I bet it "somewhat startled you"...hehe Change your britches? Glad you got out Ric.
I had a pretty good hunt this morning. I arrived at the farm a little later than I like, but it was early enough. I climbed the first hill where I intended to wait for gobbles. As soon as I sat down, the bird I was hoping to hear let loose about 150 yards to the north of me. Just as I'd hoped! Saturday, this bird moved down the hill he was roosted on so I knew I needed to slip around him. I did that pretty quick, and slid into the timber on the opposite side. As soon as I sat down, I noticed three of his hens roosted about 60 yards from me, but they didn't seem to mind me being there... The boss pitched down and landed about 30 yards to my left. She proceeded to run through every call a turkey hunter would ever practice. It was impressive. She eased on into a cut cornfield, the other hens went up the ridge to meet the gobbler. He strutted and gobbled for a time on the opposite ridge, and then circled into the ravine that separated us. He continued on to the cornfield (which was behind me), so I repositioned about 50 yards so that he would not be able to see me (or I him) until he was within gun range. He gobbled, the hens ran off at the mouth, pheasants cackled, deer walked by (4)....just an awesome morning! The old boss hen and I had quite a conversation with the gobbler interrupting everything we had to say until 845 when the hen finally crested the hill, gobbler in tow. I let her pass, watched him gobble a couple more times, and put him to sleep. It was a very exciting morning in my little part of the turkey woods. Days like today make me happy turkey season doesn't last all year - I never would get any sleep!
He is a two year old, I think. 22lbs, 3/4" spurs or so, and 101/2" beard. Nice young bird, as old as he'll ever be.