I got up super early to take out a "green" hunter, and we couldn't seal the deal.... we chased Toms all over but being young and impatient is going to be his downfall for now.

I left him at about 1:30pm and headed to a place where I have whacked a few gobblers in the past.

I walked in to do some scoutingf or tomorrow morning and after stomping around for 30 minutes I headed back to the truck....it was then that I saw2 strutters and a few other birds about 1/4 mile away.
I always tell new turkey hunters "what would those birds do if you were still at home?"...
If you had NO chance to impact their movement, where would they go?
I knew they weren't going to do a 180, and there was no reason to head north (open field, then a road etc. Basically their only option was to skirt the treeline for the forseeable future. I backed out and headed to my truck to get my turkey slayer.
After a 10 minute sprint, walking a creek bed, and the belly crawling through a BUNCH of ants... I popped up out of the creek about 100 yards in front of them.
What I thought was a jake getting run off actually turned out to be an OLD Tom, that had been severely beaten up.... I think I did the old boy a favor.
Kansas
Eastern
1.75" and 1.5 inch
27.87 pounds
11.25 inch beard