Close but not close enough

Spent last Sunday, opening day in New York, working a bird from just before dawn. Had him within 30 yards and he was hot. The gun was up and I was just waiting for him to clear a tree he was behind when another Tom suddenly walked in silently from my right from behind thick cover. He spotted me and blew the other bird off. My brother Don worked a bird up in the field but the big tom just wouldn't close the distance. Brother Joe continued in New Jersey working birds everyday but they were all hened up and would not come to the dekes. The saga continues.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.