As some of you all have seen I have been taking a few pictures of some good mature gobblers while doing some pre-season scouting. Well our season opened the 26th and all I have been able to call up are 12 jakes and a few 2 year olds. Today my luck changed, I was up and about before daybreak in my favorite part of my pasture. I started hearing a few gobbles about the time you could see a little. I headed slowly towards the one that sounded the closest but after a few tree yelps the tom must have had some hens due to the fact he turned away from me and his response got further away. Ok, I continue some soft yelping with a diapham and then got more aggressive to no avail. I then decide to go else where, while walking and glassing for birds I hear a distant gobble so I head that direction and get a good solid GOBBLE and about 200 yards. I yelped again and man he thundered back, this time he sounded like he closed the distance. I hurriedly set up my decoy and found a good mesquite to sit by. I did change to a Close Calls box and he continued coming in, I then went with some soft purrs go get em into 35 yards. I dropped him a Benelli Nova with 3 1/2 Winchester Supreme #5's and Briley choke.

The Rio weighed in a 21 lbs, had 11" beard and sported 1 1/8" spurs, not bad for the first 20 minutes of the day lol

I have 2 down and 2 more tags to fill if I get the chance.

Sorry for the ranting....doubleA

Congrats on a great bird!!

Nice bird! I always did like Rios. Congrats.
Gselkhunter

Congrats AA,, Man I know I should have been sitting beside you now. Way to go bud. I will be ther enext year if that is still open.

Super nice bird! I'm jealous too, especially seeinz' you have more tags to fill! One tag a season here... man, I really need to move.

nice bird !!!!

thats a feel good story,CONGRATS.

YOU DA MAN !!!! CONGRATS ..looks like ALL your hard work has paid off!

Congrats on your fine looking gobbler Must be nice to be able to let 2 year old gobblers walk