Hunted in a different area in the morning and only saw deer and hens. Moved to a different spot for the afternoon. At about 3:00 pm I tried to get into a tower blind but there were too many wasps flying around in it so I just set up next to it backed up to a couple of trees. Put out a tom decoy approaching a hen decoy in a small clearing out in front of me, visible from three directions. I used a gobbler call just a couple of times, hoping that since it was late in the season some dominant male would come challenge the intruder. But other hunters said that they had no luck with calls this year so I didn't call much. After three hours I saw movement through the trees on my right. There were six or more hens walking along the treeline, foraging and taking their time. Right after they got by me there was more movement from the same direction. Bringing up the rear was a big tom. As soon as he saw the decoys he came running at the pair, clucking and flapping his wings (from the right on this photo.) I brought up my gun and popped him. Nice bird with a double beard and decent spurs. Am thrilled to finally get one. Every other time I've messed it up...either moved too much, couldn't call one in close enough or just didn't see one. "Hunting, fishing and loving every day" !!!Good job Cazz! That's a great bird...so much fun. Did you call him in? Use a blind? What's the story???
Awesome!! 3 hrs....you should get an award of some kind! Made that wait pay off...great job.Hunted in a different area in the morning and only saw deer and hens. Moved to a different spot for the afternoon. At about 3:00 pm I tried to get into a tower blind but there were too many wasps flying around in it so I just set up next to it backed up to a couple of trees. Put out a tom decoy approaching a hen decoy in a small clearing out in front of me, visible from three directions. I used a gobbler call just a couple of times, hoping that since it was late in the season some dominant male would come challenge the intruder. But other hunters said that they had no luck with calls this year so I didn't call much. After three hours I saw movement through the trees on my right. There were six or more hens walking along the treeline, foraging and taking their time. Right after they got by me there was more movement from the same direction. Bringing up the rear was a big tom. As soon as he saw the decoys he came running at the pair, clucking and flapping his wings (from the right on this photo.) I brought up my gun and popped him. Nice bird with a double beard and decent spurs. Am thrilled to finally get one. Every other time I've messed it up...either moved too much, couldn't call one in close enough or just didn't see one. "Hunting, fishing and loving every day" !!!View attachment 3431
All my buds asked where did he shoot that big a-s bird. I told them near Chernobyl.That is a big turkey. Much bigger than here in NC. One of my hunt buddies will be real jealous when I show him the pic. He shot his biggest this year and it must half the size. Had to share with several of my Turkey hunting friends.
In the head!!! BANG BANG!!All my buds asked where did he shoot that big a-s bird. I told them near Chernobyl.