Me & Iver


Strut10

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Since I shot my first bird last Tuesday, I've been trying to add a twist for the second attempt. Took the bow out Wednesday. Then Tursday, Friday and today I've been toting my late grandad's Iver Johnson Champion single barrel 12 ga. He bought it new at the hardware the year he & Grandma got married..........1929.

I thought me & Iver were gonna seal the deal this morning. Two birds were in our foodplot field gobbling hard at first light. I got within about 75 yards of them back inside the woods. I made a few soft clucks and purrs. A couple minutes later I hear a spitting, drumming bird slightly left. I look over and here comes a big full fan coming through the small trees. He'd strut then break out to take a few steps then strut again. Iver's hammer was back and my finger was on the trigger. Just a tad too far for the 1 5/8 oz. load of #5's waiting to go. Then the bird stepped in behind a pair of cherry trees and was gone. Not spooked at all. Just gone. He had gone back out into the field where I listened to him fight with the other tom for the next 10 minutes. I felt sure that after the fight, one or both would come running (or sneaking) back in for the spoils. But never saw either one again.

Later I ranged the distance at 55 yards and smiled. The old boy just lived to let Iver smoke him some other day. I can't wait for Monday. ;)

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.........don't you just hate when they do that???

Not really. :)

Had he committed this morning, my season would have been over. Now I get to go out again. :D I just love getting out there and seeing birds and watching what they do. Sure I like killing an old longbeard. But not near as much as I like hunting an old longbeard. ;)

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Not really. :)

Had he committed this morning, my season would have been over. Now I get to go out again. :D I just love getting out there and seing birds and watching what they do. Sure I like killing an old longbeard. But not near as much as I like hunting an old longbeard. ;)

Gotta love the outdoors:D Good luck tomorrow

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Not really. :)

Had he committed this morning, my season would have been over. Now I get to go out again. :D I just love getting out there and seing birds and watching what they do. Sure I like killing an old longbeard. But not near as much as I like hunting an old longbeard. ;)

...I like that, Strut!..... A true hunt-and hunting spirit...

-Boy, and that sure sounds like a special gun, too...I can just picture it!

-Good luck on Monday!

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Sounds like a great morning. I like them at 20 yards or less. Why shoot them at 40 when you can enjoy the "show" as they continue to walk in (that's the best part).

I love 'em up close & personal, too. ;)

Iver's actually good to 35 definitely and 40 most likely. But my general goal is in the 23-27 yard neighborhood for any gun. I like to beat 'em and beat 'em bad before I end the game.

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