I seem to start my seasons off with the same banter about work being in the way for the opener and several days after which is no different this year. I finally got out for my first hunt at a property that I have hunted for 15 years or so.
I tried something new this season and went with a number of hen decoys (5) and put my Pretty Boy about 30 yards away.
The morning started very slow and I was a little concerned as I didnt hear the morning gobbles that I am use to hearing. I called on and off using my slates and box calls for about and hour and thought I heard a gobble way off. I waited about 15 minutes and then made a couple soft purrs and sure enough I get a response about 30 yards behind me. I was using my pop up because of the wet weather. As I glanced out of the side mesh I watched a beautiful Tom in full strut spitting and carrying on pass my blind about 10 feet away.
What happended next was something I wont forget anytime soon. The big Tom strutted over to my P/Boy and started to give it the beat down of a life. He was spurring it, junping on it. I watched for a while and then when he finally lifted his head I dropped the hammer (I took my 3 1/2 out instead of the 405)
The Tom dropped right in its tracks and the following pictures are of the undisturbed scene;
The Tom is the biggest one I have taken yet;
The photo of the spurs didnt turn out - They were an 1 1/8 th.
Now I will be trying to draw first blood for the 405.
Cheers~!
And we stayed in the bush until 11:00 . 
