Been sneaking past the sherrifs dept around the destroyed town of Ringgold,Ga to get to my properity. There is still a 8pm the 8am curfew due to the total destruction----they say tickets are being given to anyone caught in the town....found me a long way around that seems to be working.
Yesterday was unreal gobbleing there----sat down on at least 3 longbeards that held tight just above me no more than 70 yds for had to be 4 hours. Never hear so much gobbeling in my life--had to be somewhere around 4-500 gobbles----could't suck just one of them close enough to meet Notro.
Went back this am very early and went straight to their little hang out that was just above my set up the day before. Just like Mountain birds---they were not there this morn....but, there was a bird down below me yesterday that was there again this morn.....MISTAKE !!!
He was the first bird to strike this morn....figured he would get a response from one of the birds I was SUPPOSED to be on....he had hit 4 times still nothing....I took off down the mtn to get on the flatlander.
Got there in plenty of time---snuck in tight and sat there while he continued to hammer. It got time...gave him 2 soft tree yelps...and here he came sailing right at me

.
He lit--gobbled and went into strut and immediatlly started walking my way---I was nice--I let him take 12 steps and my trigger finger just had to react.
He's got a rope----11 5/8 inch beard....he had 1 1/4 spur and the other had been broken some time ago--it was only 3/4...bird was a solid 23lb'er !!!
Here are some pics of the land that escaped the tornado less that a quarter mile---never knew it was even there ...till ya look acroos the valley and see the destruction for miles
notice the 4 buffalo in the picture

the party pavillian:


and the bird....
