After I retired from the Tennessee Army National Guard with a VA disabilty, I had obtained the Tennessee Sportsman Lifetime License and that license opened the door for many other opportunties. Last year, I began wild turkey hunting. I didn't have any luck last year and would give it another try this year. I spent the last several months scounting my hunting location and observing the movements and behaviors of the elusive bird. The closest encounter last year was two Toms were heading towards me and where shot by other hunters on their side of the property line.
Went out on opening morning again this year, and unlike last year, the weather was more to my favor. I heard at least 4 Toms, but didn't see anything, I did hear some distant shots. I figure the birds were confused by at last 4 hunters that were within 500 yards of me calling the birds.
I returned to the field yesterday afternoon to give it another try. Weather was clouding up but no rain. I figured the low pressure coming through would get the birds moving about the fields. I set up my decoys and began calling and immediatly heard a Tom gobbling an answer to me. To my surprise, I had the area all to myself, no other hunters with a 1/2 mile of myself. I called and he would answer. Finally, he quit answering. I placed my shotgun in the direction of his last gobble. Then I saw a bird come out of the woods. I looked hard and figured it was another hen. But this bird walked different......like a strut. I had seen hens during the juvenile hunt and the day prior hunt and the hens ignored my decoys and my calls. This one came up to me. I re-positioned my shotgun and observed more closely. Then as he turned, I saw this beard, I fired, he went down, then began to fly away, I fired again and he went down.
Came out with a 14-pound young Tom and he will made a fine dinner this week.
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