It really is about the pursuit, the challenge, the hunt as I shared with another T-hunter the other day... there is an empty feeling after taking down a mountain monarch.

I am on the highest ridge for miles... Mountain Bird cranks up at 6:35 and with map and compass I plot a ground attract strategy...some 40 minutes later with sweat as the big as the size of lima beans rolling down my back and nose (34 degree temp)...its 7:15 and the thunder rooster will not respond to my best challenge... but he will hammer a crow call. I watch him strut with two hens for 20 minutes in one fine creek bottom this side of the Hiwassee River. The three leave and I follow... I keep track with the crow call and around 8:20am and 1/3 mile later he finely answers Ken Addis Osage Orange Slate Call. I check the map and there is one superb killing knob about 250 yards to the west and he is heading to that knob... you got it... he beats me there... the legs are weak, the lung power is spent. There he stands king of the knob hammering at anything and everything. I booger up on side, dig my heels into the steep slope and game is on for 40 minutes... 9:00am Mountain Bird Down, 14 yard, 19 lbs, 3/4" spurs, 10"beard...

...Its a beautiful day don't let it get away.

Sam Brocato
Executive Director
Partners of the Cherokee National Forest
svboys@charter.net