Congratulations Wayne.
14 years after my goal to get the 8 gauge legalized in Arizona I finally completed my goal. One was to get Arizona to allow the 8 gauge and the other to take a turkey with one of my 8 gauges.
It took 12 years after I got the word that my petition was approved, to draw a Arizona turkey tag.
It took this long as I wanted to shoot a Goulds turkey with the 8. This year I felt if I was going to shoot a turkey in AZ I had better settle on a Merriam's.
I drew a tag and thanks to my brother George who is an incredible caller I took a Jake this morning.
It was not a Long beard but se were only able to carve out a couple of days to hunt.
Yesterday we had some fun playing with a couple of Gobblers but could not close the deal.
This morning a hoot owl call in the dark was answered by Gobble about a half a mile away.
We took off as fast as I could while carrying the W C Scott 8 gauge loaded with 2 oz of 7 1/2 shot.
We set up about 150 yards from where the birds were roosting. By this time the sky was starting to lighten up.
George did a fly down cackle and he heard the birds fly down.
We had 3 Gobblers going off but one Gobbler was with a number of hens from what we could tell, and he was reluctant to leave his hens and clearly the hens did not want any competition.
10 minutes passed then loan hen started up towards us. She walked within 15 yards of us but she could not locate the hen she felt was there.
We waited about another 10 minutes having let the hen pass and George started making some light putts, purrs and a few yelps. This set off 3 Gobblers. Another 15 minutes later I heard a putt. Looking slightly behind me and to my right I watched as two Red heads appeared.
Slowly and cautiously the birds came through the trees looking for that seductive hen they were sure was there.
It was just too nice of a morning, having George calling and the birds talking, to let a perfect morning be interrupted simply because the birds did not support long beards.
At 20 yards I touched of the right barrel and for a moment I could not tell if the bird was down due to all of the smoke from the black powder load.
The dew was heavy because of the rain the night before. It seemed to hold the blanket of smoke forever.
In reality it was just a matter of seconds before the Gobbler bounced out of the smoke going head over heels.
The 8 gauge had done its job, another great memory was made and I finally completed a goal I had started on years ago.

Note: I believe Wayne was the first person the take a turkey legally in AZ in the past 100 years, I believe I am #2.
I may have been first to shoot quail, coyote, and Eurasian dove in AZ. With an 8.
Lots of other game to be taken legally in AZ with the 8 gauge as all big game can be taken with the exception of a Bison.
Here are a few pictures of George and the 8 gauge.
Wayne you may remember George from years ago.

Pictures along with the sunset last night near Prescott Valley AZ

Sunset last night near Prescott Valley AZ

Congratulations on your accomplishment with the 8 gauge Phil, thanks for sharing!

Sweet!

Great going, Phil! I am glad you finally got drawn for turkey in Arizona. I thought you mentioned months ago about getting drawn for Goulds turkey in the Chiricahuas for this hunt? I guess I misunderstood. Anyway, it's a great story and I'm glad you got some exercise hunting with the 8 gauge. I will always appreciate you spending the time and effort meeting with the Game and Fish Department to get the 8 gauge approved for hunting in Arizona. I do remember your brother George. He is a great guy and quite the outdoorsman.

Yes I had tag #1 so I assumed I had drawn for Goulds. I had put down unit 19A as a 2nd choice as I wanted to hunt and was tired of waiting. Unfortunately I guess I got tag number 1 for my second choice.
Unfortunately a few months after I drew to tag I realized I drew 19A. Not the Goulds tag.
A great unit with I believe only 8 tags for this hunt and 30 minutes from Georges.
Hope to see you on the North Rim for Grouse this year.