This is the umpteenth spring training report for the southern swing before the middle Atlantic openers. Been doing this for decades.

I was lucky to be invited to hunt on part of the Fla property where my late friend hosted me for more than 20 years. Ky friend died a couple years ago. I didn’t think I would ever get back to the place, but his son invited me to come down and hunt part of the ground I’ve come to love and know so well for the spring season.

It was pouring rain when I looked around after I arrived yesterday afternoon. Rain was forecast for today as well. I decided to prepare for rain and to set a blind near a green field of about one acre adjacent to the hardwood swamp edge. I have killed birds from that field before.

I walked into the area in the black dark this morning long before daylight. Sprinkling rain. Stuck out three decoys: two hens and an Avian-X Jake. Heard one bird gobble a good bit at daylight maybe 150 yards down in the hardwoods. Can’t say he ever answered any call.

When he stopped gobbling I assumed he was out of the tree. That was 730 am. I never heard another gobble the rest of the day. I just made some light hen talk periodically for the next four hours. Never heard a hen or gobbler - never even heard a songbird or crow. It was a dead calm morning. Woulda expected some turkey talk on the ground. Not a peep. Woods were dead silent.

But about noon I was thinking about lunch. I look out the windows before unzipping and see a big longbeard 35 yards. Down in the woods in half strut.

He was in killable range the moment I saw him. But I let him come about three more steps and dropped him.
Beautiful heavy old bird.


An old timer. So two old timers met when I picked him up.


22 pounds. Great spurs. Long beard.

Way to get things started Old Timers!
Congrats!
Nice spurs!!

Congrats! That tree behind you has been around a while too!

I imagine both you have seen a thing or two tramping around the woods, always look forward to hearing about your spring training adventures, nice job

Another great way to start. Congratulations on a great bird .

So was old timers getting older the demise of one and great patience on the other. It never gets old.

Way to go GN. Nice bird.

Nice going GN.. always good to kick us off