TOM! ...

My work took me not far from where we got our birds earlier - so I donned camo, grabbed my shotgun, and headed out. Not but several hundred yards from where we got our birds a GIGANTIC tom was walking about - but across the road and on other property. I proceeded down the road and pulled in to the owner residence - to secure permission.  As though almost on cue the owner met me outside and ... Yeah, go kill that tom!  I returned to the spot but he had vanished. I parked - got out and hunted about. Whoa - disappearing act.

I am proud of the birds we got the other day - but this tom was in a whole other league - almost on scale for size with the various livestock on the property (or so it seemed). Huge.

Now I can see why people distinguish between hens, jakes, and TOMs!

It's nice to know he's around.

Perhaps we'll meet in more productive circumstances before the season ends (in a week).