Red
5 year old buck +
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get out this spring as baby number two was set to come any day. I called my wife on the way home from work on Friday to see if she could hold it in for another day. She gave me clearance for the following morning but that was it so I picked up a tag.
The next morning I was up at 3 to get to the blind in time. Once in the blind I could tell I had 2 gobblers rooster not too far away. Before fly down the rain picked up and everything went quiet. Then about 6:45 a gobble on the ground 20 yards behind the blind. The Tom started slowly working his way to the clover plot when I heard another bird pitch down. A jake landed in the field. Given my tight time frame I turned my attention to him but he hit the ground and went the other direction. Then a hen flew into the plot to be a perfect natural decoy. That was enough to drag the original Tom into the field. Slowly he worked his was over strutting and putting on a show minus a tail fan. At about 8 yards I was able to draw and get a shot off.
He is a bird that we saw a fair amount. Dubbed Bad Tail, he has never been able to hold his tail fully up.
Thanks to my dad for setting the blinds, sitting with me that morning and giving me first crack. Also thanks to my wife for letting me go and to new baby who entered the world 48 hours later.
The next morning I was up at 3 to get to the blind in time. Once in the blind I could tell I had 2 gobblers rooster not too far away. Before fly down the rain picked up and everything went quiet. Then about 6:45 a gobble on the ground 20 yards behind the blind. The Tom started slowly working his way to the clover plot when I heard another bird pitch down. A jake landed in the field. Given my tight time frame I turned my attention to him but he hit the ground and went the other direction. Then a hen flew into the plot to be a perfect natural decoy. That was enough to drag the original Tom into the field. Slowly he worked his was over strutting and putting on a show minus a tail fan. At about 8 yards I was able to draw and get a shot off.
He is a bird that we saw a fair amount. Dubbed Bad Tail, he has never been able to hold his tail fully up.
Thanks to my dad for setting the blinds, sitting with me that morning and giving me first crack. Also thanks to my wife for letting me go and to new baby who entered the world 48 hours later.
