Saturday was not a good day as I rolled a big gobbler about to leave. Hens at ten yards alerted him to my presence and were moving away rapidly. After falling over like he was done, he got up and flew by me. All I had was 6s as I had rolled him with the 4s, which I thought would kill him. I did not trust the 10 gauge 1.25 ounces past thirty yards, but I did not guess the distance correctly. He is dead somewhere in the woods. (Some days you should not get out of bed. That night on the way back from a car show I hit a deer.)
Next morning I listened to one for two hours, went to him and he came like he was ready to die, but I did not shoot at forty yards because of the day before, even though I had a modern super duper magnum. He went by, I called him back, and he was coming right to me, went in the creek bed and as I waited to pop his head as he came up, never saw him again until I saw him going the other way. Killing them in open oak woods is very hard; they seem to spot you no matter what. Not a sound Monday and went back after the horny bird today and wasted two hours. Went somewhere else and a bird was gobbling. Got in the woods as it began pouring down. All I did was call him to about 100 yards and as the rain got harder he got eventually quiet. Back after him tomorrow. I should have had three birds in four days, but they are now winning 4 to 0. I think they call games at 10 to 0 now.
The umpire (wife) wishes I would give up.
Good hunting to y'all.