My season lasted about 30 minutes this year. I had a 4th season IL turkey permit, and took a week of vacation to chase the long beards. I couldn't get a gobbler to answer the night before while out roosting. I decided to try a ridge where I had heard beards earlier in the year, and at daylight, the birds started gobbling. I watched as they flew the opposite direction I was facing. A few soft purrs with my Stormn Norman Custom Call and I had birds running towards me! I readied for a shot and took the first gobbler in range. He was 20 pounds 6 ounces, 10 1/8th inch beard and 1 inch spurs. I've been turkey hunting since 2003 and this was only my 4th gobbler. I've taken a few hens during the fall season in the past, but the properties I hunt now are pretty much void of any turkeys.
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This one is from 2009 and by far my most memorable hunt. I took my dad along and he watched me call in and take this gobbler at 15 yards. Dad had never been on a turkey hunt, or even seen one strut while in the field. We made plans to get him a permit and go the following year. Dad died a year to the day of that hunt with pancreatic cancer. I really wish he would have been in this photo with me.
This one was from 2008, my first turkey that I called in by myself. My oldest son was with me that morning, Great morning indeed!
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