My season is over

[rosscrazyelk]

Well due to family obligations and work This past friiday and this morning was my last shot at a turkey. Here is how friday went. I got into one of my favorite spots now that the snow melted and Before I could do anything they were talking. Oh man what a day, They were going at it all day and I did not really have to do anything. I closed in on a tom but could not get him to come in. Since they were talking so well I decided to get above them since that is the way they were moving. Plan worked perfect. They were just gobblin away so it was no problem keeping an ear to their location. As i was waiting for them to come they finally peaked their cranberry heads over the ridge but still out of range. My heart is pumping so hard I could not even hear them gobble once but knew they were cause I could see it. Anyway as luck would have it even thou they came 600 yards up the ridge and right at me they decided to turn left and side hill. I tried a little purr but no luck.
I wait til they are out of sight and make my move. I get above them one more time and crawl down to their location. I watch them mill around for about 20 minutes and then up pops a Tom 20 yards away. I raise my gun pull the trigger and watch his head do the watusie and then start rolling down the hill. I get up and he decides he is gonna fly. Bam I shoot him again this time out of the air. He comes crashing down and flops some more and then he is still. I let out a yell and then compose myself to get him. As I am walking down to retrieve this bird I have to circle around this tree. At this exact moment the bird gets up and flies away. I cant believe it, I just shot this sucker twice and he flies away. I just watched where he went and tried to find him. No luck. I went back this morning and found some birds but could not close the deal. I went over to give another search for this bird and to my dismay nothing.
I guess that this happens from time to time but I have never had it happen to me.
I guess I will count this bird as my filled tag and take pleasure in the awesome day I had but also be saddened by the loss of the game.

[Machias]

Sorry to hear that, once when I was 16 I rolled a bird three times before he launched himself off the side of a hill, glided down and crashed at the bottom, laid there a second and got up.  Never found him, seriously bummed!

[Intruder]

That sucks.....

[WAcoyotehunter]

Sorry to hear about the lost bird...sometimes they can really take some lead!

I had a good tom at ~100 yards this weekend and had some morons come riding through on their four wheelers hen calling...duh.  Of course they spooked my bird into the next county.  I let them know that the closed gates and multiple kelly humps PROBABLY MET THE AREA WAS CLOSED.  I'm so sick of that! 

[ICEMAN]

Take a photo and turn him in to authorities!