Got the boss Sunday morning
Been scouting a flock of birds for 4 days. A big tom and a dozen or so hens were always in the same small field at 6.45 am. I figured they were roosting in the big oaks that were on one side of the field. Sunday morning I get up at 3.30 am to make sure I'm in position early so maybe if the birds heard me they would forget about me. Also, full moon gave lots of light so I figured the birds might see me. Anyhow I'm back against my tree by 4.45am. Now the long wait. At 5.45 the birds start to sound off. Lots of gobbling, cutting, and yelping. I'm hearing at least 4 different males gobbling, all within 100 yrds of me. Lots of adrenalin kicking into my system let me tell you. As it gets lighter I can start to pick out the individual birds on tree limbs. I'm within 40 yrds of some of them. Well they keep up the racket for a half hour or more then they start to drop and glide to the forest floor. Some are gliding and landing right behind my tree, within what seems like spitting distance as I can hear their feathers rustle as the shake themselves. Talk about excited, I was. Slowly hens start to leave the woods into the field. Then a booming gobble and the boss tom joins them. He's a little to far for me to take so I watch him as he gobbles and struts. Of course the hens slowly feed away from me and he follows them. At the same time their are three other males gobbling in the woods behind and beside me, but they never enter the field. I can hear 2 of them fighting with each other behind my tree, but I dare not move to try to see them. They sound like their within 20yrds. of me. After what seems like an eternity the hens in the field start to feed back towards my direction, and the big tom is in tow. They are on course to re-enter the woods to my left about 30 yrds from me. When the tom reaches 35 yrds I slowly raise my gun and fire. Down he goes. One of the nicest birds I've taken. 22lbs. 10" beard. 1.5" spurs. Also, my first bird with a new shotgun, Stoeger 3500, Winchester 3" longbeard # 6
