Sunrise Turkey

[charlie elk]

Had a sudden change of plans last night a good buddy called who had heard a gobbler while fishing on the Mississippi yesterday afternoon. He quit turkey hunting a few years ago. However he knew I would be interested even though there was a huge bluff to climb. Since there has not been vocal turkeys anywhere I could detect; so at 5:00 am I found myself at the base of a 500 ft+ bluff thinking just maybe my friend was playing with me. There was no turkey talk going on, a beautiful but silent morning and I'm in an area my boots had never before trod. Up the old logging path, hooting and cawing. At the top the woods was open, 5:45 not so much as a cluck.
Setup on the most comfortable tree of the season the sun just a red ball peeking over the horizon at my back. Fighting off a bout of tree trunk narcolepsy I made my first calls quiet yelps, rising to cackles and into fighting purrs. Nothing. Let out a series of lost yelps and kee-kees. Quiet.
About 6:10 red pinkish sunrise light is filtering and dancing in all around throughout the woods, gorgeous and I know not from where he came, the most outrageously beautiful strutting turkey I have ever seen; bathed in the glow of sunrise. His feathers caught and shimmered those colored rays of light back at me as he pirouetted on his toes in a manner that would make any ballerina jealous. I gazed intently over the harsh barrel, usually a natural thing at times like this, but it seemed so out of place this morning.....

[WillowRidgeCalls]

Awesome!! At least you found one that still wanted to play.

[dewey]

Sounds like you had an absolutely perfect morning!!! I think after a while you start to realize it is not always about the kill but the journey to get to that point. Congratulations on the season Charlie!

Dewey