After hunting this bird two times before and being covered up by hens we decided to give it a try again today. He has been roosting on the same ridge top every time we have tried him and it was no different this time.After get set up on him i made a soft tree yelp to him but no respond. So giving him time were i figured he should have flew down i then done a fly down cackle but again no respond. He has not gobbled since i made the first call. Now i was thinking maybe something happen and then i heard a hen softly calling were the gobbler was at. I then pulled out my box and did some soft purrs and yelping every 5 minutes or so. Still no gobbling but knew he has heard me and went quiet for a while. I had my boss sitting out 20 yds ahead and it was a pretty flat ridgetop that looked like a park setting. Soon i saw a hen coming out of the hollow into that park setting ridge top followed by another hen and then there came that full fan. The first thing i thought was i hope my boss has his gun off his lap like my was laying on mine. I just sat there and watched the show the hens and the gobbler strutted right into my bosses shooting lane. Finally he took the shot and down went the bird. After going over to get the bird me and my boss decided that this was one of the prettiest set up we have encountered. The bird weighed in at 18 lb 11 oz., 9 1/2 beard and 1 inch spurs. For a two year old bird he sure acted more like an older one!!
Doug
