Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: huskyarcher on April 13, 2016, 07:07:00 AM
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It has been a heck of a season so here in the hills and hollars of NC. My jake decoy, Marvin, has taken more beatings than the Cowboys last season. Yesterday morning however, it was finally my turrn to be behind the weapon. The turkeys didn't disappoint.
Trying to call a girl her first bird at the moment, more later.
:campfire:
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Congrats Dalton. Looking forward to the details. Good luck calling one in a bird for your partner.
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In!
And I'm sure congrats are in order!
Bisch
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Dalton, you are a killing machine! Looking forward to the rest of the story.
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This last week or so has been a blast. As some of you who know me personally may know, its been a heck of a season so far. I was fortunate enough to get to call in a young boy his first on youth day, a double in to Ethan Henson (hensone) and another boy, as well as my dad got his first ever bow killed bird with his Omega on opening day.
It was awesome to hear dad, who is a ridiculously accomplished hunter, but new to the trad game completely out of breathe and freaking out on the phone as he stood over his bird on opening day. He said he didn't even want to touch it he was so pumped, just wanted to "look at it." I quickly told him that feeling is why i do this crap.
He gladly told me the whole story, and i was glad to hear it as opening day had finally made to the mountains of NC, and boy did it take forever to get here. He was hunting in about a blizzard, pouring the snow and 25+mph winds. He heard a gobble which surprised him, and before he could really do anything there was a real mad tom beating the heck out of his Avian jake. He quickly executed judgement on the bird, which was guilty of assualt, an offense that is only punishable by arrow and broadhead. At 4 yards dad put it in his boiler room and the bird limped to its final resting spot a mere 40 yards away. My dad, who has killed everything under the sun, was reduced to the likes of a kid on Christmas morning. Needless to say he said hes taking his bow the rest of the year. I asked him if an "I told you so" was needed, but he didnt respond.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/43D4EE42-E09C-4645-896D-A76B4C810E4E_zpsfk39jwsc.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/43D4EE42-E09C-4645-896D-A76B4C810E4E_zpsfk39jwsc.jpg.html)
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So after all this, i was really pumped and ready for my turn. All that changed however when my best friend since i was little told me his girlfriend was dying to go, and he needed my blind and decoys so that she could see a show and be comfortable. I agreed although partly sad i would have to wait one more day. I set my alarm for early, but was surprised when i couldnt get ahold of either one of them that next morning.
I called another buddy to see if he wanted to go, but he too was unreachable. So with rain in the forecast and nowhere to go, i just slept in a bit longer.
At about 830-9 my phone finally rang and my friend Cory was wanting to go chase overweight chickens. Finally!
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We did what any good hunters would do, and made a pitstop at hardees, then headed to the woods. This place he can hunt is in a failed housing development. His cousin owns two lots on opposite sides of the development so the plan was go get on one lot, which was hardwoods surrounded by feilds and more hardwoods, and sit a while and see if we couldnt bring one to us. Since the lots are very small, our only hope was that we could bring a lonely tom in to the 2 acres or so we could hunt.
As we reached the lot, we stood and listened, and it didnt take very long for a bird to answer a pack of crows cutting a shine.
I told cory if he could hear us it might work, but it was a long shot as he was 2 hollars or more over, that was a long way to come.
None the less i ripped into my mouth call with all i had, as i suspected he couldnt hear me, but he continued to answer the crows.
I brought out a glass call i have that is absolutley obnoxious, it literally hurts your ears. When all went quiet i hit it as hard as i could.
He answered.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/0D08B3E1-E3DC-4E41-911B-1BDBD8A1701F_zpsyij9pwev.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/0D08B3E1-E3DC-4E41-911B-1BDBD8A1701F_zpsyij9pwev.jpg.html)
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We were excited, but knew that really didnt mean anything other than that he could hear us. We waited a minute or two and hit it again.
We were surprised when no less than 3-4 of them gobbled and even better than that, they had cut a good 50-75 yards off the distance.
We went into auto pilot, blind up decoys out, camera on the tripod, tie on the String tracker from Chad Orde, and get quiet.
I called again, and they had easily cut it in half, they were coming hard!
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:archer2:
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I waited and waited, as long as i could really, (im not real patient) and soft called. They nearly shook the blind. They were less than 50 yards, game on!
