Let Him go.....or do something about it?
Lengthy read
Last weekend I went to Georgia with some cousins to a family farm for some hunting and fishing. We killed a few birds Friday and Saturday. Sunday was cold and windy, 10mph plus. Nobody wanted to hunt. So I decided to venture down into the river swamp. Don't know unless you go mentality.
Got out of the truck at 615 and busted a turkey on the roost. Was thinking thats a good way to start the morning. I got to where i wanted to listen right as the cardinals were waking up. After not hearing anything I blew a owl call and one cut me off about 150 yards.....into the swamp. I walked down the little trail to cut some distance and listened again. At this point he was gobbling by his self every 2-3 minutes. I got as close to him as I felt I could without busting him and set up. Called a little and he would answer every time. He finally flew down and for 30 minutes he would gobble from the same spot.....never moving. So I proceeded to seek closer to see what's up. Calling as I go through the leaves and palm fronds. As I get to where i can almost see him, i come up to a creek that is prob 75 yards wide. Great. And he does not want to come any closer.
I start looking for ways to get across. On my way back to my best I made a awful amount of noise that made him shut up. He would not gobble at anything. I figured I busted him so i went back and collected my best and decoy.
Feeling like a idiot I proceeded to walk down the trail farther because I herd another bird gobble that way at first light. 20 minutes go by and guess who starts gobbling again. I walked back to my original listening spot to try and find a way to cross the creek. Well aware I was gonna get wet if i wanted to kill this one. (Left my muck boots in SC) Come to fund out the creek was about ankle deep. So I got across and around behind the bird. Set up on a straight section of road and started calling again. He started coming very.....very....slowly. But he was coming.
He finally got to where i could see him however there were some palm fronds and cypress trees between us. And he was about 75 yards. He just stood there strutting and gobbling not moving a inch closer. After 10 minutes of this he proceeded to fold his wings and start feeding the other direction. So I wasn't about to let this happen. I rolled over to my left and got that big cypress tree between us and walked straight to him. I closed about 50 yards and killed him at 30 steps at 8:45.
I told the story to a few people and after telling anout walking to him they changed their expression like I can't believe you did that. I dont care thats part of the game to me. Also anything is legal on a swamp bird
16lbs
8.5" beard
1" & 7/8" spurs
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Originally Posted by Griffin
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