He was coming in hot, gobbling his fool head off.  In his lusty rush, he didn’t even notice as I snaked the barrel of the Remington 870 out the window of the blind and took a careful aim.  At about ten yards from the blind, he stretched his neck to gobble one last time, and I covered his head with the muzzle and squeezed the trigger.

Here’s where things get a little odd… at least to me. 

The gun went off, just as it always does.  The blast caused me to blink, as it always does.  And when my vision cleared, as it always does, the bird should have been laying there flopping its last… as they always do.

Except, as you may have gathered by now things didn’t go the way they always do.  In fact, from the time I pulled the trigger, nothing went exactly as it always does. 

(more…)

You call.

He responds.

You call again.

His calls are getting closer.

Your heart beats faster, spurred by the primal urgency in his responses.

And then he appears… regal and proud, he marches into sight.

Now’s your chance.  You raise the gun slowly, covering the bright red head with the muzzle… and in a flash and bang, your prize is on the ground, a few stray feathers drifting down like snow on the morning breeze.

Well, I hope that’s how things play out for me this weekend, as I’m off to Deedy’s Bryson Hesperia Resort, for what will probably be my only turkey hunt of the year.

Well, it’s another weekend in the woods for me, as I’m back down to the beautiful Bryson Resort to try to make another turkey hunter happy… and maybe find some hogs too! 

It promises to be a busy weekend, with six hog hunters and one turkey hunter on the resort.  The critters are here, and we’ll have three Bryson guides, plus the likely assistance of Tom Willoughby (well-known, long-time, Central Coast hog guide) to make it happen, and I hope to be bringing some tales of success, along with photos and maybe even some video if I have time.

Deedy has put wireless internet in down at the Resort, one more luxurious amenity in these beautifully appointed cabins.  This is NOT roughing it, I can tell you!  So anyway, if things go well, I will update you, good readers, as things turn out.  The hunts officially start tomorrow afternoon, and will run through the weekend. 

Until then, it’s time to do some scouting and see what’s out there!