Muckboy Trophy Page

Field Reporter Paul from Linden took this nice gobbler near Albion.
We got there late Wed. afternoon but got out for an evening hunt about 6 pm. I had one nice gobbler come in about 35 - 40 yds out and tried to make an around the corner shot (outta one of his deer blinds) and missed. My right shoulder still hates me for attempting that shot.
Noticed the birds liked to travel the edge of a swale about 70 yds from where I was sitting in the deer blind so I carried my Lucky's Tent Blind in and set it up near the edge of the swale before dark and listened for fly-ups but didn't hear any.
The next morning, Thursday, we were set up before light and had a bird gobbling on the roost on a ridge to my left about 200 yds. Gave him a few soft yelps and continued with some clucks and purrs, within a half hour or so I could see him heading down the ridge toward the edge of the swale where I was 70 yds, 60 yds, 40 yds, 35 yds but behind some thick brush but headed toward my blind. Then for no apparent reason he angled off into the swale. (heard him gobbling in that direction a little later, he musta heard or spotted a live hen). Well, about this time I thought my turkey hunting luck was goin' to hold and it would be another hunt of close encounters and misses.
The rest of the morning was uneventful there was a few periods of sporadic gobbling but they where henned up and not moving. Went in about 9:30 for breakfast and a nap. Headed back out about 3:00 pm nothing happening had not heard anything or saw any birds all afternoon. Then about 6 pm I see a Jake sneekin' through the swale about 25 yds in front of me, then another Jake, then Jake no. 3, I was thinkin' well no Jakes yet I still got a lot of season left when between me and Jake #3 walks Mr. Long beard, shotgun up as he moved past some thick brush and as he entered the next window in my blind I let him have it at about 10 yds.

The bird weighed in at a little under 19 lbs and had a 10.25" beard with a pair of 3/4" spurs.