I didn’t quite know where to post this since it covers a number of topics, so the general forum is where it ended up…
WHAT A DAY!! 
I got up yesterday early and headed to my favorite turkey woods. Usually the turkeys roost in the same general area day after day on the land I hunt, which normally leads me to sneak out in the dark, setup early, and wait. I thought I’d switch it up a little this morning… I decided that instead of trying to sneak around in the inky darkness, I’d instead wait until I started hearing gobbles and go from there. I got there a few minutes early, so I sat at the truck until they started blasting off. Same spot as always, so I started the trek and setup with my back to my “normal” turkey killing tree. Sad point, I noticed this large oak was really shedding bark bad, and was either totally dead or on its way out. Somewhat sad to see, since I’ve had some great encounters over the years with my back to that oak…
I sat down, got my calls out and listened. I counted a number of toms spouting off, but when they got down, they all seemed to go the opposite direction. Fine with me, I wanted to get up on the ridge anyway and find what kind of trouble I could stir up. I got to the top and had a couple toms going for a bit, but they pitched over the ridge headed for the fields on the other side. I know they tend to prefer hitting those fields in the early morning, but I also know that they generally head back up and hit a few strut zones right around the roost area later in the day.
I sat down and called a little, but nothing answered close. I made a mental note that they really weren’t interested in my mouth call yelps, but they did like the slate putts, purrs and softer yelps… Hmmm… Is this the start of a pattern for the day???
By this time, I had been out there for about 2 hours… I made a new plan to “troll” the ridge top. I wanted to try to get one fired up and come back to those ridge-top strut zones. I figured they would come eventually, it was just a matter of time and patience. I had all day, if it took that. I would stop and call every few minutes as I trolled throught the mature hardood ridgetop, up next to a patch of tall pines. I could hear multiple toms down in the valley more than willing to answer, but reluctant to ditch whatever hens they were with.
Suddenly, I heard a hen (funny when the real hens sound so bad, you think they are other hunters) headed my way… I got behind a tree (I was still standing) and just watched. I thought I was busted as she very vocally putted her way up to the crest of the ridge (heading to her nest, or just being harrassed by the toms??), but I don’t think she knew I was there. I could hear at least 2 toms behind her and headed my way. I really didn’t want that hen around me screwing things up, after she crested the ridge and started heading down the other side, I purposefully moved and spooked her off… I called loudly while she flew away to cover her escape noises, and then assumed her identity by putting with my mouth call loudly and often, just as she had done. Unfortunately, I was in a bad position, as I couldn’t see down the ridge, only about 15 yards ahead of me.
Sure enough, the first tom sticks his head up 15 yards away, but I couldn’t see a beard. I could have killed him, but didn’t want to take the chance at shooting a jake. I don’t know what he saw, but he busted me right away and took off. Being a little irritated, I thought I could maybe stand and possibly get a shot at one of the other ones before they flew… No dice. As always, patience is key in turkey hunting. Lack of patience generally gets you busted and frustrated…. If I had just waited, the other two toms might have crested the ridge enough for me to see a beard and take a shot…
So I continuted my troll, bummed that I didn’t convert. I hit the backside of the pines, and had two toms all fired up, but they never came my way.. Saw 3 deer, and heard another few toms back up the ridge. After a while I continuted my troll. After I setup on two toms that were gobbling a ways away, I glanced to my right and saw a curved branch sticking up… I thought that it looked like an antler…. And then realize it WAS an antler. A BIG antler… I called for a few more minutes before curiosity got the better of me and I went to investigate. I was thinking I had found a shed — I never expected to find a whole (mostly eaten/rotted) deer carcass with antlers attached. And it was a BIG deer, I haven’t seen too many bigger ones in the wild… I took the (stinky) head and carried it with me the rest of the morning. Must have been a good luck charm. I trolled back up the ridge and got one two more birds going. Shortly after sitting down (having put both lessons learned into practice — 1)sit where you get a better vantange/view of the ridge slope and 2) Adapt to conditions, call wise….), I knew one was coming. The toms had been fired up over the aggressive puts and clucks all morning. It wasn’t long before a lone tom came in cautiously, slowly, but within a reasonable (long, but makeable) 45 yard shot. After sitting behind a log for the longest time, he turned around, I got a clear shot and took it…
To make a long story longer, it was just an amazing morning.. Perfect weather, 35 degree low, 65 degree, high, little breeze, not a cloud around… I found what I estimate to be a 160+ gross buck and shot a near 23lb tom. All by 9:30 in the morning…
Just an awesome, awesome day.
BTW, the landowner is a friend of mine and it was really neat to see the look on his face when I gave him the rack… It was kind of like I had just given a 16 year old the keys to a new Ferrari… 
He had some bad luck last year and hit – but never recovered – a really nice deer while bowhunting. If this is the one (good chance, he thinks its the same one), then it brings his story full circle. Being able to give him that rack was the icing on the cake. I’m incredibly thankful for being able to turkey hunt out there and this was just one way to say “thanks”.
I’ll try to get another look and get a tape on it to try to find a gross score when able… 
Mike
Good deeds like that will keep you hunting on a farm for a long time.
One for you and one for him. Congrats and you just made somebody’s year. Thanks for doing the right thing 
A kill/limit/find/whatever is never the most important thing. Enjoyment of the hunt and enjoyment of the time given to us is sooo much more than bag limit-defined success. The only thing I regret about that hunt is not having someone to share the experience with, as I was hunting solo that day.