Ray your email yesterday really made my day buddy. I'm still overwhelmingly excited for you! That is one fine bird too my friend, like JW said.... an eastern with a single beard over 60 is a good one, and anything over 70 is a realtrophy. I've never killed a bird in our part of the world that topped the 24# mark, and there are only a handful killed around here each year... thats just a pig of a gobbler!

You already knew what they were doing... all you had to do was connect the dots.Moving too much and being impatient is a real problem for a lot of turkey hunters.... but sometimes being a bit too timid can actually burn you too.It is hard to call a bird much over 150 yards out of his way in our part of the world... not only because of the amount of hens, but largely because of the geographical and natural barriers created by cutovers, swamps, and blowdowns from hurricanes. All you haveto do is your your God given gifts....you are observant and know what the birds are doing on your place... Just keep putting yourself in their way. I don't know how in the world you kept your heart from leaping out of your throat with that brute at 7 yards!!!!

Just keep on paying attention to what the birds are telling you... think a step ahead.... what are they doing... where are they going... why are they doing that... and when they do the same thing everyday.... well.... if you are patient it almost isn't even fair!

Congrats again buddy!

-Andy