Took this bird last week. I have passed on a few birds earlier in the season. Had a few real close and personal. Had a great season overall. But I must say I have had to work at it harder this season than any for several years. I found this particular bird roosted up high on a knob with an old strip bench below. After fly down I was sure he would hit the old bench. So I set up on the bench watching the flats. It was fairly open up above so I could see in spots. So what happened? He came down the hill, gobbling every few steps.....I watched him come down so I know he could see to where I was as well. So he had me pinned down all bent and twisted up under a little ole locust tree. Didn't come down and out around the old bench road at all! Well he came to a little flat that was just a few feet higher in elevation than I was set up. He gobbled like mad, strutted, carried on for over 2 hours. I could see him when he was out of shot range due to the slope but when he came down closer....couldn't get a shot. Had him in to 25-30 yards many times as he strutted in and out. He would gobble at just about every thing. Tried to coax him to step up just a little but all he would do was peak over the rise when he was close. Nothing good enough for a shot. Finally after all that gobbling and carrying on I had numb body parts (I think a couple toes mite be dead permanent) real pain in my back, shoulders and just about every where. He pinned me down and made me suffer. He plumb whipped my tail on this deal. But I hung in there and it paid off. He finally stepped up just enough for a good head shot with the little 20ga. I guess I took alittle vengence out on him after him making me hurt so bad. I am sure he was a deadun after the first shot but since I got a chance to stand up and he was still floppin good....I reloaded and whacked him again.
Blew a big chunk of beard out.... After I shot him I just layed out in the wet grass and mud and didn't move for a good 1/2 hour. I was whipped and hurtin'. But he was a good and noble bird. A fine bird to hang a last tag on
