Published: May 02, 2008 12:07 am            

Last minute gobbler

Distant thunder boomed to the west as an approaching cold front sounded its impending fury. All but the most dedicated turkey hunters had been repelled by the severe weather threat and flood watches that had been predicted for central Mississippi on the last Saturday of the spring turkey season.

Barney Partridge is not your ordinary turkey hunter, however. Partridge was not discouraged by the impending storm that was to come his way. Partridge decided to make the best of the final days of the season come rain or shine. His son, River, was worn out from a season of chasing turkeys all over the state, so the old man had the woods to himself on that day, if the rain would just hold off.

Partridge arrived at his chosen hunting spot near Meridian before dawn and parked his truck within walking distance of the turkeys’ favorite roosting spot. After securing his gear Partridge eased the door of the truck shut to begin his trek towards the battle grounds.

This time he didn’t get far, however, as a gobbler belted out a pre-dawn gobble and stopped him dead in his tracks. Could it be that the gobbler was roosting near an old grove of trees next to the old church building? The lonely suitor followed up with yet another lusty gobble and Partridge new the game was on!



Getting close



Slipping quickly, yet silently, along under the cover of darkness, the incredulous hunter made his way to a set up position within sight of the gobbler’s roosting spot. As the sky began to brighten Partridge sent out a few seductive pleadings to let the gobbler know he wasn’t alone. In responding, the old boss almost came unglued at the prospect of a "new hen" on the block.

By the sounds of things the old bird was hot and ready and shouldn’t need a lot of enticement. But nothing is easy in the spring turkey woods and Partridge knew that things could go wrong in a hurry.

By now the gobbler was really "torn up" as the old time turkey hunters say, and Partridge was enjoying the show.

Suddenly the gobbler flew out of one of the trees and flew towards Partridge before landing and stopping just out of shotgun range. Almost as soon as his feet hit the ground the coal black monarch went into a full strut and began displaying his best mating dance.

The gobbler was really getting revved up as he strutted, gobbled and drummed in anticipation of the arrival of his newest girlfriend. This scene went on for a full five minutes before Partridge decided to act.



Sweet talk



Partridge fired up his Woodhaven Stinger mouth call and let him have a full dose of sultry excited come hither pleading. "I cut pretty hard to him and he dropped down and walked straight to me," related the happy victor. He quickly dispatched the bird with one shot and his hunt was done at 6:24.

The large gobbler sported a ten inch beard and a set of unusual spurs. One of the spurs was pointed straight down while the one on the other leg was in a normal position. The old bird was obviously a victor of many spring gobbler wars, but his time had finally come to an end.

For most hunters that would have been the perfect end to a long turkey season. But, with Partridge, there was just a little more to be done yet. After receiving a call from a friend that hunts in the Bogue Phalia Hills, Partridge found himself in the woods once again around mid-morning.

This time the hunt was over even quicker than the first. After spotting the gobbler that had been strutting and gobbling near an old field, the pair set up quickly and the kill was made after a quick call from the old master. Partridge ended the final Saturday on yet another successful hunt, as his friend let the hammer down on a bird of his own! Two hunts on the final day of the season ended with two kills. Can it get any better than that? I think not!

        

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