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Post by Woody Williams on May 15, 2011 6:18:28 GMT -5
Mr. Ridge Gobbler bit the big one!
Pics and details later.
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Post by gobblerstopper on May 15, 2011 6:23:35 GMT -5
Good job Woody!! You didn't waste any time this morning.
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Post by dadfsr on May 15, 2011 6:26:07 GMT -5
Perseverance DOES pay off!!! Congrats Woody!!!!
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Post by drs on May 15, 2011 6:26:21 GMT -5
Congratulations Woody!! I knew you'd get your Tom!!!
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Post by schall53 on May 15, 2011 6:48:04 GMT -5
Congratulations, never quit til the fat lady sings.
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Post by featherduster on May 15, 2011 7:55:30 GMT -5
WOODY: don't know if it helped but thought that you would like to know that several of us from this site held an online prayer session for you last night.
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Post by HighCotton on May 15, 2011 7:57:44 GMT -5
Awesome, Woody! Can't wait for the story and pics. It sure is a good feeling to tag a bird. However, IMO, it seems a lot sweeter when the season (or SEASONS in some cases) has been wrought with so many quiet, birdless hunts.
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Post by HighCotton on May 15, 2011 7:59:27 GMT -5
WOODY: don't know if it helped but thought that you would like to know that several of us from this site held an online prayer session for you last night. AMEN!
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Post by danf on May 15, 2011 8:00:33 GMT -5
Congrats, Woody!!
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Post by Decatur on May 15, 2011 8:08:19 GMT -5
Grats!
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Post by lugnutz on May 15, 2011 8:40:38 GMT -5
Congrats old man!
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Post by hoosier on May 15, 2011 8:41:58 GMT -5
YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Nothing like an eleventh hour turkey, , Woody? What took ya so long? ;D Congratulations.can't wait for more details!!! Hoosier.
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Post by Woody Williams on May 15, 2011 9:51:17 GMT -5
Last day gobbler….I’ve turkey hunted 4 times in Kentucky and only missed 3 days out of the 19 day Indiana season. Toughest and longest season for me by far. This morning was a nice misty morning. One that usually prompts turkeys to hit the fields. My blind was set up in a field within 75 yards of the start of the woods that goes up to a ridge with a huge set of spoil banks behind the woods. I had heard and seen birds ever since I moved my blind from another field. Thursday I had three different birds gobbling from the roost. This was the day after the hounds messed with me. I saw two of the birds but they were non-responsive to calling. Friday morning I only had one bird gobbling. He only gobbled three times. Saw two different gobblers that morning only they were both way out of range and again non-responsive. Saturday I had volunteered to help with the Postal Food Drive, so I did not hunt at all. I got in way before light again this morning and set out the decoys. A Henny Penny and Jake the Stuffer, When it started getting a little light I could see Jake was laying nose down in the dirt/mud. Not good – so I slipped out of the blind and walked in a crouched position to set him back up. He was not only nose down, but swiveled 90+ degrees. Odd? I was hoping that no gobblers were roosted on the field edge of the woods and saw all that. The more I thought about it something had to knock jake over. About 5:30 a gobbler cut lose about 150 yards to the east of me and in the woods. I clucked at him a couple times but he did not answer me. He only gobbled maybe 1 dozen times total. The last time he gobbled he was right out in front of me and still in the woods. It was good light by then so I started glassing the field. I spotted a gobbler about 200 yards to my west just picking along. I gave him three yelps and he looked up, but did not respond. He just kept picking, but picking my direction. I quit calling. Every now and then he would stop and go in an alert position looking my way at the decoys. It seemed like forever but he was finally getting close to being in range. I then remembered what highcottonguide did with the range finder so I took mine out and ranged him at 53 yards. The rangefinder I have is scanable so I swept it forward of him to see where 50 yards was at. When he hit that mark I was going to shoot him. Normally I’d wait for a closer shot, but he had acted like he wanted to turn and go in the woods on several occasions. I crossed my legs, got the gun up, propped my left elbow on my left knee and got him in the scope. When he hit the 50 yard mark he popped his head up to look again. BOOM! Down he went. He flopped very little, He weighs out at 22# on my bathroom scale, although he looks bigger than that to me. He has 1” spurs that are broken off. The spurs were hooked so I am not sure how much longer they would have been if not broken off. The beard measured a full 11”. Scores out at 64 even.. Glad it is over…. Walking out and into the field I had moved my blind from I looked down in the corner close (100 yards) to where my blind was before I moved it and there was at least 15 turkeys in the field, with two strutters. I hollered," Hey guys wassup?!" Flushed the whole flock..
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Post by HighCotton on May 15, 2011 10:04:44 GMT -5
So Cool, So Cool, Soooo Cool! I love it that Ya smoked your Tom - and such a good bird, too - and the last day! Way to go Woody!
He sure looks like a thick bearded or multi bearded dude.
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Post by firelt72 on May 15, 2011 10:05:39 GMT -5
Great story and great patients.
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Post by oneshot on May 15, 2011 12:53:41 GMT -5
Good shot!
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Post by bowhunterjohn on May 15, 2011 12:58:03 GMT -5
AWESOME WOODY
Been thinking about you, glad you connected. Was out today filming a friend in Steuben county, no luck again, rained HARD, we quit early LOL
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Post by antiwheeze on May 15, 2011 15:17:54 GMT -5
Congrats Woody!
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Post by Woody Williams on May 15, 2011 15:52:25 GMT -5
WOODY: don't know if it helped but thought that you would like to know that several of us from this site held an online prayer session for you last night. Prayers ALWAYS helps... Thanks....
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Post by kevinhunter on May 15, 2011 19:46:59 GMT -5
Woody, first I want to say congrats and way to stick with it to the end. Hard hunting and patience will always win out!!! Way to go!!!
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