The Gobbler That Circled Me Twice—And Why I Let Him Walk

The Gobbler That Circled Me Twice—And Why I Let Him Walk

We hunt for the moments. The calls, the stillness, the rush of wings through oak leaves. But every so often, you get a moment that pulls against instinct. A gobbler that tests your patience, your position, your ethics. This past April, deep in the rolling oakwoods of the Hill Country, I had one of those moments. A longbeard. Full fan. Twice within range. And I let him go.

🌄 Morning Setup: Ridge Line and Rolling Drums

The ridge had always been productive—eastern slope, dappled light, dogwoods just starting to bloom. I slid in at 5:45AM, settled under a blackjack oak, and sent out a soft tree yelp.

He cut me off. Seventy yards. Thunder in the timber. Close.

I froze, heart doing that pre-strike flutter. The ridge lightened. I clucked once. Silence.

Then I saw him.

🦃 The First Pass: Silent, Smart, Slick

He came in without a sound. Beard swinging. Red, white, and blue head like a warning flare. He skirted the left, passed inside 40 yards, never broke stride. I had a shot. But it was tight. Thick limbs. Quartering away.

“I figured I’d get a better angle on the second pass. I didn’t expect a second pass at all.”

🔄 The Second Time Around: Eyes on Me

Twenty minutes passed. I didn’t move. Then a faint drumming behind me. Leaves crunching. A slow, methodical pace.

He circled wide, trying to flank me. This time he knew something was off.

At 30 yards, he paused behind a cedar. Stared right through me.

And I could have taken him.

✋ The Let-Go: Why I Didn’t Shoot

I’ve taken my fair share of gobblers. I love the taste. The challenge. The fan on the wall. But this one? He’d earned his way out.

• He didn’t come in dumb

• He didn’t charge at decoys

• He circled, checked, waited

• He respected the game—and I respected him

“Some birds don’t walk away because they outsmart you. They walk away because you choose to let them.”

And in that moment, it felt right.

🎯 What That Bird Taught Me About the Hunt

• Patience is a virtue—but also a test – Waiting on a better shot doesn’t always mean you get one

• Smart birds deserve smart decisions – He played the game the right way. So did I

• Not every shot is meant to be taken – Hunting’s not about stacking kills. It’s about connection

• Moments matter more than meat—sometimes

• Sometimes, the story is the trophy

“I hunt to be in the moment. And that morning, I was right where I was meant to be—no tag punched, but no regret either.”

🧢 The Gear That Kept Me Hidden and Honest

There’s a difference between not getting the shot and choosing not to take it. That morning, the gobbler didn’t win. And I didn’t lose.

We shared a moment, predator and prey, both aware of the other, both playing fair.

And when he strutted off into the brush, I just smiled, whispered “next time,” and watched him disappear.

“You don’t always take the shot to prove you’re a hunter. Sometimes, you don’t take it because you already are.”