Today was the fifth and final morning of my VA hunting vacation. Anyway it had been a fairly quiet week spotted some strutters in the middle of a field a couple of times late morning but not much gobbling. I've got less than 100 acres to work with so I can't cover much ground. I did get on some birds Wed. morning but they flew down to a hen and I never heard or saw anything else from them. They had been gobbling off the roost to her cutts but would not respond to by calling.

This morning I set up on the edge of a field corner and when the rain let at first light a group of gobblers started thundering off the roost on a ridge top across a creek bottom a few hundred yards away. They were very responsive to my calls. Hens were calling from a couple of other directions so I was not sure I would see them. They flew down to an opening in the hardwoods on the opposing ridge and gobbled their heads off for 5-10 minutes. Then they shut up. I thought they were henned up. I did a few series of calls and waited. I thought I heard some faint noises in the wet leaves. I was looking back over my shoulder to my left, thinking they might slip up from that direction. I caught movement in my eye and face forward and there were 3 long beards in from of me. I took the lead gobbler and am very happy. Beard 9 inches and change, spurs 1 1/8, 1 1/16 weight 16 # (seems kind of small).

Something special about the hunt: a couple of days ago I came across field bag of turkey gear that my late father had used when he turkey hunted many years ago. I didn't take up turkey hunting until after he passed a few years ago...so I never got to hunt with him accept when he took me a couple times when I was very small. There was miscelleaneous stuff including a couple of calls in the bag. I guess I knew it was around somewhere but it was a pleasant surprise to come across and look through it. I've always just used diaphrams. I tried his box call and liked the sound. Anyway that's what I used this morning calling those turkeys.

you gotta love them long spurred, light gobblers.....

I am certain the previous owner of that box was looking over your shoulder with a smile! Congrads!!!

Nice bird! congrats! Resurrection is on our minds this weekend. I'd say you resurrected that box call today. Good for you!

Them sure are nice spurs, congrads

old and new...a lot of melancholy there in that story....sometimes things are just right, and this is one of those times....and very nice bird too.

Great Story. I bet your Dad was right there with you pushing that turkey your way. I bet you will never forget that bird.
Congrats
Tom

Congrats. Definately a good time for a resurection of the old and the ringing of the new. Your Dad is proud and so are we!

Congrats!

you weren't hunting alone on that hunt.
Congrats on a nice bird - great hooks.
thanks for sharing the story - enjoyed it much.

Great story... Congrats!

Congrats on a great hunt.. As others stated I think someone was with you on that hunt..

Awesome Neill! Glad you connected in such a memorable way.

Nice bird, Congrats, I sure you have had a friend along with you on every hunt.

That does make for a special hunt. I wish my computer would acknowledge your pictures! All I get are red 'x's where the picture is suppose to be??