Covehnter Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 What can i say, the last few Sundays have been very nice to me. Saturday afternoon my buddy and i were able to watch the longbeard that made it through last Sunday exit the opposite end of the big plowed field from where he's noisy roommate met his demise 6 days prior. Being his departure time was about 20 minutes before flyup we guessed that he wouldn't be far. Deciding my dad needed another opportunity at this show off, he and i settled into the Doghouse blind 20 minutes before the whipper-wont shutups quieted and the woods come alive. The wind was shoving us around a little much for my liking but i was confident the survivor would return to the field upon flydown. After a silent daybreak as far as turkeys go, i added some turkey talk to the morning. Ten minutes later dad says, "there he is, just flew down in the field." I peeked around the blind and verified the arrival of the man. Still 150 yards out, he seemed to be intent on buggin' on the unplowed portion of the field. I caught his attention with some lovely clucks and yelps and he became fixed on the single hen decoy placed 15 yards from the blind. His attitude changed quickly, he turned and started the steady walk to death. He decided at 80 yards to start the show, and the wind would nearly flip him over each time he attempted to display. . . throwing his tail over his head. He was drumming hard when i heard my dad say, "Think i could take him from there, " i responded by telling him to let me know when and i'd bring his head up. "Okay, now" . . . . Cutt, cutt, cutt. . . up it came and down he went. The #6's turned him a flip at 39 yards and after two little kicks, he was complete. Whoops, hollars, and high fives exploded and pictures followed. Little did we know this was just the beginning. Measurements: 10 5/8 inch beard, 1 inch razor sharp spurs Packing all the equipment and bird back to the truck, we drove to the other side of the farm. We decided to hop out and make a big loop to check fields in attempt to find another bird that i may be able to take with my newest addition to the gun vault, a CVA kodiak (we're allowed to hunt w/ muzzleloading rifles and i've been itching to shoot it at something). We made our loop with no luck. We reached the last field which borders the Coosa River and with no turkeys in view i cutt hard before heading back to the truck, a turkey gobbling from the opposite river bank. I've dealt with many turkeys across this river and all in vain, but we decided to have a seat anyways, rest a little and listen to him gobble a bit to boot. We sat against a big oak at the top of the river bank, i'd yelp. . . he'd gobble. . .i'd cutt/yelp. . .he'd gobble. This continued for 30 minutes, same ole story but a least we were being amused. I'd placed a hen decoy in the plowed field hoping to capture the attention of any birds that may work in from our side of the river. I kept glancing over at the decoy for assurance. My dad joking ranged the opposide river bank, "he's gotta fly 112 yards to get to this hen." A few minutes later i look over to see a big gobbler, wings set, gliding across the river, straight for us. The lonely longbeard lands in a tree on the river bank 25 yards in front of us. At this point i cant believe what i just saw, my heart is beating out of my chest. . . it was histerical. Several long grueling minutes pass with the tom on the limb glaring down at the decoy. Once i somewhat gained my composure, i yelped softly on the diaphram. He hops down a limb, and pitches down to the ground at 20 yards. About 20 yards to the right of my gun barrel, he takes on the image of a linebacker and ever so slowly eases his way closer. The problem now being that i've no clue where the gun's going to hit at such close range, high. . low. . .i dont have a clue. The bird works his way over directly down the gun barrel at this time about 16 yards. I decided just to center things up and hope for the best, lining things up for the butt of the wing i let the smoke fly. I saw feathers erupt and the bird begin to hobble away. Thats when i gave my dad the go ahead and three shots later, he'd bagged his 2nd turkey of the day. We both couldn't help but scratch our heads and laugh, birds arent suppost to cross obstacles! Measurements: 9 7/8 inch beard, 1 3/16 inch hooks Come to find out, my bullet had hit low (now i know where a bullet hits at close range) and got one leg good, the back of the other and clipped the keel bone that runs b/t the breasts, i believe it was a good call for the follow up. But what a day, and what and incredible thing to witness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M00N Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Congratulations! Some beautiful birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Nice birds, congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntinguide Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . two very beutiful birds there, congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Congrats man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Man, sounds like a awesome Sunday for sure. COngrats..........by the way, what football team you root for? They must have slow linebackers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cutter Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Great field pics. Congats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Couple of great birds there. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Two awesome hunts in one day Cove. Glad to hear your dad finally scored. That's pretty amazing that a bird would fly that river like that. Great show bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Tell your Dad I said congrats. It's amazing how your whole season can turn around in a matter of minutes. My season is over here in Alabama but I'm heading to Northern Nebraska next week to chase Merriams. Too bad we didn't get to hunt together in Bama or Georgia but the Florida trip was well worth the price of admission. Can't wait to do it all again next year. Keep in touch over the summer and we'll get together and do some fishing or something. [ QUOTE ] COngrats..........by the way, what football team you root for? They must have slow linebackers [/ QUOTE ] I'll save the University of Georgia jokes for later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covehnter Posted May 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Best educated alcoholics since 1785! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Great pics. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Nice! Congrats! Pretty birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 Re: More to the fryin\' pan. . . . Congrats those are some very nice looking birds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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