TEAM UNSTABLE MESSAGE BOARD

[Bodeen]

Very long story and very unbelievable as well. I am debating if I should go out and sit tonight or watch the Bull's game. Game didn't start until seven, with all the junk in the beginning of it, I figured I had plenty of time to go out.

I'm not sitting in my blind long and I notice a dark spot right on the road in the next mile. My farm I hunt is 3/4 of a mile long and I'm a 1/4 mile behind the house. So this spot is 3/4 of a mile away from me. I put the binoculars on it and it looks like a turkey's butt facing me as he is strutting. I watch it for a minute or so and it doesn't move. I conclude its a tire leaning up against the bank near the road.

I scan around a bit and scan back and that tire is gone. In the field north of the back 40 there is an island of trees. Along the east edge this bird is strutting. Then he disappears into the trees. I contemplate going to the west edge of the 40 between him and the big woods to the west, as that is where he is heading. I figure I can't make it there undetected anyways.

Well, he comes out of the trees and comes right to the back edge of the 40. Like he knows I can't shoot him until he crosses that border. Well, he crosses it and is making his way straight south and straight to me. There is an entire field between the back 40 and where I am, so a lot can go wrong.

Now, as I spy on him, he is running straight south. Could be good, but don't get my hopes up. Sure enough, he heads east out of sight. Half the back 40 has a ditch with trees on it and he is out of sight from me.

Now I think he is going to cut out into my neighbor's field and head into the woods on my near right. There is a couple spot he can pop across, but at his speed, I think he is in a hurry to roost. Do I move or stay? I move down the edge of the field along the woods until I run out of woods. There is a gap until I get to the other ditch bank that his help hide me.

I get to the ditch bank undetected, and here he comes down the ditch. I drop to my knees as he is still coming through the brush, his red head bobbing. He comes out and stops, a bush between me and him. I think he is being cautious because he is out of cover again. He takes two steps and I drop the hammer.

20 pound bird, with inch long spurs, and a double beard. The main beard is a solid 9 inches, but has a couple hairs that push out past 12 lol...then he has his secondary beard that I have yet to measure.

Hardest bird I have had to get and first bird I shot in May. Young bird that will eat well and he caps one of my most frustrating times hunting ever.







PURRFECT ENDING TO A PURRFECT DAY


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[wild bill]

DUDE, EXCELLENT STORY AND NICE PICS. THAT IS A SWEET BIRD YOU NAILED THERE BRO, WILD BILL.

[beretta man]

Nice bird.

[Overkill67]

real nice. they sure have been a biotch to hunt this year thats for sure