Success in Illinois

[BillCartwright]

I drew an IL tag last month and didn't know if I was going to get to hunt but maybe 1 or 2 mornings next week. The tag is good for a week. Well, with the storms rolling in like they are I decided to leave work for a few hours this morning and hunt until the noon cutoff. At 11:47 I put this big boy on the ground. Biggest weight bird I've ever taken.

24.95lbs. 12 1/4" beard and 1 1/4" spurs. I was pumped. Called in 4 long beards and a jake. I have attached a couple pics. The bird closest in the first picture link is the one I shot. After the shot, 2 - 8-9" bearded birds almost run right over me. I started hunting around 10:30 and back to work by 1. Now if I can just get my 2nd Ky bird.

I love working right here in Southern Indiana. IL is 8 miles west, can hunt Indiana within 10 minutes of work and then living in West Ky.

www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/3gobblers.jpg

www.westernkentuckyoutdoors.com/05ILbird.jpg

[WVHunter129]

Nice looking bird Bill! Congrats.

Tomorrow our season opens and of course this morning (Sunday) I woke up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground, on my blooming lilac bushes, on my blooming apple and peach trees. The curent temperature here at 10:42 this morning is 33 degrees. After having a week of upper 60's to mid 70's and sunshine, this kind of weather has me all down hearted. Have to switch to my other hunting clothes that I had put away until the late fall, early winter.

I hope this doesn't have a bad effect on our opener here in WV tomorrow.

Again, nice looking bird!