Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: wapiti792 on April 25, 2016, 10:17:00 AM
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Well I am back for 3 days in paradise, with my son and two other fellas that are new to the trad bow thing. The trip was full of laughter, friendship and a little heartache, but all of it was worth the 12 hour drive.
Seeing my buddy Nick, along with Mary and the two boys, John and Ryan was a treat. Such good people, hardworking salt of the earth types who ranch and live life on a piece of ground that has been in the family for over a hundred years. I am lucky to call them friends! The trip is always more than just a turkey hunt for me.
I had 3 new folks with me. My regular compadres all had things in the fire. I sure missed Joe Buck, Juliann, Kip, Tippit, Zach, Dirtnap Dave, Joe and everyone else I have shared camp with over the years. This time though I had a very special person with me: my son Seth, who at 13 is shooting his recurve pretty darn well. He wanted to come with me. We needed this time together as I am having to put my life on hold soon to battle a tumor in my small intestine, complete with a bowel resection and who knows what. So no jiujitsu, no hiking, no shooting my bow. Time to embrace the suck I guess. No worries though friends, my family and I along with God, a good surgeon, and some time will square this away right quick!
Onto our story....
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:coffee: Always look forward to this!
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Mike very sorry to hear this.Knowing your brains and brawn you will do whatever needs to get through this.Glad you had a great time with Seth.
Take care Kip
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Here we go! Always enjoy your stories! :campfire:
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We took the 12 hour drive in halves as I had to work late at my clinic the day before. The turn off of 80 onto the hardtop, soon to be red clay road, brought many more turkey sightings. As we neared the ranch we were greeted a couple miles away with a couple of rio strutters. My travel mates look wide-eyed and mystified: all I could tell them was you ain't see nuthin yet :)
Greetings and hugs for my buddy Nick and introductions to 3 new clients were done, we were unloaded quick and soon we were launching arrows. My two friends from home are new to trad equipment. I have done with them what I do with others who are interested in stickbows. Encouraged them to try, hand them a bow and watch the magic happen.
For my son it is different: he has had a longbow or recurve in hand since birth seemingly. Up until last year he was not ready for prime time so to speak. This year it is different. He has grown into a man-child at 13: six feet and 200 pounds. We train Gracie jiujitsu together and I am feeling my age lately when we roll. I am seeing him grow into the finest man I know, and he is becoming obsessed with his recurve. Just as I planned :)
So with bows ready we made to the blinds Nick had ready for us. I sat with Seth and the other fellas did their own thing. It didn't take us long to get into action...
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In!
Prayers up for a successful operation and fast and complete healing Mike!
Bisch
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Thanks guys! Is what it is. Better me than one of my loved ones!
So that first evening was magic. Like clockwork within 15 minutes of rigging up and getting ready in walks a couple of hens to my soft calls. We can hear drumming before we can see them. Gobble 1 and Gobble 2 right in our lap following the girls to us.
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Seth was up, ready locked in. The first bird in the window of the blind was a mere 10 yards from us. He drew, anchored and dropped the string. Mmmmissed. High, the dang bird was too close I think. They jumped a little and walked just out of range. He has a self imposed limit of 20 yards and they stayed at 25. He was heart sore and I might have seen a tear start. I did what I could to make him feel better a few minutes later but gave him time to absorb the moment. Unfortunately in the next days we would repeat something similar...
The other guys had birds in range and did well to maintain their composure. We ended the evening with groups of hens sending a crescendo of sounds as they roosted and the toms announcing their plans to resume their courtship in the morning. We ate dinner early and hit the rack knowing we had 2 more days of turkey bedlam :)
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Looking forward to the rest of the story! Sorry to hear of your medical problem. As you're well aware, medicine has made great strides in recent years. I'm sure you'll be in good hands!
Bernie
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Early a.m. We were back after it in the same blind. Flydown was something to behold. Our ambush was near a roost tree full of hens and near another full of toms. The low pitch hen calls were answered with thundering gobbles. Near fly down the toms went quiet as the hens began their crescendo of tree yelps that got louder with each second. Near a fever pitch of yelps I looked at Seth and he had that wide-eyed grin that I knew I shared. This was it. Dead turkey or not, this was the moment I wanted to see. His excitement and that look from him was worth the drive, the sleep deprivation, the cost of cutting out of work, all of it.
The first hens flew into our lap and I just knew we were golden. Two hens squared off with fighting purrs right smack dab in the middle of his range. I hear drumming and got him ready. The darn bird was in my window at dead nuts range but he couldn't move. I just had to hope he'd come around to the ladies. I never picked up my bow. Soon another group of hens flew down near us. They either were slightly better looking or perhaps not as grouchy as the two hens fighting. The big Meri walked out of our lives forever...
