06/17/2026
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐. โจ
The morning started after school drop-off. I headed into the woods on a new property we picked up this year, with only a rough idea of where the birds might be. I decided to slip in quiet until finding a spot where I could see good and move if I needed to. After a few calls, a gobble sounded off, I picked out a tree and sat down. The bird ended up circling up and around but I was able to crawl into a new position yet it wasnโt quite close enough for me to feel comfortable pulling the trigger. It was such an awesome hunt nevertheless.
Just after lunch I got back out and had about 3 hours before I had to pick my oldest up from school. I sat in the same place basically the whole time, just trying to listen. There were a couple birds gobbling but werenโt where I could be so I left them alone after seeing a hen feed up their way. It comes about time to leave and a crow flies over, letโs out a caw and a bird gobbles behind me, Iโm almost positive I know where heโs at. I eventually get to where I have to cross the field with no cover, I look around and make a break for the wood line. Iโm standing there listening, trying to figure out how I can get out without spooking him and I hear a twig pop, I turn, take a step and there he is 3 yards on top of me! He jumps, I jump and I hit my knees. I pop my fan up in front of me and made a few cuts. He stopped but has no idea what had just happened but I didnโt have a shot. Eventually he turns and circles around a group of trees in the field and comes out where I can pull the trigger. The second his head rose I squeezed the trigger and he hit the ground! Talk about an adrenaline rush! I ended up leaving the bird tucked in the shade until I grabbed my son from school so he could see it first, he was pumped!
A huge shoutout to Tonya! A new property, a heart-pounding close encounter, and a win shared with her sonโthis is what the hunt is all about. Congratulations on a well-earned bird! ๐ฆ๐