Shortly there after, we heard birds trotting through the leaves, fighting purrs, spitting drummming, you name it, they were doing it.
I thought ol' Marvin was going to get a heck of a butt whoopin again, but for some reason they stopped about 4 yards from him, which was about 8 yards from us and went in and out of strut.
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Only two made it to that close, im not sure where the others ended up, but honestly it didnt matter because there was all i needed within range, and all i had to do was wait for the right shot.
After standing in the same place for what seemed like forever, they finally broke strut and started walking to our left, which would finally put them where i could shoot.
As the strutter came into a lane, a whispered to cory and made sure he had the camera on him, then brought the Ol' trusty Omega to full draw, focused and released.
The arrow hit just above where i was looking, and that thing went nuts. He jumped, and flopped and crawled and finally stopped, sprawled out with his head up.
I waited for a second, but decided that i knew for a fact i could run him down and i wasnt taking any chances. I walked toward him, but as i neared he started trying to run off, and i was really surprised at how well he moved. I was persistent though, and after a full sprint down the hollar he finally tripped over a log and just layed there. A quick follow up shot was all she wrote.
I was wore out, but tickled to death! Finally on the board!
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Upon inspection i found that i went straight through his wing bone, and into the chest cavity. Never doubt the toughness of a turkey as i looked at the blood from the log he tripped on, and it was frothy pink lung blood. That bird was fatally hit the whole time, i guess i just gave him a boost by chasing him. Whatever the case, i had just filled my first tag for the year, and taken my 3rd trad bird.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/58B6B7CD-FF3C-4DCF-954A-C9B808CDA6EF_zps6sv89gm7.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/58B6B7CD-FF3C-4DCF-954A-C9B808CDA6EF_zps6sv89gm7.jpg.html)
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Here is a cool pic i snapped off of the video, the bird is completely upside down in the air, and if you look close you can see the attached string tracker!
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/A85A7C1D-4CCB-4DF5-8C40-6F9AE6D0F3A0_zpsc3jglepr.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/A85A7C1D-4CCB-4DF5-8C40-6F9AE6D0F3A0_zpsc3jglepr.jpg.html)
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And of course the obligatory hero shots:
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/7B9BE1BA-E4DF-4216-BEAA-D5A7576AEEFF_zpsrhrc4xkc.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/7B9BE1BA-E4DF-4216-BEAA-D5A7576AEEFF_zpsrhrc4xkc.jpg.html)
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/78E81B04-257E-4FB0-8B95-FF6DE6A02331_zpslhoavnye.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/78E81B04-257E-4FB0-8B95-FF6DE6A02331_zpslhoavnye.jpg.html)
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Thanks for the look! I hope i gave you a glimpse into the excitement of a perfect turkey hunt. Equipment notes: #40@28 (i draw 29) Omega Shortbow Beman Bowhunter 500s, 225gr Wensel Woodsman up front. Also a string tracker from Chad Orde.
Hopefully if the footage turned out ok, you'll get to see the whole hunt on a future episode of Traditional Adventures.
:campfire:
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Great hunt man, I hope to get into some birds once season opens up on Monday!
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Awesome and thanks for posting the pixs....CONGRATS :thumbsup:
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Congrats on a nice bird and a great hunt.
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Congrats Dalton!!!!
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Congrats!
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You are the man! Thanks for sharing!
We kick off Monday here in MO! Unfortunately, I won't be able to get after'em until the weekend.
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Congrats sir.....
,,Sam,,
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Sweet hunt :clapper:
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Great POST way to share the hunt and take younger generation to the woods!!
:clapper: :clapper:
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Very cool! Nice birds! Congrats!!! :clapper:
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Good story and glad you were able to share the woods with friends and still bring a bird home. Congrats.
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Way to go! Good on you for not being selfish,and putting others before yourself.
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Thanks for the story and photos! Sounds like you have had a blast so far this season, and the folks you have shared it with.
I would like to try those eastern turkeys some day...
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Thanks for the story and photos! Sounds like you have had a blast so far this season, and the folks you have shared it with.
I would like to try those eastern turkeys some day...
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Well done Bro! Love the black and white pic.
