A little part of me died today...

[greenheadgrimreaper]

For the last 2 years I've killed the friends of a public/private land bird that is 4+ years old. I killed his running buddy yesterday by accident thinking it was him without making a positive ID. The "illegitimate child" was the one next to him. So this morning we met again. I sat 30 yards from him and watched him spit n drum and strut on the limb. My heart melted, I knew he was mine.

No, maybe not. He pitches down out of range and goes to a godforsaken ridge top to strut. I told myself that I am going to kill him. I will neak him with every inch of my neakin' skills. I reach the bottom of the ridge he is on; I'm so close that his gobble rattles the ground I'm lying on. He's mine. I am a bit apprehensive to move he's so close. With that apprehension I don't have my gun completely ready. About the time I adjust, I hear her. I slightly peepee my head and see the ugliest skankiest whore of the hills staring at me. If she were human domestic abuse would've ensued. The moment I look back forward I see him. He's so close I see his eye moving. I could see his head changing colors inch by inch. His beady "illegitimate child" eyes moving. He was so close my eyes blinking would've spooked him. At this point it's quick draw time. His perfectly placed vine catches my muzzle and I cut a sapling in half where his head use to be.

Quick draw fail.

I put a lead on him missing completely again. He flies off cackling (laughing) with his chit friends. I will not repeat what I said back.

Totally devastated. That's the closest I've ever had him- or any bird for that matter. Freakin textbook stalk. This bird has got my name. He always has. I aim to kill any turkeys he is associated with. May have to call him Job, cuz I'mma bring his world crashing down.

I hope.

Thoughts.

Thoughts flash through my mind firstly of blowing him to hell off that limb. It'd bother me for a little while. 'Till I was dragging his old wrinkled breast meat through a pile of ketchup, and throwing the scraps to the crows.

Thoughts of those beady eyes saying I got you again, stupid white boy. I hate those eyes. I'd like to poke the son of a bitch's eyes out with his stupid vine while his ugly girlfriend watches in horror and awe.

Bobby Brown ain't never missed a bird 'till this morning. I got him oiled up and ready.

I hope to murder some family members of his this afternoon. As soon as I maneuver around that pile of vomit and tears.

[ufgators68]

[bottomland84]

[mshunter77]

Turkey hunting at its finest.

[ufgators68]

I will not laugh at others again. I missed one this morning.

Had one gobbling at daylight, he was gobbling at everything I did but wouldn't budge fromposted land. After an hour I gave up and moved to another bird that was gobbling down the road.

When I finally got to the second bird he had shutup and wasn't answering to anything. I saw coyote a little later and figured that is what made him go quiet.

I looped back around to the first bird and he had finally made his way over to where I originally was. I called to him a few times and he still wasn't coming to me. I backed out circled around behind him. I went and stood behind a brushpile and this is where I screwed up. Instead of setting up a decoy, I let out a cut to see where he was... and I bet you guessed it, he was on the other side of the brushpile. I nearly choked on my call when he fired back.

I dropped to my knees and got ready. Sure enough he comes out from behind the brushpile and spots me immediately. I sent some 3" #5s his way and completely missed... at 5 yards.

I would have been better off with a slingshot.

[edub20]

Missed one this am as well...

[uncleC]

Man, I feel your pain...but, it's the birds like that that keep us going back again and again...I am not trying to sound condescending(sp) or come off as a turkey expert but I've been chasing them 30+ years and hunts like you describe that I've experienced myself are the ones that are still burnt into my memory...About 7 years ago, I had a turkey I'd tried to kill for 4 seasons...no doubt about it being the same bird...on April 17th that season I got on him at daylight and 4 1/2 hrs later I finally had him standing at 20 yds on a pipeline ROW...the longer I watched him the more I thought to myself, "I finally beat your ass fair and square, and this morning I don't have to kill you to know I won the game".....so I let him walk off...I can't explain why....after I gathered my stuff and walked to the top of the hill, I decided to yelp at him one more time...he double-gobbled back....that's where we said our good-byes...he was there the next fall, I saw him during deer season, but his "domain' was silent that spring.....he's the only gobbler I ever gave a pass.....sorry to ramble, I enjoyed your story...it was like I was watching it unfold...good luck this P.M. chip

[MACDADDY]

I for one and glad he got away because ...... That is the BEST turkey hunting story I've read or heard this year by far ...... Better luck next time

[aweyerman]

I ended up dedicating many seasons to eradicating an entire gene pool of devil birds similar to the one you just described. I actually killed one that this morning that out smarted me Thursday morning, very satisfying. Good luck (Take that scope off your gun if you're missing you can blame it on that. Lol)

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Man, I feel your pain...but, it's the birds like that that keep us going back again and again...I am not trying to sound condescending(sp) or come off as a turkey expert but I've been chasing them 30+ years and hunts like you describe that I've experienced myself are the ones that are still burnt into my memory...About 7 years ago, I had a turkey I'd tried to kill for 4 seasons...no doubt about it being the same bird...on April 17th that season I got on him at daylight and 4 1/2 hrs later I finally had him standing at 20 yds on a pipeline ROW...the longer I watched him the more I thought to myself, "I finally beat your !@# fair and square, and this morning I don't have to kill you to know I won the game".....so I let him walk off...I can't explain why....after I gathered my stuff and walked to the top of the hill, I decided to yelp at him one more time...he double-gobbled back....that's where we said our good-byes...he was there the next fall, I saw him during deer season, but his "domain' was silent that spring.....he's the only gobbler I ever gave a pass.....sorry to ramble, I enjoyed your story...it was like I was watching it unfold...good luck this P.M. chip

Endeavors in life that are easy are soon forgotten about and discarded. That is human nature. If turkeys were always easy this forum wouldn't be here. No doubt this bird and a few others will never be forgotten.

Although if I had him in front of me the story would not be the same. I envision a reenactment of Muammar Gaddafi being paraded around the hills and valleys, me screaming obscenities at his bloodied head, throwing balls of red hills clay at him and firing off every round of turkey loads have.

Then again, I haven't been doing it for 30 years. I'm still in that mad at them stage. I hate a damn turkey. Only critter I chase where I am like that.

[uncleC]

Ain't nothing wrong with being mad at 'em

[Tedl10]

its a love/hate relationship for sure