Birthday Bird!

It's my birthday today so I got up really early to head out Turkey hunting. I was hunting a field where I had seen a number of Toms and where I have shot several birds over the years. I set up a foam Tom decoy and a Hen about 15 yards from where I was going to sit. A full moon but it was misty so I had a little cover while setting up. As soon as I got back and set down my stuff a couple of Toms were sounding off. I set up my ground blind and settled down to wait until legal shooting time. During this time there were all kinds of small birds landing right beside me and feeding. At 5:45 I load up and get ready. I could hear a few Toms gobbling in the trees close to me, so I made a few soft calls with the slate call. At least 4 Toms respond and they are all around me, very close. I then hear a Hen calling aggressively and at least 4 Toms are gobbling back at her. I use my mouth call to start calling a little more aggressively and the duel begins. She starts calling really loudly with the odd fighting purr thrown in. Every time I called, she would cut me off and start calling for about 30 seconds at a time. The whole time this is going on, there are Toms gobbling all over the place. I hear a few birds fly down and then make a few softer calls. I get a few responses from Toms very close to me. I then stop calling and settle down to wait. I look to my right and see this Tom walking straight towards the Tom decoy. He stops about a yard away from the decoy and I let him have it. Tom down! It's 6:05 and my birthday bird is down! I put the tag on the Tom and take a few pictures. I then pack up and walk back home…all done and at home by 6:45. A great way to start my birthday!

Weight 21 pounds, 8 inch beard, 3/4 inch spurs. Now I can wait for one of the bigger Toms! Photos were taken with small camera and I didn't notice the water spots until I down loaded them. I have another member of the forum coming up to my place to hunt Friday and Saturday, so I'll let the birds calm down until them. I'll be acting as his guide and hopefully record him shooting a nice Tom.
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Great way to start the birthday off for sure. It's pretty cool when in a duel with another hen and ya can coax the o'le lads in. Nice tom and well yes happy birthday as well.

outback

Happy B'Day old fella !!!

Some of my best hunts have been after having a verbal fight with a nasty hen. Seems like the Toms/Jakes come in fast to watch the catfight.

Now that you went out and got dinner....do you have to make the cake too..LOL..

congrats on the birthday and the bird ..we must have shot at the same time as I put one down first thing this morning as well ..happy birthday dude Dutch

Happy birthday and congrats on the turkey.

Well done and A very Happy Birthday.

Happy birthday! What a way to start your day. Congrats!

Happy birthday and congrats! Great story.

Congrats on your birthday and the tom!!

great story.
congrats on a birthday tom, and good luck for the rest of the season!