Not Today Tom

I ran into 4 gobblers in a waterway which separates a wheat field from a corn field about to be planted, & they ran back down the waterway towards the river, then cut through the nearly waste high wheat below a terrace. I slipped in the waterway, bending over to keep out of sight as I ran to the terrace, then turned into the wheat field above the same terrace ridge. Staying bent over so my torso was horizontal with the top of the wheat as I ran to catch up with them. Peaking over the ridge I saw I was gaining on them, so after a few more yards I draw my longbow while horizontal as I raised, locking onto the closest one at 32 yards, only his head and upper neck visible in the wheat. The arrow smacked him at the base of his head, cutting off part of his top vertebrae, but amazingly he flew a few yards before going down. He rose again when I ran at him, able to keep a few feet off the ground as he crossed the field, landing along the far side of the field. I gave him a few minutes, then slipped quietly along the woodland edge, hoping to find him. No sign of him for a block on either side, so I slipped into the center of the wooded strip & worked it back, finding blood to trail him several yards, indicating he'd turned in the direction I was heading. Seeing nothing as I neared the end, I swung to the far side to circle back, finding him hiding under a cedar, his head barely off the ground. Not taking a chance I shot him in the head, but he'd nearly bled out. Lucky day...