Posted: 5/5/2014 7:47:27 PM EDT
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Today I redeemed myself from the great Turkey Tragedy of April 25. See, that morning I worked a bird for 2 hours, called him across a public road, got him to within 15 yards, and choked. That bird decided he'd hop up on a downed log, partially hidden from me by a root ball and some brush, and just stand there strutting at my decoy. I got impatient, got worried he'd see me, and pulled the trigger on a very bad shot. Missed him (but shot the hell out of the rootball!).
Today, however, I redeemed myself. I woke up this morning on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, for a meeting. Got done with the meeting around 3:30 and hit the road for home (central Virginia), figuring if I got home early enough I could evening hunt, on this first day of day-long season in VA (first 3 weeks are sun-up to noon only). Made it home at 6:51, threw on my camo, grabbed th shotgun and a decoy, and was in place at 7:14 (I can literally walk out my back door to hunt). Heard some faint gobbling way off to the north. Called loudly and sparingly, moved my setup once to close the distance, and put him down at 8:03. Legal shooting hours end at 8:06, sunset. 18 lbs, 5 oz. 10" beard, 7/8" spurs (both same length). Total hunt time was 49 minutes; my second shortest hunt ever. 
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