My youngest stepson (34) and I stood in the dark waiting for a bird to gobble . The forecast was to be rain by dawn but they messed up . The weather here has been about like evrywhere else ,,,,wet N wild.
Finally we hear a gobble from the opposite direction we had expected . We debated whether or not since it sounded very far off and we knew other hunters were in the public hunting area . We decided to go after him . We cut the distance down to around 150 yards and I made some calls softly on the trumpet . He didn't cut my call but continued to gobble good . I switched to a WRC glass pot and made some yelps and clucks . He came closer but had begun to stroll back and forth on the next ridge gobbling at each end of his circuit . I went back to the trumpet with some softer clucks again . This time there was a gobble just over the hump of the ridge we are on and the first bird gobbled as well . then it got quiet . Minutes went by in silence . Then the first bird gobbled . Now he is going away at a fast walk . About this time I can see a turkey walking at about 100 yards or so and he is going to my left . I tell Chris I see the bird . Then try to keep him informed as to just what it is doing . Minutes would pass between my speaking . During one of the silent spells as I watched the bird circle us ,,actually half circle ,,Chris and I both got a good startle. Unaware that a Pileated Woodpecker had landed on Chris' tree until it started his big hammer . We both were so taut we jumped .
The walking , now silent gobbler , would go in and out of strut and proceeded to near the point of the ridge . He then stopped looked our way and started striaght for our position .I informed Chris ,,,HE'S COMIN' IN. Not until he crossed a little woods runoff ditch did he change course . He steadily marched up the hill with his feathers down tight , but his head was out front . He passed behind a big oak and I moved my double . He stepped out and I whistled a keekee. He stopped and periscoped for several seconds and only made one more step.
He lost the battle at 30 steps .
2 ,,,maybe 3 year old bird .
22 lbs.
7/8 in. spurs
11 3/4 in. beard .
2 3/4 in. ,,,1 3/8 oz. ,,,Rem. # 4's
