field like a B-17! I jumped up, ran over and there he was. I later skinned his neck to see what kind of a shot I had made. His neck was all red and bloody. Apparently, I hit no bones to break him down and the adrenaline must have propeeled him on his last flight!

I am thinking that my loads may be part of the problem. I am shooting Federal 3 1/2" !0 ga. magnum--2 oz. of #5 shot. I used to shoot #4s....misses were clean but hits were solid and there was NO chasing involved.[&o]