Arrived home after a LONG 2 weeks of Finals Wednesday night. Thursday was the last day of the North IL turkey season, and I had to give it a go. Got home late and went to bed at midnight. Wake up call at 2:37AM, picked up my Grandpa at 3:15 and headed to the new farm. Dropped Grandpa off, and headed to a secluded field that had been dynamite throughout the season. A little later than usual, they stared gobbling at around 5:20ish. Pretty soon, I had 5 different birds gobbling around me, one was somewhat close at around 100 yards. He answered my calls and I just shut it up. At 5:50 I get a great awakening to a nice longbeard flying down and landing 15 yards from me! He was behind a tree, and started to strut, he gobbled once, and turned around while in strut. This gave me my chance to swing around a small limb and put a bead one 'em. Two cutts and down he goes! 5:52 concluded our best season yet! Below are some pictures.....

Grandpa still wanted to hunt, so I just went to the barn a caught some fish for awhile! What a great day. Thank you God.

19lbs 3/4" spurs and 10.25" beard.

By the pond...
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0278.jpg

Another view by the pond...
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0261.jpg

Slate early, mouth call to finish 'em off...THANK YOU AJ!!!!
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0283.jpg

NWTF Travel Call hat...
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0290.jpg

Bulletheads handload did the dead....
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0297.jpg

This picture is a picture of a Swamp White Oak. This tree was very small when it was given to my Dad as a gift from his co-workers at the passing of my Grandpa (Dads Dad) in 1998. We planted it at our old farm, in memory of him, and it grew very fast. When we sold our old farm we wanted to bring Grandpa's Tree with us. We had it dug up and moved the 100 miles to our new farm. We were crossing out fingers to see if it would survive the move, thankfully it did.
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0299.jpg

Lastly, this is my Grandpa, my Mom's dad. This one means alot!
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...h/100_0310.jpg

Congratulations on a fine bird and some beautiful pictures.

God Bless,

Ray

Congrats on the bird.
Nice pics.

Awesome bird!

That last pic is what it's all about. Priceless!

Nice lookin pics of those birds Willie! Long time no talk, congratulations on the birds and memories!

Blake

Nice bird. Congrats.