As I've mentioned before, our river is flooding. I went to or tried to go to a blind in our swamp and when I got to it, there was 6 to 8 inches of water in it. So I left, (this was about a mile from my truck), went back to a blind on a feed patch (JW! knows well). I got in the blind, soaking wet with sweat. At 6:55 a.m., one bird gobbled to my hard right, may be 3/4 mile from me, another 1/2 mile from me, and another, which I thought was probably 1/2 mile in front of me, past the blind I couldn't get to.
I said what the heck, I'm going to get as close as I can. As I went down an old logging road, he gobbled again. I realize he wasn't 100 yds. from me and set up my stool and homemade blind under an old deer stand. To this minute, I don't see how he couldn't see me, but he flew down about 7:10 a.m. going to my left towards the property line. I called very soft, he anserwed, I went quiet and could tell he was still headed towards the line. I called again, this time he was closer, I called, soft. and shutup. Next time he was close but still moving from my right to left. I called one more time and laid my call down, turned on my stool and faced him. I saw his head first thru a bunch of crabapple trees, and if he kept going in that direction, I didn't think I would have a shot, but he was definitely looking for me.
I picked out about a 12 inch opening thru the crabapple trees, and watched him over my scope, he struting and gobbling. When he steped into that 12 inch opening, he was history. Weighed 21 lbs, r-spur7/8in., l-spur 13/32's inch.. beard 9 3/4 inches. Not my best, but very proud of him. Three more taken off our land by other members this morning, a great opening day.
JW! has my pics if as usual, he'll be so kind.
dog1
Adding pictures for a dear friend! This is brings back memories of how we met Dog! Hey thanks is all I got to say.....
here is my friend dog1
NWTF Score 21 + 8.75 + 8.125 + 19.5 = 57.375
and the parcel of birds whacked off the land today! man I could have been there too! Maybe next yr if I get things back to normal!
