Went out this morning, had to make it a quick hunt as I had a dental appointment at 1100. Got to the woods at 0800. At 0855 got a response downhill. Set up in a beautiful meadow and started calling. Nothing for about 10 minutes. Then 3 or 4 gobblers started gobbling back, probably gobbled 45 to 50 times over the next 20 minutes. I thought they were getting closer at one point, but nope. Looked at my watch and saw that it was 0930. I had to get home nd drive a half an hour to the dentist. Called one more time and BOOM really loud booming gobble, but from my right. Turned my head and thought about shifting around as I was all out of position for this bird, but he was too close. Saw the top of the fan coming in at about 20 yards, then the head. He walked over a little bank to my right and started down the hill. Full strut spittin and drumming the whole way down and walked past me at 7 yards. One of the most beautiful birds I have ever called. He started to walk past and went into strut again and his fan covered up his head so I tried to get into position to shoot and he busted me. Started running and zigging and zagging and I fricken missed him clean at 15 yards. Ugh. Probably the worst miss in my 42 years of hunting birds.
