What was I thinking?

[swoop]

I have been watching a long beard all week. I had him pegged pretty good. He gobbles in the evenings so I know exactly where to start. I also know where he goes after he flies down. I really didn't want to shoot him but save him for tomorrow so my son could have a crack at him. I set up on him this morning and he sounded off early, he was the only mature bird in the area.. As it was getting lighter I heard that dreaded sound, another hunter calling to him. Then I heard a hen with the Tom. When he flew down he started to go away from me and the other hunter but soon came back to the hen that was still roosted. She was carrying on something fierce. Then I could see him strutting and gobbling underneath of her. Suddenly she flies out of the tree, over a field and creek and lands over near the other hunter. The gobbler gets this panicked look and starts trotting that way. I call to him and he stops at 45 yards, which is no problem at all for my gun...but I didn't squeeze the trigger. He then goes over the hill, flies over a swamp, runs through the field, flies the creek and goes up the other hill and starts gobbling his head off near the other hunter. It didn't take long for the bird to be silenced. :shout) I tried to do a good deed for my son and it bit me in the :censor)
The only birds left on the property I hunt seem to be jakes, hopefully something mature moves in soon.

[jirvin]

That sucks but what ya gonna do.You were trying to do the right thing.

I was set-up Sunday morning on top of a hardwood ridge with a hen roosted down over the edge and she was vocal for at least 15 mnutes,but no Tom showed up or answered her.I thought that was odd.