Turkeygirl Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Grab a snack and something to drink then get comfy:D So I decide this morning I'm going to go to the spot where that gobbler had been a week ago that flew down and I never saw. I get there, walk in to the open area, put my hen decoy out then find a tree to sit by. Slowly gets light out...don't hear anything by me, but I swear I keep hearing a distant gobble back up the road, maybe in the area where the trail goes down into the woods that we hike the kids on...and where all those scratchings were I had found. Well I wait, it gets light, then I'm pretty sure I'm hearing gobbling from there, so I get my decoy and decide to head that way through the woods, rather than go back to the car and drive back up the road. Nature calls so I have to stop:o:rolleyes: I start walking a little more and for sure now I am hearing gobbling! I get through these pines and to the edge of the road I drive up on and I hear him gobble across the road down in the woods. My instinct is to go straight at him. No, run up the road Ruth to the trail and go down the trail into the woods where those scratchings are. So I do that, run up the road and on the trail I walk down the trail and can hear him gobbling. I get to the woods, he gobbles, I quickly throw my hen decoy out then find a tree to sit at. No, not this tree, I move to another tree...no, I can't see over that brush pile..I move to this other tree and have a good view, but then my decoy is only about 15 yards to my left,lol. GOOBBLLEE!! I hear him straight out in the woods somewhere. I pull out my Ol' Yeller slate...I switched to this from my Karen/Andy slate since I'd used that last time I was there. I give some yelps on it...GOOBBLEEE! I give some excited clucks, he hammers back. I'm silent...he gobbles...I yelp and he hammers back, I yelp and he hammers right back. I've got a lovesick lonesome bird. He slowly is getting closer and closer. I hear a vehicle go down the dirt road....don't you dare.... He gobbles again...I've got my gun up, looking through the red dot then I see his white head bobbing through the trees...he stops and struts then he sees my decoy and heads towards it. I thought he was about 30 yards...all I know is he stepped out between some trees and I let loose some Fed #6's! He hits the ground and flops, I get up running, tears in my eyes and thanking the Lord and when I get to the bird, he is down right dead. YEEESSSSS!!! He's got a nice thick beard, though a little shot I think trimmed some beard off...and he has nice 3/4" spurs. I paced off my distance and I did it like 3 times,about 35-40 yards! I nailed him in the neck! He weighed about 18 pounds and is my 2nd best gobbler! You can see the beard and spurs in the contest photo entry:) You may be able to see he has a unique tail feather, I think anyway...there is one tail feather that is light colored/whitish like a wing feather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Great story, congrats on a nice bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 great story, nice bird... congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2labs Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Congrats on a Great Bird!!! Awsome story, thats the way to get them, I have had so many hens around( nice to have them just not during season). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Way to go Ruth, persistence pays off! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Ruth, I'm going to be honest. I know you've been hunting real real hard this season. But frankly I suspected you were jumping from place to place too much and this would sadly leave you birdless this year. There were countless posts of I'm going to hunt here and then I hunted there instead. Sometimes it was even, "I overslept!". It was driving me nuts. I thought to myself, stay there Ruth, figure out what's happening, the sign is there. Trust your eyes if your ears tell you nothing. I was trying my best to help and pulling for you the whole way. And just when I think that you're gonna admit defeat this year. You post a success story. Holy crap! I'm happy for you! Now my question for you is this. What did that bird teach you? They all teach you something and what you've learned can be used later. What did you learn? I'm interested. And a heartfelt congrats again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 That's awesome Ruth. Great retelling too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTT Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 I am really happy for you-good job! Seems like that new shotgun and equipment did what it was susposed to do! Great success story! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem308 Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 That's just great. It was nice hearing that you connected. Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiedler Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Nice story. Nice gobbler =] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gobblerroller Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 nice story & good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted May 13, 2008 Report Share Posted May 13, 2008 Congrats on a hard earned NY gobbler!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ambuscher Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelund79 Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Your patience and persistence paid off! Congratulations on that nice bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 ...Oh,Man, Ruth!!!...That is Awesome!! -I'll have to tell you...I was just about to turn in for bed...but this story title kept calling to me from the main forum page... -I kept thinking...NO, Kathleen...don't get started in that room...don't even start tonight...you'll get so immersed and stuck in there, and want to read everything...-LOL...-but...something kept pulling me here..- -Oh, I have been watching this season unfold for you, every step of the way...-all your posts, frustrations, questions, dissapointments...- and your persistance!! -Way to go, GIRL!!...I am so proud and happy for you, Ruth... -This is a really great day- -Awesome picture and story you posted of it, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Congrats..Glad you stuck with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Congratulations Ruth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 TG chalks up another one....Wooohoooo, way to go Ruth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 I am so excited.......this is the BEST news i have had all week.....that was an awesome hunt...i knew you'd kill one this year....congrats woman !!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkinslinger Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Way to stay after them!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest outdoorgirl Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Thats the way to do it Ruth :D Great story I can see your every step :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michiganbowhunter_SQ2 Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Great story, Congrats Ruth!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaCoyote Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 You go girl!!! I've been reading your posts and have been hoping you'd tag out. Makes it all worth while doesn't it? Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Good job Ruth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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