2 for 2

**PLP** · 03-23-2009 10:07 PM

Yesterday I had to work again,but I wanted to hit the woods with my friend Tommy.Saturday I sent him to a place I like to go,and he heard 2 birds,but couldn't get on them before they shut up.They didn't start gobbling until 7:20,and he had to be in to work at 8:30 with me.So he left 'em.

Well I devised a plan of attack,and we met at 6:30am and started our long hike.Had to be way away from everyone at daylight.With over 250 people in the woods with us we wanted to be able to jump on one quick.

Daylight came and no gobbles came with it.It was 39 degrees and we didn't wear a jacket,but at 7:19am we got warmed up when we heard one charging off in the distance.As we tried to get a bearing on him I thought I heard wings closer to us,but we heard no birds.So we struck off after the one that was talking.I knew he may be off the property line.

When we got to the property line sure enough he was 500yds on their side,so nothing I could do,but try and pull him back over the line.We walked 100yds away from the boundary,and I pulled out my MAGIC piece of wood and slipped out a few sultry yelps followed by some cutting and he stroked off!!!Not the one across the line...THE ONE where I thought I heard wings!!!That bird was on our side of the property line,and he was coming to me.Tommy heard a hen over that way and then hammerhead went quiet.Heiffer cut me off!

Tommy said OH I knew we was going to get our butts whooped!I said it ain't over yet bro.We took of tailing along them as the hen pulled him away from us.We heard him gobble again,and the hen was going crazy!Tommy thought for sure someone was over there because she was so noisy,but I told him no that is a real hen.About that time we hear wings slapping,and aggressive purring!2 toms were fighting,and the hen was instigating it.

We eased up closer during the excitiment,and then I saw him in full strut circling the hen,and the other tom was trying to breed her.Puffy would break strut just long enough to try and run the other tom off,but as quick as he turned his back he was trying to get her again.I pulled out my magic piece of wood and invited himn to come over and play with me..He really thought that was a good idea and came at a dead run!

He moved in to my right side,and around some brush.I was still standing giving tommy a play by play.Then the tom turned and came running right to us.I said "he's coming shoot when he steps out!" Tommy said "where is he?!!!"

I glanced down,and tommys barrel was pointing in the right direction.I said "right in front of your barrel about 40yds!"At that second he popped out and tommy popped him!I ran over towards the strutter to get a shot on him,but he tucked feathers and put it in high gear.

We walked over to Tommy's bird,and found out why he was a lover and not a fighter..NO SPURS!Slick legged like a hen.He had a super wide 9.5" beard and weighd 16lb 15oz.He also had 2 tailfeather trying to grow back.Pretty cool.I've never seen 'em while they are growing back.Tommy was upset he got "cheated" out of his spurs..lol..I told him he got a rare bird.Not many of them,.

What a hunt to remember!2 trips 2 birds!I know my luck won't keep on lasting but I am very happy with my season so far.It's started out real tough for alot of my friends.

Here is Tommy,and his bird.

**GobbleAndGrunt78** · 03-24-2009 04:25 PM

Nice story man, glad ya'll rolled one. Did it just not have spurs at all or were they not growing? Weird either way. Congrats guys! Oh and thanks again for lining me and Kristy up on a spot, it was awesome.