I wasn’t expecting much action this morning with the cool temps and strong breeze but at 6:20 a bird starting gobbling pretty good within a couple hundred yards of our setup, another bird chimed in one time. When they hit the ground however all went silent. Around 8:00 a hen started putting right beside us, when she went out of sight I called just to try to calm her down. Right after I called my brother said here comes 2 turkeys. 2 hens came on a dead run and stopped about 25 yards away. They milled around and soon left. When they reached the hollow beside us they started cutting and the 2 gobblers sounded off again. I called but got no response. Another bird then gobbled wayyyyyy below us, so far away we could barely hear him. He gobbled again and then again. The 2 birds above us gave us a courtesy gobble as they headed up the mountain to be heard no more. I called and the bird below answered, still way off. Andy said “You can’t call him up here, he won’t come thru that cutover.” I called and again he answered maybe a little closer. Andy said “He’s gonna hit the fence and head down toward the cabin field.” I waited a bit and made some turkey talk with my tube call, GOBBLE-OBBLE-OBBLE! Soon I see him strutting over on the next ridge. Just minutes later he’s flopping about 25 yards from the blind. This bird came came from over 500 yards away in 10-15 minutes.
21 lb, 10 inch beard and the wierdest little spurs I have ever seen on a mountain bird.
Yes, I was planning on taking my crossbow but we shot it late yesterday evening and my new string had stretched throwing my point of impact off nearly 6 inches. Rather than risk missing or even worse, wounding a bird, I opted for the Browning.
Oh yeah, I must add that I’m writing this after finishing a breakfast of fresh morels, fried eggs and toast. If it gets any better I won’t be able to stand it!!!
Welcome to the Rock Farm! This is "The Machine" you have read about before.
The little green tube had something this bird liked. A LOT!
Check out these little spurs.
