<font style="" size="2"><p style="">Was planing on going after a limit of Crappie and then search for some Shell Crackers yesterday afternoon. Plans changed when I got a call from my Dad and he was ready to go Turkey hunting. We have finally got back into a little hunting after a couple slow years and have made several great memories this spring. I have always enjoyed hunting and fishing but when you get to do it with your Dad it is that much more special. We were able to bag him a Bird a couple weeks ago and have had some close and fun encounters lately. We headed in the woods around 5:20, slowly moving and making our way to a edge of a field. As we approached our ambush point, we noticed a hen working the field and feeding. We have seen this hen for the past couple weeks and knew she was setting close by. A few minuets past and we settled in for the evening hunt. I made a few clucks and purrs with no response. 15 minuets later, I called lightly again! Across the field in the edge of the woods ........a very distinctive sound was vibrating the through the air!
The Tom had heard and was interested in the hen!! He let loose another Gobble and was inviting me to come play. I called lightly again and the Tom decided he would come to my house and play. From the distance... we could see him moving our way at A pretty steady pace. When he was about half way across the field, I called lightly again and once again he bowed up, Gobbled and strutted! He put his head down and I slightly rattled the leaves and called lightly.......He was very interest and I could tell that the rattle of the leaves gave him a pin point direction and he was planning on entertaining this hen! I was in pretty good position yet with a older bird and their eye sight you just never know. I was really wanting my Dad to get the shot and he was positioned about 20 yards above me. The Tom kept on coming although with each step becoming a little more cautious. He would Gobble and look for the leaves to rattle. I was frozen and quiet yet felt like I was literally freezing with my body at a full shake. He moved within about 20 yards (which at the time I thought was about 10feet) and Gobbled again! I had an opening but I wanted to see if he would proceed forward and up the field, so my Dad could get a shot. The Long Beard made a turn and I thought was going in my Dad's direction when all of a sudden he turned back around and came my way. I believe the rustling of the leaves had left an impression in his mind. The Tom Gobbled again and requested me to come play. With his head raised and at about 20 yards as I was shaking from head to toe.....another memory was etched into history for a father and son. The shot found it's mark. The Tom weighed approx. 23lb's (on house scales) and had a 14inch beard with 1 inch spurs (15/16). The memory would of been forever etched into our memories even without the kill (like so many others have) yet this memory will not be repeated with the phrase.....Well if we would of done "this or that" or We should of done....</p>
This memory with Father and son was truly great and just so happens to end with a success rather than all the close calls!</p><p style="">It was too late to check him in last night, I have him blanketed with ice and will check him in this after noon and may check on getting him mounted. </p><p style="">The pictures are rather poor from our cell phones. We waited to late to go and retrieve him in order to get some good pictures. We had another bird in the area and we stayed put and tried to get my Dad a bird but he never showed. </p></font>
This memory with Father and son was truly great and just so happens to end with a success rather than all the close calls!</p><p style="">It was too late to check him in last night, I have him blanketed with ice and will check him in this after noon and may check on getting him mounted. </p><p style="">The pictures are rather poor from our cell phones. We waited to late to go and retrieve him in order to get some good pictures. We had another bird in the area and we stayed put and tried to get my Dad a bird but he never showed. </p></font>
