my 5th season is over already...second day of the PA season.....i went out this morning behind the house...get there...nothing gobbling off the roost!! i was like what in the world! one did gobble on another hill side WAAAAY out there..then 10 mins later gobbled 2 more times..so i walked the trail for about 1/2 a mile or so hitting my crow calll every few hunder yards trying to locate one..nothing go back and decide to sit and call softly hoping they feed down that trail sometime while im there...i called with my box call and my glass call with my hand made choke cherry striker...every 15 to 20 mins i would act like 2 hens feeding about and talkin to eachother...i started about 7 i would guess...about 8 i heard a gobble down the hillside about 100yds or so...i wait a half a minute and hit my box call one more time..he gobbles...i get my gun up and im ready...about 10 seconds later i see him!...i seen him looking for the hens and he looked suspicious...he was about 20-30yds away from me i really have no idea...i will pace it off one day..but i took the shot...i bagged my first turkey!!! a longbeard too!! not the biggest in the woods but a mature longbeard...bear is 8.5 inches..one strand is 8.75..im going with that measurement lol...the spurs are both 3/4...i was shaking sooo much my tag looks horrible lol...ive never been that excited..my heart is still going like crazy...i was alone for the first time in my life...my few years of learning these birds paid off...he seemed pretty heavy..its been a while since i picked up a bird but he had some weight on him..just incase anyone cares i used a remington 870 express mag shooting 3 inch remington nitro mags shooting 1 7/8oz of buffered #4....man what a day....i love when a plan comes together..on the way out and while i was taking pics i could hear others from that same hillside going off...cant wait until fall!! thanks for all the help guys...you guys really helped me in making the strikers...teaching me how important patience is...and all around..i was about to just walk until u heard one..but i figured they usually use that trail...my patience just might be enough to bag me a bird...and it was....thanx alot.....

NOTHING compares to the first time....Congrats

Way to go!!!

I knew you would do just fine solo!

First Blood, an experience you will savor the rest of your life.

Big time congratulations!!

Congrat!

Good job!!!

Way to go with your first gobbler!! You' ll never forget that hunt!!

Congrats on that first one. I agree---you will never forget it. The exciting thing about turkey hunting, though, is that heart will race like crazy no matter how many you get. As soon as I quit getting excited---I retire my shotgun and calls.

GOOD JOB my man!!

Congratulations. I have read enough of your posts to know that you are very dedicated and have taken the time to learn about the sport. It is great to see that work pay off.

Way to go! Good job and a great story! Now your really hooked, you might as well forget about doing anything else around Turkey season. You won' t be able to sleep! LOL

Mauser,Congrats on a fine first bird.You sure earned it. Bosstom is sittin next to me and sends his congrats too.