Turkeygirl Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 "The One" as I have nicknamed him..."The One" I've been chasing for a good week now and had missed....now has my tag on him!!! Here's the story: Went out last night, no shock gobble from him to my owl call so no idea where exactly he was roosted. When my alarm went off, I thought "I have 2 more weeks" and I have pinning ceremony tonight, so I went back to sleep. Got up at quarter to 8...saw it was sunny and nice out, decided I go out, told mom adios,lol. It was warmer so I could dress light. I head over to the corn field and as I'm walking down the edge, see a turkey way down in the bottom of the field. I hide behind a pine tree branch and sit down...looks like a hen. I wait, give some calls then I hear a gobble! Ah ha! I thought maybe it was the jake. Well I wait then stand up and peek down and there he is, "The One" in a full strut....and the hen having a dust bath. Well I stand there trying to decide what to do and make my mind up to sneak around and get below him, thinking maybe they'll go in the woods there. I make it down to the one corner, can see him...I call, he gobbles, but won't budge. I decide to sneak way down through the woods, around and up over to the backside of him in the other corner. I get there and belly crawl my way towards a tree inside the woods from the field. I see movement and there's a hen out in front of me and there's him out in the field strutting. Well the hen was the bearded hen I've seen for 4-5 years now!! I thought about shooting her if I had a shot then changed my mind. I spooked her off on purpose but she appeared to be leaving to nest anyway. Well he's all alone and every time I yelp, he gobbles...this went on for 15-20 minutes then finally he stops and walks over towards this cut through to a grassy field. I move over the small ridge top incase he comes down this side....and I see him stoppd, looking. Not knowing if he'd seen me or not, he continues on but up the grassy field and away. Well I decide to cut back through the woods up to the corner I've been setting up in previously. I get there, put my hen decoy out, and wait 20 minutes before I call. I sit there thinking wouldn't it be great if he comes around the corner up there and down the field slope like that jake did...Well after the 3rd set of soft clucks, purrs, and a couple yelps, he gobbles and I look up, there he is standing at the corner of the hill in the field! I started praying right then and there....he slowly walks down the field, then parallel across the hill and that's when he finally saw my decoy maybe...he did a strut, then stood looking, I gave a few yelps....finally he starts walking for sure towards me and I know he's going to come in. I'm still praying. He stops, his head out and at 30 yards (I paced it off afterwards) I squeeze the trigger, red dot on his neck and BOOM! He flops right on his back, that was it! Nailed him! Oh my gosh, the adrenaline rish was crazy, I shook so hard and was saying thank you Lord...tears started to well up,lol:o:rolleyes: I walked out to him, he was giving a few kicks but otherwise dead in his tracks! I walked back and put my camera on and took a quick video of me retrieveing him and bringing him back. I'll post it all for ya later but here's a couple pics for now. I shot him at 11:21am....the latest I've ever taken a gobbler....And what is special is I have pinning later tonight so thank you Lord for a great day! Oh yes, 9" beard, 3/4" spurs, and 20lbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 That is absolutely awesome Ruth! You made my day. Doesn't it feel soooo much more rewarding that you had to hunt him for so long and finally beat him at his own game? A huge congrats from a fellow smoked turkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 nicely done congrats. You finally found him without the hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTT Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Congradulations on a great hunt; and the pinning later tonight! I'd say a pretty good day for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Congrats on a nice bird Ruth! Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Very nice bird and a great story, TG! Sometimes when you least expect it things happen that bring it all together. Sleeping in paid off today. Here he was showing up later right where you were hunting earlier. I knew it was a matter of time before you got a chance on that guy! Way to go! Way to get after it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowtech_archer07 Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Congrats Ruth!! That's awesome! Glad to hear you stuck with him and finally nailed him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Way to go Ruth, persistence pays off! :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Congrats Ruth;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawei851 Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 That's absolutely AWESOME! What gun/choke were you using and what kind of ammunition please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2labs Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 Congrats on a Great bird and Awsome story!! I worked this morning and hated every minute, it was a Beautiful morning with no wind and just right temp. Congrats again!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowslinger Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 is that the public land bird u bin after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Very cool Ruth!! I have been following your progress with this bird all along. Congrats on finally getting him... You worked hard for it, thats for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAFbowhunter Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Congrats on a great bird!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 WTG!!! What a beauty, glad you stuck with him and got to hang your tag from him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Great job Ruth... Nice bird.. Congrats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 That's absolutely AWESOME! What gun/choke were you using and what kind of ammunition please? I'm using a Mossberg 500 20ga Super Bantam I bought last spring, with an H.S. Undertaker choke and Fed. Mag Shok #5....took a bird last spring and paced it off around 35 yards....this is one good shooting 20 ga:D Thanks for the comments everyone! I was at pinning tonight, waiting for my name to be called, thought of the hunt and got all excited about it again,lol:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Absolutely Beautiful Ruth, Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Way to go Ruth!!..ya kept at it and it paid off..good call running and gunning...it pays to know your land and how the birds use it. Congratulations on a fine bird!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 I knew you would out smart that gobbler:D congrats on your turkey and your pinning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHISKEYSWAMP Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 awesome job... congrats on a well deserved gobbler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainebuck Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 heckuva fan on that guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkinslinger Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Sweet!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterfowler Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pendog Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Great job Ruth!!! Very happy for you:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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