4-4-17 the short beard

[YoungBuckTX]

I've been hunting a new property this year. Yesterday I setup on road near where I've had recent bouts with a pair of gobblers. Of course, with the perfect conditions and setup, they were silent.

There was one gobble way down the ridge. I wasn't really sure about my position for this bird. He would have to cover some hard ground to get to me. I decided to play it safe and sat down and called. For the next hour he gobbled at everything. The mountain terrain made it difficult to tell if he was actually getting close.

After awhile he went quiet. I gave him 15 minutes of silent treatment and called again. Nothing. I stood up and grabbed my stuff. As I am standing up to leave, I hear him spitting. I turn slowly to see him in full strut, with a hen, standing next to my decoy. not but 20 yards away.

So, I am standing in the middle of the road, hands full, and gun over my shoulder.
He is facing me, with the hen directly behind him. I stand there motionless for a long time. Minutes go by before he spins, and circles the decoy. With his head finally behind his fan, I drop my stuff and shoulder my gun. Some how the hen didn't even notice. I wait another few minutes for him to turn again before I take the shot.

Turkey hunts never go as planned. and thanks Lowcountrybuck for letting me kill all your turkeys

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[HEAD]

i know that all too well....they always do what i dont expect them to.....my only question....if he was at your decoy how did you not see him before you stood up

[Gut_Pile]

Nice work!

[Arrowman]

i know that all too well....they always do what i dont expect them to.....my only question....if he was at your decoy how did you not see him before you stood up

I'd like to know also...

[YoungBuckTX]

I swear.
They walked out of the woods the same time I stood up. I took a few steps to look into the creek bottom he was coming from.

[Arrowman]

Rookie move.

[Arrowman]

Congrats though, that's a thick little beard!

[YoungBuckTX]

Rookie move.

this is true. I had to get to work and didn't really have time for bs

[joelt1971]

Hey great job Phillip way to pull it off

[dhall1693]

right on!

[gooseaholic]

The dumb ones don't last long in the woods! Nice bird.

[PharmHunter]

That's cool, good job pulling it off.

[YoungBuckTX]

Hey great job Phillip way to pull it off

Thanks Joel. Good luck on Saturday

The dumb ones don't last long in the woods! Nice bird.

are there smart turkeys?

[BigBrother]

Nice bird.

For all of them that make you cuss, there's one that makes you shake your head.

[BRR]

The Power of distraction......

[Sportin' Woodies]

Was there prescribed fire in the area this year?

[YoungBuckTX]

The Power of distraction......

that, and the wind gusting 20 helped. the hen watched me swing my gun and didnt even cluck..

Sportin, there was a fire next door. his beard had a slight fringed look, but not like other rot ive seen.

first time I used a decoy this year and now out of tags.
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[BRR]

Squatty had given him a haircut.