Bama Bird!!

[richarr3]

Went this morning to Dadeville, AL near Auburn. Listened on a favorite hilltop till good and daylight. Didn't hear a thing. Drove about a mile, stepped out of the truck and heard a Tom fire off. Set up 50-75 yards from the truck which was around a corner. I called, he gobbled and came running. Strutted and gobbled for about 10 minutes 40 yards away, but he was behind some brush. I clucked & purred very soft just a couple of times. Every time I did call, he would pound it. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. When he gobbled, I could feel it rattle in my chest. He came on and gobbled right at my buddy at 30 yards. He said it nearly scared him to death. Finally he strutted in to about 18 steps and my buddy crushed him. It is only his 3rd time to Turkey hunt and he's killed 2 this year. He's shooting an old 1100, with 2 3/4 shells and a fixed mod barrel. 2 year old, nice heavy 9 inch beard, small spurs. This has been an quite a season!:)

[skin_dog1]

Good gosh Russ! Are you guys gonna leave any birds for anyone else! Congrats buddy!

[richarr3]

Thanks Skinner. This has been the best, most unbelievable season in my 10 years of chasing them hard. I've killed one, called in two other kills, and video'd another kill. Set up on three others, and messed up. Spooked many others. All hunters got the full show, gobbling and strutting. I couldn't see this last guy, but I could feel him. In Bama you can kill 5 gobblers, I've never killed more than two in a season, probably wouldn't if I could. Heck, I didn't even kill last year. Also I don't think I've even seen more than 3 killed in a year. Its kind of like the 50 year storm. I've heard about seasons like this, but never experienced anything remotely close. One thing I've learned, call as little as possible and they will finally break strut and come on. On the three birds that I called in, no more than 5 sets of soft clucks and some lite purrs. I did cut hard on one that I thought I spooked and he came back.

[turk2di]

Congrats to your buddy!

[brandon2000]

We hunt alog the Alabama River near a place called Packer's Bend. We (the group of friends i hunt with) have already killed 3 this year and have heard 16 different Tom's gobblin' in the same area that we've killed the other 3. This is by far the best year we've had and it aint over yet. I'll try to keep you posted as to how we do. Brandon:) Also good job on the turkey. Keep up the good work. Only 3 more for a limit for your friend.