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My hats off to anybody that hunted opening day in NC...it was brutal. Of course I was watching the grandson's little league game and conditions were just as bad for that, with the cold and gale force winds but without the snow they had in Ashe Co., lol.
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
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Great job!! :thumbsup:
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Well done Dalton ,11 more days before our season opens you've made the wait even harder !!!!
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Well guys, the 2016 season has far exceeded my expectations. On Friday, day number 6 in the season, i got to poke a hole in my final tag slot. I promise to fill yall in on the whole story complete with pics as soon as they upload, and i get this final wedding shower out of the way this afternoon.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/8B9A2D2E-5CD0-42A6-8A8E-DD178F97CC1B_zps1m3fouqq.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/8B9A2D2E-5CD0-42A6-8A8E-DD178F97CC1B_zps1m3fouqq.jpg.html)
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:coffee:
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:archer:
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Congrats Dalton! You had a long wait but you've had an amazing season!
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Congrats Dalton! I look forward to the details.
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Great Stories...
Nice photos...
Congrats to you and to Mr. Allen as well.
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Congratulations Dalton, I enjoy your posts! :thumbsup:
Denny
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Very nice!
F-Manny
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Sorry for the delay guys, this week has been a whirlwind. When a feller is too busy to be on Tradgang, hes too busy.
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I went out last friday, day number 6 of the season to some property that i had just gotten access too. This spring was different for me as i lost 2 or 3 of my honey-holes i have enjoyed for many years. Some were due to land being sold, others to marraiges in the family, and the sorry joker marrying in hunts, you know same ol' same ol'.
This put me in a panic and i immediately went to trying to find more places to hunt, and wearing my boots out on public ground trying to find some birds, both efforts were successful.
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The property i was on is my soon to be father-in-law's, and let me tell you its gorgeous. Ethan and I had barely made it up the first hill behind a beautiful little cabin and found scratching, everywhere.
There are no fields on this place, all hardwoods, so when i saw a saddle in a ridge i knew where to head. I dont care what youre hunting, you can kill it in a saddle, everything goes through saddles.
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We got up to the high end of the saddle, and brought out that ol' obnoxious glass call and ripped into it.
Halfway through the yelp i thought i heard a gobble cutting me off but i wasnt sure. I stopped calling looked at ethan and said was that a bird? he said he didnt hear anything.
I tried again and was pretty sure he cut me off again, but again Ethan said i didnt hear anything! I said you're dumb i know i heard a bird!
He laughed and said I cant hear anything because that stupid call is so flippin loud!
We had a good laugh and i said look im going over here and you stay here and listen, he agreed, and i stepped off the hill just a bit and hit the call again.
This time, two birds gobbled, and better than that a hen started cutting, yelping and throwing a fit from the same place the birds gobbled! I knew she would be the key to pulling it off.
We went into panic mode, got in the middle of the saddle and got the decoys out and blind up, and hit the call again.
They all 3 answered again, and that hen didnt shut up, she yelped, cut and cackled all the way up the hill.
I dont know what i said to that ol' girl, but i really pissed her off i reckon.
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She came to the top of the hill, and marched her butt, still yelping and cutting all the way into the decoys. All that yelping and cutting had the toms tore up, they gobbled almost constantly.
It wasnt but just a few seconds later i could see a fan and a patriotic colored head topping the ridge. I figured as soon as he saw marvin, he was going to run down to him and give him the Holly Holm treatment.
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I was wrong though, he just stood up there and strutted and gobbled.
He finally worked his way down the hill, but to our surprise he worked off to our right down in a hollar about 30-40 yards from us and just kept strutting and gobbling.
I didnt know what the heck was going on. But go on it did, for what seemed like forever that bird just stood there and went in and out of strut.
I was quiet for a while, knowing he had seen the decoys and knew we were here, and i figured i would let him work in. But after a long time i just started calling like a madman. I figured i was going to annoy him enough to either come up here or walk off, either one was better than the torture of watching and hearing him strut in a hollar.
After he gobbled a bunch it got quiet for a bit. I heard something sound like dragging behind the blilnd and took a peak out the back of the blind and the joker had made a big circle and was now stutting right behind the blind at about 20 yards.
Then ensued the most torturous 20-30 minutes ive ever endured. He strutted all the way around the blind and was inching his way toward Marvin and Hannah. Finally, he got to about 15 yards from them, hopped over a log, and started walking in. I guess he finally decided it was time for him to check out that arrogant jake.
