... I guess this fine OK fella' was taken on the last mornin's
"2nd hunt" ...
Rickey was already tag'ed out & headin' home on this Monday mornin'; so Jory & I had decided to hunt a large field area that we hadn't been in before to start this last mornin's hunt ...
... we heard somewhere between 4 to 6 birds gobblin' comin' from all directions in the distance, but all were on neighborin' properties across the creek ...
Long story short - we set up on 3 different points throughout the course of the mornin', & a lame & limpin' hen was the only bird that came into the field area that we were huntin' ...
... we could get 'em fired up, but we couldn't go to 'em due to property lines - oh well, much better than hearin' nothin' on the last hunt of the trip ...
After finally makin' it around the big field & back to our startin' place, & havin' hunted the complete field edge, we decided to pack it in & call it a hunt - we had a great trip with some great hunts, & my 2nd bird seemed like it just wasn't meant to be ...
... we headed to the barn to pick up the buggy & trailer, & was headin' back to the hotel to get packed & on the road back to the camp in MS ...
Jory decided to punch in the waypoint to one of the big fields that was divided by a creek where we had been seein' a group of 10 to 12 birds all durin' the trip - there were 3 big gobblers headin' up this group & one was a tank for sure ...
... three attempts had been made to hunt these birds, but unfortunately none of 'em had paid off for any of us -
"close, but no cigar" seemed to be the common theme to all 3 prior attempts ...
This group had been hangin' in the larger of the two fields split by the creek & there was just no gettin' close enough to 'em - what a tough bunch of birds to hunt ...
As we approched the area of the creek fields, we couldn't believe it when we saw one of the gobblers struttin' with 4 hens on the
"smaller field" side of the creek ...
... since we had never seen the group in the smaller of the 2 fields before this, we quickly decided that this bird was definitely huntable bein' about 100 to 120 yards from the creeks' treeline edge ...
As I made my way into the creek bottom's treeline, I pretty much knew this one would be quick either way - the birds would either respond to a couple of calls or not ...
... I really couldn't believe it when I had finally made it to the edge with the small group unaware of my presence - I just sat there observin' them for a minute or so as I let my pulse slow down a bit ...
... the only calls I had with me were the mouth calls in my pockets & a Watkins trumpet yelper around my neck - I decided to forego the movement to get a call out of my pocket & went with Marlin's fine yelper ...
All it took was three quick clucks from the yelper & the gobbler went off on it twice, & immediately blew up into full strut again - this was obviously the response I needed, & what an outstandin' sight it was on this fine OK mornin' ...
... the hens started comin' & feedin' towards the turkey talk comin' from the creek bottom edge, & the game was certainly on - & as the gobbler was stayin' with the comin' hens, I felt a hint of a smile comin' on as well ...
The group was definitely gettin' to the
"in range" part of the small field so I clicked on the Aimpoint & raised the Benelli 'till the gobbler's head was in the scope - I felt very comfortable with the amount of scope he was fillin' ...
... at that point I saw a hen's neck & head cross through the scope from left to right, & the gobbler's head came up as he was lookin' for what the hen was nervous about ...
... as he stretched his neck to get a better view, I clicked off the safety, took careful aim & let the Benelli in on the hunt - the fine bird went down immediately, & the blood just rushed through my body as the adrenaline started to drain off ...
Talk about a great
"last minute" hunt - couldn't have been a finer endin' written to a great few days of huntin' for me - but, both Jory & I sure wished Rickey could have been there with us for this fine finale' ...
... my second gobbler was in the bag & what a fine bird he was - I don't think this was the
"ol' boss" gobbler of the group, but he was certainly one of the big three in that group -
this one's goin' on the wall !!! ...
