Run-n-gun gobbler

Opening morning in the HNF couldn't have started any better. Shortly after first light, myself & three buddies were at our favorite listening post high on a ridgetop. They were gobbling everywhere! Two of my buddies took off deeper into the woods to set up on turkeys sounding off in different locations. Two of us elected to stay at that spot, having good luck there in the past. We set up our decoys in the easement & after a few tree yelps, two mature toms & a jake thundered back just below us. after flying down, they milled around just out of sight for a half hour or so while my compatriot called to them. With him behind my position & me being closer to them, I waited it out for a while, hoping the decoys & the calling would bring them right to me. Unfortunately, I got impatient. They weren't coming any closer, so I hit my glass call with a couple yelps & clucks. Boy, was that a mistake! They came charging in so fast, all I could do was drop my call & try to get my gun up to shoot. I was afraid they were gonna stomp me to death. What a story that would have made! Needless to say, they made me with all my movement & were quicker than I was. 15 yards from me, in the thick brush, they scattered too fast for me to get a decent shot. That set being blown, we seperated & I dejectedly headed back to camp, kicking myself the whole way at having screwed up a golden opportunity After a cup of coffee at camp, I decided to run & gun on the other side of the road, it only being 10:00. I headed down along a ridge for about a half mile & sat to make a few yelps. I was immediately answered by two gobblers across the bottom. I judged their location, & headed towards them. It being late morning, I wasn't sure how long they would continue gobbling, so I stopped to yelp every so often to keep them interested. They were. They continued to thunder back at me. I eased up on them as close as I dared & as they sounded off again, I realized that I had misjudged their position! I was across a deep ravine from them. Knowing there was no way they would cross that ravine to come to me, there was nothing for it but to carefully edge down the drop off & put the sneak on them. If not for the rain on tuesday to quiet the forest floor, this wouldn't have been possible, but this technique has worked for me before when the conditions were right. They were now about 100 yards above me & I slowly moved up to them. Having not heard a gobble in a while, I yelped once to see what was up. They answered right aw
ay & I almost was made again as one of them came out to the edge of his knob & looked my way, scoping the woods for the hen he thought was coming to him. But I was motionless on my belly & he didn't have a clue I was there. I low crawled the last 30 yards to the lip of the knob, behind a good sized tree. I raised up on my knees & luckily they both had their backs to me. I pulled the trigger at 40 yards & bagged this guy. 24 lbs, 9" beard, 1" spurs. Turkey hunting don't get no better than this boys!