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He was about 4 yards behind the decoys putting him about 8 yards from a tore up redneck hiding in a blind. Ethan was filming, and i asked him if i should shoot right there or wait, he said if he even acts like going left or right kill him, but if he wants to beat up marvin let him. So i waited just a bit, but when he turned to his left and took a step i hit full draw.
Oh yea, about what i was drawing. A few months back the owner of the bow shop i work part time at called me and said he had something id probably want to see. I got there, and started drooling as he had a beautiful old Bear grizzly laying on the table. It was in great shape, and had the handle just like that 59' Kodiak i had shot at the ATA and loved. I figured it had to be close to the same age. I asked him how he got it, and he said a guy came in and needed money. Said it had been his grandpas and he didnt have any use for it. $60 later, he walked out the door.
I asked Kevin if he wanted his money back, he laughed and said take it, thanks for going to the ATA for me!
I was jacked! I took it home, and ordered a string that night from Allen Shafer, i make my own strings now, but this string had to be perfect because that was a sweet bow, and Allen is just the man for the job.
The string got here a few days later, and after some tuning it was shooting great!I did some research and talked to a Bear expert and he quickly IDed the bow as a 62' Grizzly, and one that was in very good shape. It is 50#@28 so its a little heavier than i normally shoot but i could still shoot it pretty good. Anybody that knows me knows that i am a die-hard Omega Longbow man, but i figured i would try sometime to take something with that old bow, just to say i had killed something with a 54 year old stick. After i filled my first tag, i figured i would try to tag out with that Grizz.
Back to the hunt.
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:wavey:
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Knowing the bow had white glass, and i was in a black blind, i knew i had to be careful. I leanded back to my left to draw, as the bird was behind the side of the bind at that angle. After i hit my anchor, i slowly leaned back out until the bird became visable again in the window.
He had no clue and was just strutting at 8 yards. I burned a hole in the feather i wanted to hit, and let the string slip.
The arrow blew through the bird right where i was looking.
He never could get his feet or wings under him. he flapped for about 5 yards yards and was stil in just a few seconds, One of the cleanest kills i have ever seen.
We high fived and beat on each other a bit, then went to retrieve the prize.
The string tracker was still in him, but luckily i wouldnt need it on this bird.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/E5E451D0-D101-4E25-BEDA-1B968E7706C3_zps2okhl7gs.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/E5E451D0-D101-4E25-BEDA-1B968E7706C3_zps2okhl7gs.jpg.html)
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(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/091377AB-BE70-4691-8919-3636BE9D4322_zpser9gaumd.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/091377AB-BE70-4691-8919-3636BE9D4322_zpser9gaumd.jpg.html)
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/E3F1FE62-4FBA-4F11-9DC3-752FFF25100C_zpsia16eyjo.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/E3F1FE62-4FBA-4F11-9DC3-752FFF25100C_zpsia16eyjo.jpg.html)
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Here is Ethan's snapchat to our friends as i was taking pics haha. If i had to hunt alone i would quit hunting. It is so much fun to share the experience with with friends and family and sometimes friends that are more like family.
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/E4FDC4E2-AD68-4F50-9603-79B3FB8282ED_zpsw4oklr7m.png) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/E4FDC4E2-AD68-4F50-9603-79B3FB8282ED_zpsw4oklr7m.png.html)
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So thanks for joining along! I hope you enjoyed the read, because i sure enjoyed the process of creating something to read about. I am all out of NC tags, maybe i can get time to get up to OH and give those Buckeye birds a run.
2016 was a great spring! Good luck to all of you guys as you keep after them. Both hunts were filmed and you should be seeing them soon!
Dalton
:campfire:
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Awesome spring you have had...glad you got one with the old Bear!!
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Awesome hunt and awesome story :clapper:
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Congrats and thanks for taking us along. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Come on up!
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Nice work!
Thanks for sharing and thanks for the photos!
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Thanks for sharing! Great hunts. Congratulations!!!!
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Great turkey thread! You've had a wonderful Spring! I've always enjoyed your stories, but there's no way you can kill a turkey with a bow with white limbs! :biglaugh:
Bernie