Checked in

[Critter]

:D Took my bird yesterday around 12:15 or so. I have pics but can't find the cord to download them.:mad: 23.5 lbs, 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" spurs, 10" beard, nicest bird I've taken in awhile. We got him on video but I'm not sure how good the footage is going to be yet. I called him in from 200 yards out and he came in behind us instead of where we thought he was coming from. At one point I could have smacked him in the side of the head with my hand but the camera wasn't on him so I waited, man that was hard. I'll give all the details when I get the pics downloaded but it was one heck of an exciting day.:D

[old graybeard]

Congrats:cool:

[Biggsy]

Great story, Congradulations. Can't wait to see the pics and video.

[chris_kreiner]

Congrats,

Sounds like a great bird.

[Critter]

Finally found the camera cord and uploaded the pics.
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd65/texasjohncritter/Hunting08007.jpg

Beard
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd65/texasjohncritter/Hunting08004.jpg

Spurs
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd65/texasjohncritter/Hunting08002.jpg

Like I said he started gobbling about 200 yards out to some yelps on my Lohman box call. I called just enough to ensure he was coming and knew where we were then shut up. We had B Mobile and two hens out for dekes. We thought he was going to come across the clearing in front of us so we set up to shoot him and video him there. Well like turkeys do he threw us a curveball and cut up the ridge in back of us. By the time he gobbled again it was too late for us to repostion so we had to wait him out. I managed to get around on him and could have shot him 20 times but I wanted it on video. He gobbled and strutted his way right behind us and then came down the ridge. It felt like it took hours but I'm sure it was closer to 10 minutes. He was gobbling and strutting like mad and we got nothing of it on video, the audio is awesome though. He came up to 5 feet behind the cameraman, my buddy Arnold, and gobbled, then did the same thing to my tree. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest. He got behind where I couldn't see him anymore but he came so close to me I could hear his feathers ruffle as he walked. I waited and heard him drum further away so I slowly turned my head and when he went behind some brush I got around on him, raised my gun and asked the Arn if he was on him. I got a very excited "NO" and heard him slowly postioning the camera. All this time my finger is itchin to pull that trigger. Arn got the camera around and gave me the go ahead. I shot the first time and hit him, he stumbled but he didn't fold right up so I hit him again and put him down for good. The video turned out ok for the shot but we missed everything else. It was one heck of an exciting hunt.:D

[EdB]

Some nice hooks there, congratulations!