Post by 3ptbuck on May 31, 2010 1:44:43 GMT -5
This bird took 3 days to kill. Opening afternoon my buddy and I saw this bird strutting with a few hens 3-400yds away in the corner of the field we were hunting. My buddy decided to try a stalk on the bird while I watched from our blind with binos. Unfortunately after a long stalk the birds walked back in the woods before he got in range.
The next morning I watched him kill a nice bird on a different property and I decided to sit from noon till dark on the same field from the previous day and see what happened. Around 3pm I saw this bird come out in the same spot with the hens for a few minutes then head back into the woods. I figured I'd try and slip down the field edge and setup where I had seen them the last 2 days and wait them out. As I reached the area I wanted to setup, 2 hens popped out around 50yds away. Somehow I was able to duck behind the weeds and crawl up to the nearest tree without them seeing me. Within a few minutes the long beard popped out and started following the hens which were only about 20yds straight out from me in the field. I thought it was a sure thing so I sat and waited for him to walk in front of my barrel instead of trying to move and take him when he first came in range. The whole time I can hear a tractor running then suddenly the hens run out of the field right next to me and the long beard walks back in the woods after them less than 30yds away. Apparently the farmer thought it would be a good day to clear some brush that they had pulled from the tree line over the summer and was working his way towards me.
The next afternoon, 3rd day of season, I decided to try the same thing and after 2hrs of watching hens I saw this bird strutting in the field again. This time he had came out further and was about 200yds off the woods. I went about about 50yds in the woods and walked down to the same spot I had setup the day before and waited on the tree line for him to head my way when he was ready to roost. Sure enough after a long, long wait watching him strut, feed, take 2 steps, strut , feed take 2 steps etc he finally made his way to 40yds at 645p and I let the 870 eat.
The brid was well worth the wait and frustration he was causing me. 23lbs , 31mm spurs and 2 beards, 10.5" and 3". Not much of a second beard but enough to count.
The next morning I watched him kill a nice bird on a different property and I decided to sit from noon till dark on the same field from the previous day and see what happened. Around 3pm I saw this bird come out in the same spot with the hens for a few minutes then head back into the woods. I figured I'd try and slip down the field edge and setup where I had seen them the last 2 days and wait them out. As I reached the area I wanted to setup, 2 hens popped out around 50yds away. Somehow I was able to duck behind the weeds and crawl up to the nearest tree without them seeing me. Within a few minutes the long beard popped out and started following the hens which were only about 20yds straight out from me in the field. I thought it was a sure thing so I sat and waited for him to walk in front of my barrel instead of trying to move and take him when he first came in range. The whole time I can hear a tractor running then suddenly the hens run out of the field right next to me and the long beard walks back in the woods after them less than 30yds away. Apparently the farmer thought it would be a good day to clear some brush that they had pulled from the tree line over the summer and was working his way towards me.
The next afternoon, 3rd day of season, I decided to try the same thing and after 2hrs of watching hens I saw this bird strutting in the field again. This time he had came out further and was about 200yds off the woods. I went about about 50yds in the woods and walked down to the same spot I had setup the day before and waited on the tree line for him to head my way when he was ready to roost. Sure enough after a long, long wait watching him strut, feed, take 2 steps, strut , feed take 2 steps etc he finally made his way to 40yds at 645p and I let the 870 eat.
The brid was well worth the wait and frustration he was causing me. 23lbs , 31mm spurs and 2 beards, 10.5" and 3". Not much of a second beard but enough to count.
.........turkey scout
