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Now he’s meeting over across from me with the others .Turkey are not so much smart but have eagle eyes. They also hear very well. If you spook them in any way, they take flight then the hunt will abruptly come to an end. I’m sure they will start feeding back my way soon. I know their pattern. So slowly I rise up from my knees and stand beside the hay. I load my gun. I’m very careful because three toms means six eyes watching for any little movement. But carefully I brace my self and wait. I still remember the smell of the hay. I notice that the grass is really starting to grow again, after a long dormant winter, the calm morning breeze blowing all the smells of spring in the air. |
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All at once here they are coming my way, gobbling, strutting .The strutting is like a mating game the toms play with the hens (females) .It’s kind of like they go back and forth all puffed up. Tail feathers look like a fan, and they are saying look at me, look at me .I am so pretty how can you gals resist. Their backs look shinny .Their heads have a little bit of white, and blue but mostly glowing red, fire engine red. The feathers have colors of brown and black but sheens of greens, pinks, a there is a very brassy sheen to each individual feather. And when they gobble it makes you insides shake. It’s louder than what you would think, more like thun der. They may gobble one at a time or all at once. These are gobbling all at once. Everything is going just as expected. Now I can hear my heart racing, and I’m wondering if they can hear it as I do, it sounds so loud. But then I know that’s just excitement. I’m holding still they are about forty yards away now. I make sure my gun is ready as it is imperative that I get a precise shot, and pick out which one to harvest. I look at all three. I determine, who is the most mature, which one is closest range, which one do I have the best chance. So I pick him. First I take a deep breathe, aim, cock the gun, fire. He goes down quick. The other two take flight and are gone in less than a second. I go over admire how beautiful he is. But also thinking I’m thinking how good he will taste for dinner this week. I pick him up throw him over my shoulder. Feeling so accomplished and proud I start that walk back to the house but I walk slow going back. I just want to soak up this moment and make it last forever. It’s one of the best walks I have ever taken. And one I will never forget. I just took my time, grinning from ear to ear.
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To the left is a picture of spring 2009 hunt. After The Walk Home. |
