I went to the woods last Wednesday evening and hunted every morning and evening until last night. That was nine consecutive hunts, and even a few days where I slipped back out at noon for a couple of hours. This bird was taunting me, by showing up on my game camera when I was not in the woods, and coming in on me, but staying out of shooting range. I had four encounters with him at 80, 60, 50, and finally 27 yards. He never made a sound, no gobbling, clucking, nothing. He was also never with a hen. He would just cruise through a small food plot randomly. Finally, last evening, he came in at 6:40, from some planted pines to my right side. He had previously been to my left. I had to reposition and made the shot.
He weighed 19.5 lbs and had an 11.5 inch beard. He had spurs at 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". That was about as hard as I ever worked for one. So, persistence pays off.
He weighed 19.5 lbs and had an 11.5 inch beard. He had spurs at 1 1/8" and 1 1/4". That was about as hard as I ever worked for one. So, persistence pays off.
