I was able to kill this bird opening morning of 4th season, but not til after a long drawn out series of calling. I got set up on my property near some public land and had 3 birds gobbling right from roost. I thought to myself this might just work out ok. At around 6 am the birds were on the ground gobbling at every call I made. They kept getting closer until they were 60 yds out and then seen my strutting tom decoy and locked up and would not come any closer. But every time I would call they would gobble, this went on til 7:30.
They eventually walked out of site, so I thought they were gone until I hit the calls again and they went nuts but still would not come in. The only difference this time was farther off in the timber I heard another one sound off .It is now 8:30 am and the birds are still gobbling like crazy and the 4th one has joined them.So put the call down and went silent hoping they were coming in,nothing. At 5 til 9 I couldn't take it any longer so I picked up the slate call and just started to run the striker across it and the bird gobbled right out side the blind behind me, I just about dropped the call. I looked out the blind to see him at 10 yards, after all that calling he finally came in and I shot him. What a great way to end my season .
21.6 lbs
1inch spurs
9 7/8 beard