I'd argue these are one of the hardest to find and kill. Lots of miles today starting before dark. Fan/ beard/ feet are in the borax. Gonna try the Meateater flattened, breaded in Panko then fried drizzle of lemon recipe tonight.
Found him and two hens post water and morning feed heading up a ridge line. They were at 8500'. We were sneaking and calling every 100 yards or so when he blew up in front of us about 150 yards. Just like during the elk rut we spilt up with nothing said. i dropped back and started to call while he pushed forward a little. I thought the Tom was ignoring the calls but I didn't see his hens bee lining for me, that and a few soft purrs out of me had him screaming and coming downhill. I thought he was gonna end round my son so I pulled the gun up and laid it facing downrange as I see him coming now 80 yards away. I start to have the thought "crap I'm gonna have to shoot this one" when the boom stick goes off and I see a Tom tumbling downhill. Kid made a hell of a shot at 47 yards with a 20 gauge/3inch turkey loads. He said a hen busted him and let a distress putt and all the heads went straight up so he figured now or never.
He ended up 9.5 inch beard, 1/2, 5/8 spurs, 18.4 lbs.
Found him and two hens post water and morning feed heading up a ridge line. They were at 8500'. We were sneaking and calling every 100 yards or so when he blew up in front of us about 150 yards. Just like during the elk rut we spilt up with nothing said. i dropped back and started to call while he pushed forward a little. I thought the Tom was ignoring the calls but I didn't see his hens bee lining for me, that and a few soft purrs out of me had him screaming and coming downhill. I thought he was gonna end round my son so I pulled the gun up and laid it facing downrange as I see him coming now 80 yards away. I start to have the thought "crap I'm gonna have to shoot this one" when the boom stick goes off and I see a Tom tumbling downhill. Kid made a hell of a shot at 47 yards with a 20 gauge/3inch turkey loads. He said a hen busted him and let a distress putt and all the heads went straight up so he figured now or never.
He ended up 9.5 inch beard, 1/2, 5/8 spurs, 18.4 lbs.
. Congrats on the bird!