I went after a tough old tom Saturday evening. This old bird knows what a man in camo is and leaves putting the instant he steps in the open at 75 yards no matter what I try. I saw him several times during deer season and it was the same story. This year I put a pop up blind out before the season so they would be accustomed to it. Yesterday evening I slid in it about 4 PM. I had a hen decoy and one of those jake fan things (first time I have tried it) about 10 yards away. I called mildly about every ten minutes. Around 4:30 a hen came in and walked past at 15 yards. About 5 PM the old tom topped the ridge and spied the decoys. He had two hens with him and from that point on I clucked softly and purred. This seemed to interest him and for a while there I thought he was going to come on in. They ended up circling me at 60 yards and flew across the river. Well shoot! About 20 minutes later I went out and pulled the decoys, should have known better from my experience with this guy last year. I got back in the blind and called about every ten minutes till 7:45 PM. It was getting late so I started to get my stuff together to leave. That's when I heard them walking above me on the ridge. Then the woosh woosh woosh of 3 turkeys flying up to roost. I slowly unzipped the door and stuck my head out a bit to see the gobbler up in a tree about 20 yards from me. The hens were also nearby. He drummed on the limb, gobbled 3 times and traded tree limbs till he settled in about 50 yards away. So there I was stuck in the blind till complete darkness came and I could sneak out.......

This guy is gonna be tough.

Then Monday evening after coming home from the great hunt where I duobled with Donnie that morning:

Went back after the "tough old bird" this evening. Thought I had him at last. Got a bird to gobble and he came in strutting after 7 PM with two hens. Shot him at 30 yards (from the blind) just after he gobbled his last time. Ran to him and stood on his head to find it wasn't the old bird.

This guy weighed 19 lbs. had a 10" beard and 7/8" spurs.

I'll take 'em! Won't see any frowns here.