Finally got him today.... pic
 

It took a bit of patience but I got my first bird of the season today. I've come extremely close on a couple of occasions, particularly yesterday when I called one to within about 20 yards, but the brush was too thick for a clean shot. But today another one came in. From the morning's roost I heard several but none would come my way when they first flew down. I suppose they had business with other hens. I stayed put on a little ridge above a swamp bottom and creek and continued to randomly call, just to let the gobblers know I was still there. About 45 minutes later I heard a gobbler down in the wet bottom gobbling and looking for me. I called to him a few times until he about shook me out of my boots with a thunderous roar no more than 20 yards away. Still, however, I was unable to see him. I waited quietly thinking surely he would move and let me see him strutting by. Several minutes passed and I still saw nothing so I called to him again and got an instant and powerful response from that same nearby spot where he was before. But this time I finally saw him moving slowly from my left to my right and I popped him with a 3 1/2" #5 shot as soon as I could.
He was a good gobbler but his beard was only 8" while his spurs were 1". His next stop will be on my grill one day this week!

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Congratulations!....very nice bird - very nice......beards are nice....long suprs are better! :)

JW!

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

...WOW..I WISH ARE WEST VIRGINIA WOODS WERE THAT GREEN,NICE BIRD
......THANKS ...:eek:..HEY I SEE A DEER RACK AND SKULL IN THAT PICTURE ALSO
HAD TO LOOK TWICE..:eek:

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

congrats on the bird..........;):)

the deer rack
 

Yes, I found the skull of the dead buck right near where I shot the gobbler. Thought he'd like to be in the picture, too! ;)

RE: the deer rack
 

xtra cool, nothing like getting the virginity out of the way;)

RE: the deer rack
 

If I've lost my "virginity," it's only for 2004! I've killed plenty of birds. I know some girls that wish they could be virgins again with each calender year as well.... ;)

RE: the deer rack
 

In turkey hunting, virginity is annual;)

RE: the deer rack
 

where in ga are you Springhill? thomasville here

RE: the deer rack
 

I live in Albany but my farm is in Terrell County (Bronwood). Thomasville is one of my favorite towns in Ga.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Nice One:D

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Congrats on the nice bird! You're the envy of all of us that haven't started our seasons yet.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Way to go!!! Nice gobbler for sure!!;)

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Congrats,Nice bird.I love that picture.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Very nice Tom and good picture too. :D:D

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Sounds like a great hunt! Good job on harvesting that bird!

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Great bird!

dog1

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Fine bird... way to go!

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

congrats. nice bird.[8D]

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Way to go! I love it when they get in close and rip out a booming Gobble.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

very nice , congrats :D

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

SpringHill looking at that picture and thinking that it looked like Chickasawhatchee where I hunted this Sat. I was born in Albany and graduated High School there.

Turkey Gator I now live in Thomasville for the last 15 yrs.

Gobblers.....getchu some! :D

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Very nice all the way around...nice hunt, nice pic, and nice story...Congratulations!

You guys from Georgia are killin the rest of us who are waiting for the season to open.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Hey Spring =- congratulations and I do ahve a question.

That your rack inthe background gleenin' in the sun?

Inquiring minds wanna know!

JW!

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

JW,

I rattled that gobbler in.... ;)

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Very Nice! Good job.

RE: Finally got him today.... pic
 

Congrats, love the picture.