He was just a two year old, but we had to work hard for this guy. 9.75" beard. 3/4 in spurs. 18lbs.
That was a public land bird too!
He required a 2+ mile hike through sand and swamp. Shot him down in south Alabama on the Boykin mngmt area. We were listening on a powerline and heard him gobling on the next ridge over. We humped it down the ridge, through a swamp, and back up onto his ridge. We worked to within 100 yards of him. We set down and just lightly called to him to let him know we were there and then shut up for about 45 min. The whole time he was strutting and gobbling at every crow in the area. We eventually picked up the calls again, but still just lightly purring and clucking. After another hour or so of occaisionally calling, he couldnt stand it anymore. The last two times he gobbled I could tell he was really close. He shut up after that. I had a feeling he was coming, so I readied the shotgun. A few minutes later I could hear him walking behind some brush at about 18 yards. He came out from behind the brush and BOOM! After setting on the ground for 2 hours or so....my ass was sore and my legs were numb. But....I tell ya....what a feeling. Then it was another 2+ miles up hill to the truck!
That was a public land bird too!
He required a 2+ mile hike through sand and swamp. Shot him down in south Alabama on the Boykin mngmt area. We were listening on a powerline and heard him gobling on the next ridge over. We humped it down the ridge, through a swamp, and back up onto his ridge. We worked to within 100 yards of him. We set down and just lightly called to him to let him know we were there and then shut up for about 45 min. The whole time he was strutting and gobbling at every crow in the area. We eventually picked up the calls again, but still just lightly purring and clucking. After another hour or so of occaisionally calling, he couldnt stand it anymore. The last two times he gobbled I could tell he was really close. He shut up after that. I had a feeling he was coming, so I readied the shotgun. A few minutes later I could hear him walking behind some brush at about 18 yards. He came out from behind the brush and BOOM! After setting on the ground for 2 hours or so....my ass was sore and my legs were numb. But....I tell ya....what a feeling. Then it was another 2+ miles up hill to the truck!
