1 before rain

[sabmgb]

Well gotter done this morning, not proud of the hunt and should never have gotten it.

Supposed to rain by 9 so I went to my blind that I have for rainy days. Get there 5:34 put gun down to set up a hen deke and gobbling starts maybe 30yd behind the blind. Get in blind (single chair) as quiet as can wait for opener. The bird never stops gobbling. This goes on until 6:30, than all quiet. Done hear or see anything for 40min so get phone out to play a game. 5min later look up and TOM 15ft moving left to right. Of course I had forgot shooting stick, so gun on lap sticking out of blind. Figure he will turn to hen deke that is 30ft out. No keeps walking past. So figure when he is past far enough will switch to left hand and take him. Then see jake following him to my left. Now I can't move as jake is 15ft out. Could take jake, but I'm weak, switch hands to lefty, jake sees me move and starts to run and so does Tom out 20yd now to right. Take the shot, miss, go for another nothing, safety on somehow. Safety off click, no shell. Switch back to right rack in shell back to left hand take 2nd shot at Tom, miss. They both slow down and cross each other. Stop at 53yd facing away, not sure which is which now. Take a guess and let go. Down he goes never moves a muscle. 19.5lb. 7/8 matching spurs, 8.5 beard, and Left arm really sore now.

[JMatthews]

Great story. It's like a goal in hockey, it doesn't have to be pretty or perfect.

[outback]

The safety on no shell thing sounds like a coupla goose hunts I had last season and still managed birds. In the end a nice bird down.

outback

[fratri]

Thats a funny story, glad you got a bird out of it... lol

[LondonDave]

Congrats on the bird. Sounds like it was just meant to be. Looks like you're shooting a Maxus. Any chance the magazine cut off got flipped and prevented another shell from loading? I've often wondered about switching and shooting left but have never tried it.

[TurkeyRookie]

I think we all have been there during one of our hunts. Congrats on getting it done.

[sabmgb]

Shooting a Winchester XS3, which has never missed a beat. Have to think it had something to do with shooting left handed. This is the second bird that I have taken that way, but this was harder because of the rifle sights on it. Was a costly day $28 for the license, 3 extended load at 6.50 a shell, but they sure dropped it in its tracks.

Thanks guys and arm still hurts

[Greenhorn]

A great ending. Congrats. Brent