GLS
Classic Southern Gentleman
I don't recall a year where all the major rivers in my area have been near flood stage.
Last Wednesday, the bird was out of the tree when I went to him on the river swamp edge. He first responded at 300 yards or more to a series of yelps on mouth call. I was able to pinpoint his location and move closer through cover. Set up was just inside the swamp canopy next to the hill. Inside the canopy was an open strip of dry land about 20 yards wide towards what I thought was his location. I was between the “shoreline” and outer edge of river bottom. He didn’t respond to any calls until I pulled out my glass Lil Deuce and ran a series of high pitched clucks—he gobbled unseen from under 25 yards. I had a window of clear view to the edge of the hill which was mature pines and broom sedge. When he first popped into view, he was under 20 steps with head and neck held high. Gun is my Yildiz TK12 equipped with a Sumtoy choke and Burris Fast Fire III. My handload is 2 ¾” 1 3/8 oz. of #9 TSS. The gun has replaced my single-shot 20 ga. MP18 Baikal as my heavy artillery turkey gun not because it is a 12 gauge, but because as rigged it weighs a pound and a quarter lighter at 4.25 lbs. than the 20 ga.
Last Wednesday, the bird was out of the tree when I went to him on the river swamp edge. He first responded at 300 yards or more to a series of yelps on mouth call. I was able to pinpoint his location and move closer through cover. Set up was just inside the swamp canopy next to the hill. Inside the canopy was an open strip of dry land about 20 yards wide towards what I thought was his location. I was between the “shoreline” and outer edge of river bottom. He didn’t respond to any calls until I pulled out my glass Lil Deuce and ran a series of high pitched clucks—he gobbled unseen from under 25 yards. I had a window of clear view to the edge of the hill which was mature pines and broom sedge. When he first popped into view, he was under 20 steps with head and neck held high. Gun is my Yildiz TK12 equipped with a Sumtoy choke and Burris Fast Fire III. My handload is 2 ¾” 1 3/8 oz. of #9 TSS. The gun has replaced my single-shot 20 ga. MP18 Baikal as my heavy artillery turkey gun not because it is a 12 gauge, but because as rigged it weighs a pound and a quarter lighter at 4.25 lbs. than the 20 ga.