Post by bambeklr on May 4, 2017 16:27:48 GMT -6
Well 2 weekends ago I slipped in on 3 long beards and called them in to 25 yards. I shot and rolled one out after the gig was up and they started putting. Well to make a long funny story short he ended up getting up and running off. I couldn't find him so I was soaking wet for nothing.
Today I set up on one of my farms in Millsboro and I had birds going nuts. I moved in on them and I just couldn't get them to cross the property line. I gave up on them around 6:30 and went to check a nearby farm I hunt. Well I rode by and there were birds on the field. I knew I could get within 100 yards of them easy. I made a mad dash for the logging road that goes to the field. I set up just out of sight of the field and started calling. I was getting double, triple and quadruple gobbles and on I think hammered 6 or 8 times in a row. They were closing the distance but not quickly. There were a few hens on the field with them so I was worried they might just come in a ways and say hello then head back to the field. Finally I could see them strutting. Here came 5 toms strutting through the pines. I got ready and then they held up around 40 yards behind the only place I couldn't get a clear shot. They strutted and gobbled and carried on for more than 30 minutes. A few times I almost pulled the trigger but after losing the bird earlier in the season I didn't want to take a shot unless it was clear. Then in the middle of my soft purs and clucks I heard another bird along the field gobble. The others then started making their way back to the field. I figured they were worried about the hens still out there and him headed to them. I softly yelped and they fired up again and came back. I still couldn't get a clear shot. This happened 3 times and finally I could see 5 toms total and all fanned out strutting in range and I couldn't shoot. They slowly walked away from me towards the field. I yelped and one of them stopped and strutted. When he did I leaned off the tree and to my right and put the starvation bead on him at 50 yards. When the gun cracked I sent over 2 ounces of Winchester long beard xr copper coated 6 shot right to him and wrapped him up. He never even flopped. I get to him and well wouldn't you know it..... Out of 5 toms I shot the only one without a beard *lol* I guess he had beard rot. The bird was 19 lbs 12 ounces with 1 inch and 15/16th inch spurs. He had a few strands of beard still but the longest was 4 inches *lol* Oh well, what and awesome hunt and with the weather coming it worked out perfect.
Today I set up on one of my farms in Millsboro and I had birds going nuts. I moved in on them and I just couldn't get them to cross the property line. I gave up on them around 6:30 and went to check a nearby farm I hunt. Well I rode by and there were birds on the field. I knew I could get within 100 yards of them easy. I made a mad dash for the logging road that goes to the field. I set up just out of sight of the field and started calling. I was getting double, triple and quadruple gobbles and on I think hammered 6 or 8 times in a row. They were closing the distance but not quickly. There were a few hens on the field with them so I was worried they might just come in a ways and say hello then head back to the field. Finally I could see them strutting. Here came 5 toms strutting through the pines. I got ready and then they held up around 40 yards behind the only place I couldn't get a clear shot. They strutted and gobbled and carried on for more than 30 minutes. A few times I almost pulled the trigger but after losing the bird earlier in the season I didn't want to take a shot unless it was clear. Then in the middle of my soft purs and clucks I heard another bird along the field gobble. The others then started making their way back to the field. I figured they were worried about the hens still out there and him headed to them. I softly yelped and they fired up again and came back. I still couldn't get a clear shot. This happened 3 times and finally I could see 5 toms total and all fanned out strutting in range and I couldn't shoot. They slowly walked away from me towards the field. I yelped and one of them stopped and strutted. When he did I leaned off the tree and to my right and put the starvation bead on him at 50 yards. When the gun cracked I sent over 2 ounces of Winchester long beard xr copper coated 6 shot right to him and wrapped him up. He never even flopped. I get to him and well wouldn't you know it..... Out of 5 toms I shot the only one without a beard *lol* I guess he had beard rot. The bird was 19 lbs 12 ounces with 1 inch and 15/16th inch spurs. He had a few strands of beard still but the longest was 4 inches *lol* Oh well, what and awesome hunt and with the weather coming it worked out perfect.
