Set up on this bird this morning, unknowingly about 40 yards from his roost. They usually roost 100 or so yards away, but lucky for me i snuck in somehow without getting seen. After about 30 mins of gobbling on the roost a jake flys down into the field I have my back to. I'm facing an opening inside the woods and the direction I first heard the gobbler. Shortly after the jake hits the field, this bird follows in strut, they got within 10 yards of me but were on the other side of my tree. I finally heard some spitting and drumming for the first time! But still no shot, Im gettin worried at this point. I catch more birds stepping out about 120 yds to my south. Luckily they start to head that way. Found a clean shot at 25 yards and dropped him. My goodness what a feeling! it took me almost 5 seasons to get my first bird!
Edit: 10" beard - 7/8" and 1 1/8" spurs

Very nice!!! Congrats on your first. You certainly earned it!
Sounds like an intense hunt. Very exciting when they are right there and you can hear them spitting & drumming, but can't see them.

Nice job on a beautiful bird!

Congrats!1

congrats. thats one nice first bird. nice job

Well done!

Excellent. I like the fan, very symmetric feathers...are you going to make a fan mount.

CONGRATS on your bird bud!

Congrats man, nothing like the 1st

Thanks fellas! Yes I'm gonna do a fan mount, hes definitely goin up on the wall.

Nice Bird, Congrats!
Sent you a PM