We sat until 9 or so and bailed. One of the other guys got a shot. Mmmmissed. Then another, feathers. Then a third. Mmmmissed. This trad thing is tough. The learning curve steep. He had left his compound at home. It is a good thing as I think he would have fought me for it. All in all the magic of Klintworth did not disappoint that first morning.
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At noon Seth and I could sit still in the cabin no longer. We went out to another blind to call and spend a hot couple of hours seeing if we could raise one. We managed to call a bird close but he would not come. We retreated to the cool shade and rehydrated for the afternoon.
We had made the decision that he could sit by himself for the first time on any hunt. I would set in a blind a couple hundred yards away to observe, and if a bird showed, well that'd be good. We were unsure about the decoy thing, so I decided to take a chance and use them. I was worried I'd take his birds but decided he was in a blind near the roost and would be good. I could see his setup down the hill. I tell ya, this was odd seeing him there. Not him really but his blind. Knowing he was on his own made me a little sad I guess. Starting to not need dad.
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*A blind without me there
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After setting Seth up I climbed into the black blind in the shade of conifer. I had put my dekes out but swore if they dragged one hen from the travel route from Seth they were coming inside with me. It was warm man. I slipped my boots into my pack and donned a pair of flops. Hopefully I'd just watch Seth with cool feet.
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*Happy feet
Soon as I opened my kindle app on my phone and read a page of Dumas "Count of Monte Crisco" I heard a hen nearby. I looked up to see a hen in the red zone coming down to me from the hill above. She had begun to tell the dekes they are unwanted guests when a tom thundered right behind the blind.
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*My set
I scrambled for my bow and the arrow leaning against the blind. Soon as I am on he steps into view at 12 yards or so. Autopilot or doing something so many times to where you forget all the necessary steps that you actually do or not, soon I had a sight picture and watched my arrow punch a hole exactly where I willed it. He did a somersault, ran 20 yards and piled up dead as a hammer. The hens scattered!
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*Blind view
I unzipped and trotted as fast as a fat man in flip flops can to my bird. I looked across the space to my boys blind and bowed like a stage performer. "Taaaadaaa" Thank you, thank you. He shook his fist from the blind I found out later and said "only my old man would do that" Little did he know I stole it from Monty Browning after he had killed a big bull caribou.
I made it as fast as I could back to my blind, pulled my dekes and allowed my new blind mate to cool in the shade with me. I put up my bow, grabbed my field glasses to spy on my boy and opened Dumas again. My hunt was over. It was Seth's time.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_160448.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_160448.jpg.html)
*Blind mate
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I can relate so much with watching your boy alone for the first time hunting. It is harder than I thought it would be walking away.
Congratulations on your bird though.
-Jeremy
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Man how awesome mike...keep it coming I hope Seth gets it done but fine bird mike!
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Way to go Mike, I know the spot you were at.
Jack
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Congrats! Awesome story awesome pictures!
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Thanks for taking us along Mike and sorry to hear of the health issue, we will be praying for you.
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Congrats on the hunt.
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Congrats on the bird! Great story, I am loving it. I look forward to the rest. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. You know what you are facing and I am sure you will have an incredible support network.
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I've been reduced to "Juli Ann" huh?
You reminded me the thing I enjoy the most about the place is seeing others experience it for first time. I can't imagine how rewarding it was to share that with Seth.
Were any other roost sites on other parts of the ranch active this spring?
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Haha Julian type O only! Miss ya bud. The other sites were still active. I just stayed with Seth and tried to get him going. It was fun man! Maybe a father/son weekend at Klintworth :)
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Originally posted by wapiti792:
At noon Seth and I could sit still in the cabin no longer. We went out to another blind to call and spend a hot couple of hours seeing if we could raise one. We managed to call a bird close but he would not come. We retreated to the cool shade and rehydrated for the afternoon.
We had made the decision that he could sit by himself for the first time on any hunt. I would set in a blind a couple hundred yards away to observe, and if a bird showed, well that'd be good. We were unsure about the decoy thing, so I decided to take a chance and use them. I was worried I'd take his birds but decided he was in a blind near the roost and would be good. I could see his setup down the hill. I tell ya, this was odd seeing him there. Not him really but his blind. Knowing he was on his own made me a little sad I guess. Starting to not need dad.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_162548.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_162548.jpg.html)
*A blind without me there
Why am I getting this image on a lot of the pics on Trad Gang today?
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IDK, but I want to see the pics too!
Congrats, Mike!
Bisch
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Must be a photobucket issue Bill. Tried to load a few things and it's messed up. Need to finish this thing but will wait on crap to clear.
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I've sure been looking forward to this report but it sucks that it starts knowing what you are dealing with. No better man to handle it though - I know you'll kick it aside.
Great stories from the ranch as always though! Man, I miss that place! This farming stuff is fun, but it gets in the way.
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Mike,
Sorry to hear about your health. I'll pray for you, your family, and your doctors. We all look forward to a quick recovery for you!
Thanks for sharing the pics and stories. I always enjoy reading your writing!
