Sunday we were actually right on the 'hootch east of Abbeville, almost in GA I could see the other state! I was hunting with Jeff and his neighbor Jeff.Several birds were talking it up on the other side and we had some rabble rousers on our side as well. There must have been 100 gobbles within 30 minutes. Tried working one bird that was off the property and then had another sound off really close behind us.We knew they were in a field that overlooks the river so we circled above it in the woods to parallel the road that leads into the field. As we were slipping in the woods I caught the tell tale red and white head of a gobbler not 30yds ahead and had everyone drop. The birds were right in the road and I saw one go into full strut and another thundered. You could feel the drumming, hear the spitting, and the harsh intake of air right before he sounded off again. There were 3 of them and the lead one acted spooked or maybe he had caught the hard end of the dominance stick. There was lots of brush between us and them so all I could see were the heads and glimpses of the birds. They gobbled everytime the call was hit. It seemed that they were just going to go past, but I reached into the leaf litter next to me and scratched several times while Jeff Y. hit the call. I'm thinking that little bit of extra noise brought 2 of them right into the woods with us. I was sitting behind and off to one side of Jeff P. about 4-5 yards and could see right over his shoulder and gun barrel. They came in single file and I watched as the first bird stepped out, Jeff P. has killed a couple of birds but that gun barrel was dancing with his heartbeat, I was afraid that the tom was going to spot him drawing circles with the thing. Well, just as it passed a tree and offered a clear shot he touched off a round....that bird fell but was right back up, then Jeff Y. shot right after and then I cut loose on the bird as he tried to fly up. There was a war zone and lots of commotion as first one bird flapped and fluttered off and so did the second one. Safeties checked and the sprint begins. Jeff P. tore off after the gun fire settled and when he heard wings flopping and flapping. Very shortly another gun shot rings out. I headed off in the direction of the other bird but after checking several fall downs and brush piles I didnt find any sign of him.Nice bird, almost 1" spurs, 20#'s, and the base of the beard was 1.5" and 10" long.
Turkey hunting in AL sunday
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Congrats Rick! My heart was pumping just reading it...nice post.regards,Jay G.8o Shotgunworld.com
I had frozen the bird I shot on Sat to make a tail fan mount with and this afternoon while cleaning it I measured the various bits.21#'s, 10" beard, 3/4" and 7/8" spurs. Gots to order the tail fan board and beard hanger, found 2 other beards from last year that will about have the 5 slots filled before the season here in Madison Co even starts on the 1st of April.
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