I am extremely fortunate to have a couple of good friends who own hunting land in Kentucky and I get to roam the hills each spring in search of a meeting with a gobbler. This year I experienced a great opening week hunt with my good friend Ed Patton from Rochester , NY. We both took nice toms and had alot of fun and fellowship shared with my friends Jimmy and Linda . After a 3 day break , I had to get back to the holler and try to get tag #2 filled . The morning was eventful right from flydown , with many birds gobbling in all directions. I heard a gobbler on a ridgetop field in one of my favorite spots so I set after him on a straight course to his position . I had to cross a creek and climb a very steep hillside to reach the field where I could hear him gobbling every few minutes . As I approached the top of the hill which is right on the edge of the field, I heard a couple hens bark at each other so I knew I was close . I set up as close as I could and let out a few soft yelps and a cluck on my boxcall and the tom roared back and cut me off . One more cluck .. GOBBBLE !! My gun was om my knee and ready as I scanned the rise in front of me. I look hard to the left and see nothing and I look back to the right and as if he appeared from nowhere, the gobbler and five hens eased in like ghosts . When I first saw them , The tom was wagon-wheeled at 25 steps and they were standing so still that it looked like an image frozen in time. Suddenly the tom puffed a little sending a Brrr-Thump as he drummed and and started to spin like a top , when I felt my finger squeeze instinctively on the trigger and the Hevi Shot dropped him instantly. When I walked up on him I knew it was a good bird . I pulled the beard back , knowing it was over 11'' , then grabbed for the legs as we all do , to see if he had any gear on him . Good spurs, definately over an inch , cool . Now as soon as I picked that bird up , I knew he was a giant . I could barely hoist my vest onto my back after I put him in it . I had to stop twice along the route back to the house , to rest . When I finally got back I pulled out the NWTF scales from my Ol' Tom bag and weighed my behemoth bird at 28.25 lbs. . Dang , I knew that bird was a fatty ! I have taken 5 birds over 27 lbs. on my honey-hole of a commonwealth farm , but this one is the biggest by far . His beard measured in at 11 3/4'' and the spurs are. This hunt was also the maiden voyage of my new dymondwood , flare tip striker from Stormin Steve Torman . I ran it on my Bill Barker slate 2 sider. I have to say that this is by far the finest Torman striker I have run . I had him build it to my specs to meet my preferences in a striker which only took 2 years of harping on him , lol. I call it the shadetree model and it will see many years of service in my quest for gobblers !! Thanks Steve for building a killer tool for my arsenal.
We cooked this one up immediately and enjoyed the fresh meat before it could cool . My landowner friend Jimmy, cut the thighs and legs out for BBQ'd turkey and we were all amazed at the size of the running gear on my bird . Got more meat from this bird than any I have ever taken before . I just love fried turkey !! We nick-named my tom , GOBZILLA . It's gonna be hard to top this one , but I will be back in the fall doing my best to get one that's "wintered" up and even fatter . Thanks for listening .
Bob
