elkoholic Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 The turkey hunting has been a little tough this year due to the weather conditions. A lot of high winds, along with rain, snow and sleet have added up to put a damper on chasing the gobblers around. This all changed a couple of days ago but I was tied up with projects around the house. Finally, today I took the time to hunt the last few hours of the season. The hens were already sitting on nests by the time I climbed the ridge behind the house but a lone gobbler responded to a raven calling just as I crested the top. He was about a quarter mile away so I eased along the ridge top until I had cut the distance in half and set up to do some calling. He responded well but after close to an hour of calling he would come no closer than about 80 yards and I could just barely see him through the brush. Eventually he grew tired of the game and headed off down the ridge and I figured that my only hope was to get in front of him and head him off. I never realized how fast turkeys move when they are walking along, but I had to run to circle around him and if he had not kept gobbling every now and then I would have wondered where he went. I made it to the end of the ridge where it dropped off to the valley floor and was positioned about 50 yards below the top when he arrived at the edge and started down. He was to my left and about 40 yards out and as close as he was going to get when the Remington 870 sent a load of heavy shot on it's way. I like to get closer but under the circumstances he was close enough and the results were the same as the last gobbler I shot at 15 yards. He weighed just under 20 pounds and has a beard pushing 9 inches. He is a fine last day, almost last hour, gobbler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Thats a nice looking bird. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wimpy Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 That's a pretty bird, Congrats!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Now that's pushing it down to the wire. Congrats...nice Merriam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Way to close the deal! Nice bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse8953 Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Congrats on the bird:cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Congrats way to stick with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 congrats!!!! Very pretty bird good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Nice looking Merriam! I love the colours on those birds, congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Congrats on a beautiful Merriams limb hanger! Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Congrats! At least a gator didn't eat it like my dad's bird the last day this year, lol..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkeydude Posted May 20, 2009 Report Share Posted May 20, 2009 Hey man nice lookin turkey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maytom Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Congrats on a job well done!!! WTG!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2008 Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Way to stick with it to the very end. Sometimes those last minute trophies are the most treasured ones. Big congrats to you on your last hour gobbler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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