Day one in Oklahoma

[PRDATR]

Got my first Rio. Well there isn't a lot of public land where I was (Waurika) so at 4PM we stopped at a spot my friend Tanner knew of. The wind had been blowing steady 15 - 25 MPH when I left Amarillo for the four hour drive to Duncan. After I checked in I went to Wally World and got my license and tags. Met up With Tanner whom I had only casually met on FB last year when a local guy passed in a fatality in an ATV accident and left a wife and 5 kids and he wasn't even close to 30. Very sad.

The local folks did what they could to raise money and one of those things was a turkey hunt. I contacted them to see what species and then explained that although I couldn't come then if they were good with it I would match the high bidder and send her the money now if they would let me come out in 2018.

They must have thought I was crazy but it was agreed upon so Wednesday morning I headed to OK and spent the night in Amarillo. I got up early this morning, loaded up and headed out to Duncan four hours away.

God must love simple minded people because armed with six hours sleep and a full cup of decaff I was off. It was great, very few cars on the road and my F150 rental hummed along well past the limit of 75. I love exploring America and this drive was not disapointment.

I hit Duncan and checked into Hampton Inn then went to Walmart and blew $162 on a license and two tags. Tanner met me there and we rondevoued back at the motel so I could drop off my truck. We stopped for lunch at a local burrito shop then headed south. We spent a few hours looking in some local spots before ending up at a public access spot. We hiked into a 40 acre wheat field, saw some hog tracks but no turkey tracks. We had about 100 yards behind us and while Tanner made a few calls on the way into the woods we decided to head back. I was just enjoying being in new country and seeing so many cattle ranches. So Tanner let out a few soft calls and a Tom responded from about 150 feet. OH Crap!. We hustled to get into position and before I could bet my face mask and gloves on he let out a few soft calls and chirps. Maybe a minutes later here I see this dark, almost black bird pop up from the creek bottom about 40 yards away. Even though Tanner was a few feet away he couldn't see him when I said here he comes. He started coming and went about 5 yards, then stopped and strutted. Tanner called and the tom stretched his neck and bobbed his head back and forth. Then he just started coming to us, I mean ME!

I slowly raised my gun and looked down the barrel and realized it was kinda sideways and wasn't even against my shoulder. Clam down Chris I said to my seld and repositioned it. There was a downed sapling about 20 yards in front of me which was partially blocking a decent shot, and he was still coming. I stated thinking to myself, is this really happening? The Tom went a few more yards and I managed to right the gun and let one off and he piled up. So 4PM, 80+ degrees on public land, just doesn't get much better than that. And I have two more tags to fill. LOL

And there are hogs so let's see if I can get one tomorrow with a Winchester 95 in 375 Winchester with open sights. Temps are supposed to drop 20 degrees tonight as a front moves in and will bring some rain about 4AM. We will hit the woods about 5, even though sunrise isn't until 7. Loving it.

[Coach]

Nice! My old stomping grounds. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing.

[Guest oneshot]

Congrats on the Bird... Now get yourself to the Arkansas river and look for arrowheads and fossilised bone, Bison Bison...

(A good arrowhead could pay for your trip and a few more trips)...

[Yoshi]

Congratulations PRDATR!!!

[PRDATR]

Got another one this morning at 7AM