Today was a great day to be in the turkey woods in Virginia. I was hunting some public land in Pittsylvania County Virginia and it turns out to be one of the best hunts I've had in quite a while. This hunt took place on some well used and hunted game land so that made it even better to me to pull this hunt off. I went into my hunting spot about 6:10am today and walked into a fairly large block of hardwoods where I knew some birds had been using from the previous trip about a week ago. Probably walked about a quarter mile or so picked me out a good Oak tree to sit under and listen for the first morning gobbles. About 10 minutes passed when I heard the first turkey sound off on the roost. He was above my location on another ridge maybe about 75-100yrds. from where I sat. Sometimes it is hard to call a Gobbler down off the ridge where he is roosting but I didn't have much choice and I didn't think moving was an option. He might see me or hear something. I listened as he would gobble a few more times but still on the roost, I believe. I got my calls out that I would use and waited. I heard him pitch down on the ground about 6:30am. First I used a Mike Almond Osage Trumpet and cut fairly agressively and he answered back with a gobble maybe 65 yrds or so from me. I waited several minutes-nothing-then switched to a Koa hen box from Richard Hudson-maybe 2 or 3 clucks then a few yelps and was immediately cut off with a double gobble coming closer now just above and to my left of where I sat maybe 50 yrds. This bird was surely interested but cautious. I purred on a Osage scratchbox that I recently had made and gobbled even closer at 40.yrds from me. Time to be quiet and let the bird look for the hen. I caught movement coming to the left just above me. The bird was just behind a small tree maybe 25 yrds or so. I waited then slowly raised my gun as he took a couple of steps back to where he was coming from. He sensed something wrong and gave 2 putts but I let him have a load of 3inch mag #6's. He did the belly flop for a few seconds right into the small creek in front of me. I was real happy to walk on up to this dead Tom and even more happy after taking a look at him. He weighed about 21 lbs. on two differant scales, sported a 10" beard and had razor sharp hooks 1.5" long. One of my best birds ever taken here in Virginia. The Lord blessed me with a very nice Turkeybird and I was thankful to Him. I will try to add some pictures of this morning's hunt a little later.
