Day two in Maine was a special one! My buddy Mark was able to get off early today so I didn’t hunt hard this morning in hopes I could kill one with him in the afternoon. We met up at 2 and hit the road looking for one that wanted to play. Mind you it was 95 degrees out today in Maine on the first day of June! Well we Found a big bird strutting with some hens and jakes but unfortunately couldn’t find a way in to hunt him. About an hour later around 430 we struck one on a piece of public Mark knew there was a good bird around. He was far off and had to make a big move and he would only respond every few minutes. Found a logging road that was headed right to where the bird was and last. He gobbled and it sounded a easy 200 yards away.
Well things got a little crazy when we were coming up the hill and I could hear loud scratching only 20 yards above or closer. We dropped to our knees in the road and I started soft calling with no response. I could hear drumming and that confirmed he was right over the rise. After about 5 minutes he wouldn’t show himself so I slowly stood up gun ready and creeped over the hill there he was 15 yards strutting he saw me and started running got the bead on him and gave a few soft yelps enough to get him to hesitate at 35 yards and that’s all she wrote tagged out in Maine!
With a great buddy of mine there to experience it all with me and in one of the most gorgeous spots I have ever shot a bird. Not to mention the first turkey I’ve ever shot in the month of June! This spring has truly been something I could have only dreamed on and one I will never forget. What a way to end my spring…. Blessed is an understatement!
Sean Kirk Russel
