posted May 22, 2007 05:47 AM            

Started out in a hollow with hemlocks thinking they might be there. Not a peep from the roost. Checked out a couple more places without hearing a peep other then a hen by the side of the road yelping a bit, then not talking to me.

About 6:30 or so I went back into the same area I got my first bird, and as I was uh,,,,,,, getting rid of part of the quart of coffee I already had in me a bird gobbled across the road. I set up as soon as I could and while he gobbled a bit (on his own) , did not really seem to get at fired up by my yelps. I started cutting on the slate and that got him going but it took a while before he would cross the road (always does) . I thought he might come right to me , but he stayed down below a rise right at roadside. He started heading away until I gave him another series of cutting that got him interested again. Somehow he got by me and was above and to the right (but close from the sound of his gobbles). I just looked without moving as far as I could towards where he was. You would think after all these years of turkey hunting the heart pounding wouldn't be as strong, but it doesn't seem to be that way and I couldn't help doing some serious breathing. putt I was busted. putt putt putt as he was walking down and away from my right to left . His head wasn't at all the bright white and red of an excited bird now, but even under the dark cloudy skies and ever increasing foliage as spring is wearing on I could see a beard. There were a couple 8 inch or so caliper trees that formed a block of the view and when he went behind them I was able to get the gun up. He continued on same path and when he cleared the trees he made his last mistake and hesitated to look. He met a pretty good load of numbers 4's and came home with me.

9 inch beard 3/4 in spurs and around 17 lbs.

Now I have to try and get back to NY as I'm outta tags here in Ct.