We're on the board!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's the stats.
Wt.-19 lb 13 oz
R- 3/4"
L- 7/8"
B- 9 5/8"
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Score - 54.629
We'll do a lot better but he's a start!!
Here's the story:
What a morning!! I started owling at around 6:50 without any response until a crow fired up at 7:06 and finally a gobble.
This one was off the property but he started a chorus. lol I had 2 birds within 150 yds. so I eased into the open pines they were roosted in and set up. This is wide open pines and I always try to find a tree that has a few bushes around it to hide in a little. I had to make a little noise clipping some stuff and pulling some dead stuff out of the way so I was holding my breathe I hadn't blown it. Man, was I happy when I got cut off on my first tree yelps. I just sat there quiet until they flew down and felt pretty good about the situation with one behind me about 100 yds. and one out front about 150 yds. I did a little flydown followed by some excited yelping and both of em fired up. I was afraid to swing around the tree to wait for the one coming from behind so I just eased my gun up and faced away from him. It wasn't 2 min. after I had done my yelping when he gobbled not more than 30 yds. behind me. It scared the crap out of me and there was nothing I could do. I froze. I could hear him walking in the pine straw as he approached. At 5 yds!! I heard pft-vroooooom! Not much I could do but look for the other bird out in front and pray this one would walk past me. He didn't. He strutted around behind me for about 5 min. and then eased off. He wasn't spooked he just walked back the way he came. I had been quiet for about 10 min. now so I yelped a few times softly - nada!! I usually take this as a good sign and had a feeling he was easing his way toward me so I scratched the leaves a little and clucked a few times. Geooobbbbbbbblllleeee!!!! rt. in front of me at about 60 yds. He just stood there frozen with the ol periscope looking both ways. I just waited. This went on for about 2-3 min. and then he started easing toward me with that half strut walk they do. I ****ed the hammer on my Encore and squeezed the cheek piece tight against my face as I lined things up. 60-55-50 and he's still coming. 50--45-40 and he stops and sticks his head straight up- big mistake!! Booooooom!!! He went to flopping!! I jumped up and opened the bbl. to stick in another Hevi 13 #7 as I walked toward him. Man was I happy!! I put my boot on his head as he finished up his death flop and thanked God to be able to do what I do!! What a day!! BTW- No decoys- only mouthcalls.
Dan