Wanna say this bird came in gobbling every step and gobbled over 100 times but NOPE. Started the morning going into a piece of public I really like hunting. Well after good enough light for birds to be on the ground I finally heard this bird a few hundred yards off. As I was easing closer he again gobbled on his own, so I made on final adjustment to my setup and settled in. I called soft to this bird and he responded then went quiet. I was able to pick him up a few minutes later moving to my right. I again gave him some soft calls and he turned and began walking in my direction. As he was slowing working my way he would feed then pick his head up to look, each time he would go behind some trees or put his head down I would soft call to him to keep his curiosity up. Once he committed and was on a straight line to me I let him just work towards me on his own, he gobbled one last time at about 60 yards and went into half strut before going back to feeding. Once he cleared a couple large trees I yelped and he raised his head high to find me. There’s nothing like beating an old public land gobbler at his game.
Calling duties from here on out until we leave for the northeast on May 7th.
19 lbs, 10 3/4 beard, 1 1/6 spurs
