I tried, once again, to locate a gobbler at my favorite area. Nothing! I was blessed to play around with two buck. One buck had an impressive rack going. I could see six points and the height was about 3 inches over his ear. The other buck had four points. I took some photos, but , the low light and hand holding of the camera caused blurred photos.
I decided to try another area once again. I was walking up an old logging road when I heard a gobble across Cherry Run and way down the hollow. Of course, I went after it. Eventually, I located above the bird. I settled in afraid to go any closer due to an open woods. I called and the gobbling began again and went quiet.
I waited and called again and two gobbles exploded the woods. I waited and the next gobble was closer. I called and received an answer. I shut up and resisted the temptation to call again.
Time crept forward and I believed he was sneaking in on me. Suddenly, to my left and CLOSE I heard him gobble. One of those close gobbles that you make jump internally. I could see his head through some low multiflora roses. I couldn’t see his beard. The turkey was about 18 yards away. He was the dominant bird.
Another gobbler appeared and I could readily see his beard. I feared this bird would see me soon and give an alarm putt. The shot was 22 yards and , at least, five turkeys exploded into the air.
The turkey, I harvested was a two-year old tom with 7/8 inch spurs and a 9 7/8 inch beard. Needless to say I was happy since I had been out, at least a couple of hours, every morning since the gobbler opener.
(Ferocious Calls– Full Choke box call)
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
Excellent job, Larry! No joking around this time… you had a great hunt and a memorable season. You worked hard, passed up several jakes, passed up a longbeard that you could have bushwacked, passed on birds that hid their beards from you, and you were finally rewarded with an awesome trophy. Your integrity and your perserverance is something to behold and it makes me proud to call you my friend. Isn’t it strange that longbeards sometimes come in groups like that? I think 2 year olds do this more often than we imagine, acting more like jakes than like longbeards. It happened to me in 2006 deep into the season. I had 4 or 5 mature birds come in to a fake gobble I produced. All I heard was a deep cluck. Good job of knowing when to stop calling, too. The object is to make that turkey hunt you… a lesson I have to re-learn every season, it seems… and so does my brother in law. I’ll tell you his heartbreak story sometime. Now go out there and call one up for Bob! God is good! Dana
ALL THE TIME! Thank you.. I am honored to call you a friend too.
Great job Larry. The power of positive thinking?
I had a hunch it would come together soon for you.
Was going to ask you on another hunt this week, but…
Nice pics. Thank you
Thanks Kip…I was definately in a slump… See you soon!