Got this Tom this morning at 6:37 . Parked the truck at 5:15 and while walking in to my blind a gobbler is going nuts in the dark . He was roosted directly above the blind and I knew I couldn't get in there without getting busted . Went to the base of a big pne ( exact spot where I took a bird last year ) and got set up . The lighter it got the more Toms there were gobbling . I had at least 5 all around me and could see 3 in the same big Quaking Aspen only 40 yards away . They all pitched down at about 6:15 and put on a heck of a show just out of range , then went to a small opening by the blind to strut some more ( that's why it's there ) . Hens started tree calling so I cut them off with some soft yelps and built up to some cutting . The Gobblers got fired up and headed for the first hen on the ground .... me . 6 Toms came my way single file . Of course the last one in line was huge and the boss of the bunch . Would like to have waited for him but the path they were on came to within 10 yards of me and I didn't think I could fool all those eyes long enough to get him . The first bird in line puffed up into strut at 20 yards when I clucked and I saw he was mature with a decent beard , so I laid him out . In my defense also , I was having trouble seeing out of my shooting eye ( which isn't too good to start with from diabetic retinopathy ) because last Thursday I had to go to stat-care to get a chunk of rust the size of Rhode Island dug out of it . It is still a blurry mess . I hate working on older vehickles ! This Tom weighed 21lb. 3 oz. , has a 9 1/2 in. beard , and 3/4 in. spurs . I'm so pleased I think I'll treat myself to a big, late breakfast .
