Even though I was born & raised smack dab in the middle of dirt farming country & have no place locally to hunt them, I was lucky enough to have one of my friends who was born & raised in Harrison county offer to take me hunting with him this year.
I'd been watching videos & hunting shows & practicing with my diaphragm calls to the point where I was comfortable that I sounded pretty decent. Even though I wasn't absolutely sure under which circumstance to make a certain call, my friend Bart assured me that even if I blew it a couple times, there would be plenty of opportunities. He was right!
I called 2 toms to within 60 yards & had them strutting in front of me only to be foiled by live hens, blew a couple stalks, and had several stalks that just didn't work out because they didn't come the right way. But I had TONS of encounters & an absolutely unforgettable experience!
I finally got my first tom when I slithered 60 yards down a hill in the rain doing a super-low belly crawl. He was in a small valley and I had just enough of a rise in front of me that I was able to get within 40 yards without him seeing me.
I didn't weigh him, measure his beard or his spurs. He had a full beard and with the great experience I had, he was a trophy regardless of what all that stuff was.
Add yet another addiction to my list! :drink1:
My great friend & great guide Bart & I. Thanks man!
I'd been watching videos & hunting shows & practicing with my diaphragm calls to the point where I was comfortable that I sounded pretty decent. Even though I wasn't absolutely sure under which circumstance to make a certain call, my friend Bart assured me that even if I blew it a couple times, there would be plenty of opportunities. He was right!
I called 2 toms to within 60 yards & had them strutting in front of me only to be foiled by live hens, blew a couple stalks, and had several stalks that just didn't work out because they didn't come the right way. But I had TONS of encounters & an absolutely unforgettable experience!
I finally got my first tom when I slithered 60 yards down a hill in the rain doing a super-low belly crawl. He was in a small valley and I had just enough of a rise in front of me that I was able to get within 40 yards without him seeing me.
I didn't weigh him, measure his beard or his spurs. He had a full beard and with the great experience I had, he was a trophy regardless of what all that stuff was.
Add yet another addiction to my list! :drink1:
My great friend & great guide Bart & I. Thanks man!
