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Missouri 2001 Spring Turkey

Another tough season down in Missouri this year with TeamBob. Only 2 birds taken this year out of a possible 10.  Everyone has been saying the birds are still henned up, call shy and they stop gobbling early and you never hear em again. We found this to be the case as well in MO.  The weather did not cooperate either as it rained everyday we were there.  Here are the birds that were taken this year.

Hunter: Rooster Date of Kill: Sat, May 15, 2001 lbs: 19 1/2 Age: 3 Beard: 10 " paintbrush Spurs: 1"

Hunter: Bob Date of Kill: Sun, May 16, 2001 lbs: 19 1/2 Age: 4 Beard: 9 1/2 " Spurs: 1 1/2 "

Sitting down in the honey hole, Rooster awoke to the sound of a thunderous gobbler roosted only 30 yards away. This bird flew down just out of range on the pasture. Calling only brought him in steps closer only to have the bird return to follow a lone hen in the grass 80 yards out. Not having a deak out may have cost him this fine bird. Not having many options but to watch this bird strut out of his life, it walked behind a large shrub tree. Rooster knew it was his only chance to tag this bird so he got up and ran at the tree cutting the distance to the gobbler to only 30 yards.  Rooster peaked out from behind the tree and layed the ol tom where he stood.  6:10am back to the truck to catch up on sleep.

Figuring the honey hole would produce again,  Rooster and I headed down to the ol pasture Sunday morning, the last morning of the hunt.  We kicked a bird out of a tree on the way in and set up by an old oak tree overlooking the pasture.  A hen and a jake decoys were set up in front of us.  Before we heard anything flydown, we heard a gobble from behind us 100 yards out. 5 min later we heard it gobble at only 30 yards.  We were prepared to have the gobbler walk out around us to the deaks.(that was the plan) Rooster had one bird already so he offered me to shoot first. Of course the bird ended up walking on Roosters side of the tree only 10 yards off. He whispered to me that the bird was right there but I was to slow to get around for a shot when the tom putted and took off as we both fired a missing shot. He should of taken that one himself but what a nice guy. We were about to leave that spot at only 6:15 but heard a couple of gobbles in the fields on the other side of the pasture. We made it to the edge of the field and yelped to them to see where they were and they had cut the distance to us by half. We husled up the slope and stood behind 2 trees waiting for them to pop up the ol beans. I saw one come up and it looked like they were going to go away from us again so I took him at 35 yards.  Getting to hear toms gobble so close to you is the best way to keep you coming back for more.