Turkey Hunting in Central Illinois

 Tony's 18-pound Wild Turkey

Tony from Athens, Illinois scored this handsome wild turkey on a 2007 turkey hunting trip in central Illinois.

It was Tony's fifth season on public ground, and he took his prize bird with the help of his Knight Rifles TK2000 Muzzleloading Shotgun. Because of his respect for hunting's muzzleloading tradition, Tony depended on his Knight TK2000. An expert outdoorsman, Tony stalked his terrain before settling into his blind to wait for his prize-winning turkey. He loaded his Muzzeloader with 100-grain, number 6 shot and deftly waited for the turkey to strut within 10 yards.

Tony's skill paid off: his wild turkey scored #5 in the National Wild Turkey Foundation records. The gobbler weighed 18 pounds, had an 11 3/8-inch beard and matching 1 5/8-inch spurs. Its NWTF score was 73.25.