I set up between 2 roosts in a draw this morning one large group then a smaller group in a different direction. Heard the fly down then a few more gobbles then it went quiet a while later a lone Jake came through then 2 more joined the first one. I passed on them at 20 yards way too many Toms around to hammer a Jake. Looked around the 2 groups disappeared just like the other day standing on a hill top not a bird to be seen so I headed back to the truck.

Birds still are not very hot and the wind did not help much either. There’s a big hill in the middle of this river break pasture so I drove the section line to the hill to look over it. To my surprise on the other side of the section line in a green field there’s about 10 birds I see one strutting looks like a mature gobbler so I back over the hill. The field they are in has a small tree planting that’s pretty thick that they came to so I waited until they got behind it and made tracks to get to the far end quickly and set up. The way the cover is set up I figured they would cross the section line at the far end of the trees to get to closet trees.

I found a scrawny bush to lean against but I had to stay on the section line side of the fence to remain legal (public) I wanted to trim a few branches but needed all the breakup I could come up with. After a short time 2 nice gobbler pop out where I thought they might about 10 yards away. After snagging my magazine cap 2X in that branch I did not want to break off the first bird flew off but I managed to drop the second bird at 40 yards.

Unusual beard for a SD more WI like than the thinner ones we often get. 9.5 beard I did not get it weighed I gave it to the local pastor since I have a few more birds to get.

Very nice.

Congratulations

Beautiful bird, love those Merriam’s! Great story and hunt. 10yds is a tad close, lol. Glad you were able to pull it off.

Very nice looking bird congrats

Pretty bird. Good shootin.

Nice bird and loved the story. I was right there with ya!

Good deal.

That's a great looking bird, congratulations.

Congratulations... can't beat the beauty of those merriams.

That is a beautiful bird and thanks for sharing your success.

Heck yeah, nice!!

Dandy Tom

Beauty of a bird!

Congrats LD!

Nice gobbler!
Are you coming to Missouri this season?

We did WI this year and I have 2 more SD tags and can do a OTC tag in WY but MO is not totally out yet.

Nice looking bird Jerry.

nice very nice,

Congrats ! Was fortunate to harvest one on opening day in Michigan.

Great job, I really want to get out that way and kill a Merriams. Maybe next year!