Bottom of the 9th Turkey Hunt

[otcWill]

With a baby on the way VERY soon I had one day to get out after a Colorado gobbler. I set my blind last Friday after work. After a weekend full of honey-do\'s I would sneak out on Monday. Fingers crossed

 

[otcWill]

Got in the blind around 5:15 and heard my first gobble at about 5:30. Had a few visitors while I waited

 

[otcWill]

Whoops. Accidentally put this on the elk forum. If somebody could move it for me that\'d be great.

I did some quiet tree talk just once, receiving some double gobbles from what sounded like a lone tom. He hit the ground around 6:15 about 300 yards away. I gave him a few soft yelps and he gobbled about 4 times in a row. He was coming fast! I shut up and waited. Not 5 minutes later I saw him. As soon as he saw the decoys he made short work of the last hundred yards and was bumping my jake facing straight on when I let him have it (9yds).

 

[otcWill]

He flopped forward and to my left standing hurt at 15 yards. He stopped in about the only place I didn\'t have a window. I tried to unzip the main opening when he spooked and started flapping around a bit. At that I jumped out the small opening and chased him. Dumb move! He struggled but got airborne and sailed through the pines and out of sight. I went back to the scene of the crime and found this :downthumb: laying next to the jake decoy.

 

[otcWill]

I decided to give him a little time before doing a grid search for him. I knew he was dead. Finding him would be a challenge. After about a half hour I started my search. Not long into it I found this. Split brows and 9 pts; 105\" all by itself :shock:

 

[otcWill]

I also saw two large bobcats while searching but I didn\'t have a ton of hope I\'d find my bird. Either way, I\'d give it my best. Grid searching is a great way to find sheds. At least I was finding something

 

[otcWill]

After 3+ hours of searching I wrapped it up and collected my gear. I decided I\'d stop at the neighboring property and give one last look. I walked this ditch just on the other side of where I\'d walked a few hours before and there he was not 75 yards from where I\'d shot him. I jumped across the ditch and actually found my call (I\'d dropped) not 10 feet from the bird. I\'d walked right by him and probably looked right at him earlier.

 

[otcWill]

Still about a half inch of beard left to add to the 11\" I shot off. By far the biggest bird and longest beard of the ones I\'ve killed

 

[otcWill]

Spring colors

 

[otcWill]

:upthumb:

 

[otcWill]

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[otcWill]

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[otcWill]

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[otcWill]

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[iccyman001]

Congrats Will!!!!!!
Fantastic job and great bird!

Very cool sheds too.


Thank you for the pictures and the write up :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb: :thewave: :thewave: :thewave:

 

[otcWill]

I might just find the time to hunt this spot with a BTO buddy before junior arrives Look out turkeys

 

[cnelk]

Great job Will!

Btw. I can get my CO turkey license tonight

 

[Ucsdryder]

Atta boy!!!! Good story as always.

 

[Bowfreak]

Love it! I am pulling a sneak move myself in the morning. I have been given permission to hunt one location that Riley is not interested in hunting. This year is hasn\'t been too good but there are turkeys in that area and I have killed a few there.

 

[bnsafe]

great job will