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Slipped into the blind where I had been watching a couple long beards this week and settled in well before daylight. Birds started gobbling on the next ridge over about 6:30am this morning but we could barely hear 'em with all the wind. I knew there were a couple close by but we just couldn't hear them or they were silent. We tried to be patient but I had about all I could stand with the two year olds across the way and decided to make a move. On the way out the ridge I heard a bird gobble one time real low and I knew right where they were (I thought), coming through a low gap. I made a couple calls but received nothing in return. With the wind, I was starting to get a little unsure of myself about where they were. We eased out an old logging road where I wanted to setup and try to intercept them. I knew where they were going and I wanted to get there first. We are easing along the old logging road when for a split second I thought I heard one drumming to my right. We stopped and waited but nothing, must of been the wind. We took one more step and you guessed it, whooof, whoof, whooof there he goes! Dang! He was closer than I thought. How did we not see him or him not see us I have yet to figure out. Mason and I stood there pretty bummed when all of the sudden another one gobbled in the same spot right beside us (I still couldn't see him) and he flew also. Man, what a screw up on my part, I felt horrible. These turkeys just appeared like magic! We spent the next several hours listening to distance gobbles (watching 6 dogs) and some deer. As we are easing back to the truck making a few setups and calls along the way we head back to where the blind was setup along a big clover/green field. Low and behold I spy a big ole gobbler easing down the edge of the field headed to us all silent but must of been coming to some previous calls as he is on a string. We hit the dirt and crawled to the nearest tree and get ready. Within minutes he is standing right in front of us and Mason laid the hammer down!

This is Mason's last youth turkey season as he turns 16 soon. I was glad he connected on the farewell tour. He took his bird this morning at 11am. Weighed 20lbs, with a 9 3/4" beard and sharp 1" spurs. He said by the time we got him back to the truck (afater a long walk) that he thought that ole bird weighed closer to 50lbs instead of 20lbs, lol.

As you can tell, I am very proud of him!