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Button Buck
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/7/2008 10:51:40 AM
Posts: 1,
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This weekend I took both sons out and let one of them use my Benelli. I decided to take a new Beretta that I had won at the DU banquet a couple of years ago as a back up gun. No shots were fired. The birds just wouldn’t cooperate. Hopefully, they’ll get their chance next weekend. This morning it was my turn. I headed to a different place that can be a little more challenging. I try to save my favorite spots for the kids. I took the Beretta since it was in the truck and had my sling on it. It was overcast, muggy, and very still out. Just as I got out of the truck, a big bolt of lightning ran across the sky. I almost turned around and headed home. Fortunately, I had left my blind up after hunting there last week and headed for it. I was early, so after I put the decoys out, I had a long wait before it started to get light. I closed my eyes and listened to the nearby Whippoorwill and distant thunder. The first gobbles I heard seemed far off. As more birds woke up, I could tell that there were at least 2 or 3 on the property and south of me. I could not tell where they were, but I knew they were not close. I tried some soft yelps with the slate, but no response. I took out the box call, started with some soft yelps, and slowly increased the volume until they would answer my call. Even though I could get them to gobble, they would have to come a long way to pay me a visit. The thunder was getting closer and the birds would gobble to each loud report. As it began to rain lightly, I realized that it probably wasn’t going to happen today. Each time they gobbled, they were in the same place. I put my calls down for a moment and looked up to see a red and white headed, black bodied, creature, coming out of the woods. I grabbed the binoculars, and sure enough, he was dragging a beard. He came out at 60 yards. Just then I began to panic. I had not patterned the new gun and choke tube. I was missing the Benelli. He walked out, gobbled, and went into strut. He saw the decoys and cautiously crept closer. He stopped at 45 yards. He had drawn the line. I eased the gun out the shooting window and waited for him to come out of strut. As he finally stretched his neck, I put the bead on his head, and anxiously pulled the trigger. He folded, hit the ground, and never moved. I was using Winchester Extended Range #5's with my Kick's Gobblin Thunder choke tube. It must be a good combination and pattern. The Beretta is no longer a virgin. He looked to be a 2 year old, and probably weighed 19 #'s, with 3/4 to 1 inch spurs, and a 10 inch beard. As I walked out of the woods, the birds were still gobbling.
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Marksman
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 5:15:31 PM
Posts: 614,
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Congrats on the bird! Thanks for sharing your
story and welcome to the forums!
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"Courage is being scared to death-
but saddlin up anyway." John Wayne
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Trophy Buck
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Today @ 2:54:21 PM
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Welcome to the forums and congrats on the bird! That was a great story!
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"Welcome to Tennessee, the patron state of shootin' stuff."
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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