Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009 - 16

Quickly tagging and field-dressing the bird, Andrew hid his gobbler and gun next to a log, and they climbed toward the steadily gobbling tom. Meanwhile, back on my ridge, the bird I was working hung up at about 90 yards and simply wouldn’t close the gap. Instead, it just walked back and forth, gobbling the whole time. This went on for more than 20 minutes. The mosquitoes discovered some bare skin just in back of my camo gloves and also found the only opening in my headnet — my eyes. I actually blew the pesky critters out of my eyes several times, not daring to move my hands. After gobbling more than 100 times he moved slowly away from me, dropping over the back of the ridge. Now what, I thought. Waiting just long enough to be sure he wouldn’t see me move, I put on my orange hat and hurried to where he’d been parading back and forth. I quickly found a tree to sit against, yelped softly with my call and he hammered back with a double gobble. Less than 20 seconds later he came trotting up the slope, his beard swinging from side to side, his head bright red. At about 25 yards he slowed to a walk. I had to move my gun slightly, and when I did, his head immediately went up another six inches. The 12-gauge number 5s did the job, and the 2-yearold tom with a 10-inch beard never moved from the spot. Walking to the bird I checked my watch, 6:30. While tying the tag to a leg I ad- mired the bird’s tail fan. The well-known emotions flowed freely. The excitement of the hunt but also that sadness from taking the life of such a beautiful bird, and a deep thankful feeling for the health and ability to enjoy the woods on another day, overwhelmed me. Now, back to the mountain. David and Andrew got within 150 yards of where their second tom was gobbling. David pulled out his call, putted and yelped several times and got an answer right away. He moved another 20 yards to set up next to a large tree. The bird was coming and David called sparingly, just enough to keep him interested. He first spotted the gobbler at perhaps 60 yards, but at that point the bird was circling. David popped in a mouth call and putted a few times, trying to turn the bird, but it continued to circle. The bird appeared again at about 45 yards and, when he stepped behind a large tree, David swung his gun to where he expected the bird to emerge. David carries a 3½-inch chambered Benelli with a scope, and when the bird popped out, he touched the trigger. The 3year-old with a 9-inch plus beard flopped several times and then lay still. The time was 6:35. Another celebration was in order. We all met at our store about 7:30 and couldn’t believe what we’d accomplished. Three mature birds weighing within ounces of 20 pounds each and with beards averaging 10 inches. Three generations — father, son and grandson — had bagged gobblers, and all within a half-hour. What are the odds? During the spring gobbler season a fluorescent orange hat while moving is no longer required, but displaying a fluorescent orange band while set up at a calling location is recommended. The PGC sells a fluorescent orange alert band for $4.95 plus six percent sales tax. Check out “The Outdoor Shop” on the agency’s web site at www.pgc.state.pa.us. 16 GAME NEWS

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Pennsylvania Game News - May 2009

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