- Griff
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Now i can see all the pics, and feel like I am caught up!
Continue on, Mike!
Bisch
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Glad they got it fixed...
So I watched our hunting day end with a dead turkey in my blind wishing it was in my son's. I was feeling a little remorse until I saw my boy as we picked him up. All he said was "That was cool dad! One minute a big Ol tom was in front of you and the next he was flopping." I could tell he was happy and you know, that made me happy. We dined on a turkey and dumplings that night from the thighs of my bird and made a plan for the morning.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_193826.jpg) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_193826.jpg.html)
Meri-Rio hybrid. I had used my new Big Jim TC 50# at 30 inches, 58 inches of ebony and smoothness. 600 grain arrow, business end a Tuffhead that would cut your eyeballs if you stared too long.
Next am was the last full day, with only a quick flydown hunt Sunday morning possible. My kid was a beast. He let me hunt with him the morning with birds almost giving us a chance but the afternoon was all his. He sat for 7 hours and after I had mmmmisssed a strutter from my own blind at way too far I bailed early to climb to a vantage point to see his blind. At last Nick and I watched a giant Rio on his way to the roost walk past the blind and Seth sailed one over his back. I tried to reach him on the radio to tell him it was ok. I got silence back until it was too dark and time to come in. He made peace with it I think because he ribbed me about my miss and that the Davenport boys had come to NE and got whooped by some birds.
That night we needed a mojo breaker. We only had the am to hunt and then curtains on our trip. I had the only stickbow bird among the band. Nick came through with what we needed. We needed vitality, a token of strength, an offering to drop the stench of defeat like Coleridge's albatross in his "Ryme of the Ancient Mariner". This time we needed a turkey to hit the deck instead of the albatross...
Enter the realm of the Mountian Oyster. I mean the man runs a cattle operation. We had to become the Klintworth to succeed at the Klintworth. Seemed like a good idea.
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Nope! You just lost me at mountain oysters!
Nuts and guts go the yotes and buzzards!
Bisch
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Originally posted by Bisch:
Nope! You just lost me at mountain oysters!
Nuts and guts go the yotes and buzzards!
Bisch
Gotta agree there. Just a few things a man should never have to put in his mouth. :D
Hope it worked for you though!!
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Awwww fellas, 'twas not that bad. Taste like chicken gizzards. Sauté in onion after rolled in bread crumbs and spices. When in Rome boys, when in Rome. I am from Tennesse where 'possum pie, barbecue raccoon, and chitterlings are a Sunday dinner in country families :) My camp mates tried them but were not a fan! Yankees...
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*Adventurous pallet
So next morning was the last, with only a quick hunt before traveling. I left my bow and wanted to just sit with Seth. I had a bird and some killer memories. We got a pic in and headed to a great spot in the darkness.
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*Kid as big as me
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The predawn there is something to behold. Gobbles early, a few scattered hens as they wake up, and then a steady rise in a symphony of tree yelps until many, many flydown cackles. For a turkey nut like me just hearing the sounds are an educational experience.
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*Hen talk
Soon after the last cackle we had hens in our set. They were on their way out the pastures to tend their nests, pick bugs and do hen turkey stuff. After a wave of hens two gobblers skirted us following the girls but one lone gobbler changed his coarse and made a bee-line for the hens that had just filtered by. He was on my side quickly, in killing range but the boy couldn't shoot through me. Finally he twisted towards the east, right in Seth's line of sight (and wheelhouse).
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The boy has a range of about 20 yards. Any attempts to stretch that out are a problem for now. We really like them inside 15 and in practice he is deadly from that range. This place however, can be tough. Something about a big Ol bird bearing down on you and having to compose yourself enough to pick a spot. I have missed more birds in 5 years than I have killed...and I have killed close to 20. Here in NE this week alone I had a 33% success rate (2 misses, clean). The other thing is that as a new bowhunter remembering to pick a spot, in my opinion, is the hardest part. The mechanics of the shot are memorized, anchor burned in the memory: checklist complete, oh dang, forgot to pick where the arrow is supposed to hit. No excuses...just the way I see it from the cheap seats.
So el grande Rio grande is right at his effective kill spot. I green light it when he asks if he is in range and he does everything perfectly. The shot looked great from my angle and the bird does a flip, lands on his feet with wings out and runs 20 yards. I think he is done for and then something crazy happens: full strut!!! Seth and I looked at each other like a couple of crazy kids that just caught Santa Claus in a snare. Couldn't be....but it was.
My buddy Josh was up on a hill with his phone scope and camera. The video tells the tale: breast meat. Here is a still from the vid:
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/Mobile%20Uploads/21d64623-f582-42d2-87bf-292afeada975.png) (http://s147.photobucket.com/user/wapiti792/media/Mobile%20Uploads/21d64623-f582-42d2-87bf-292afeada975.png.html)
*Forward of the goods
We watched that darn bird strutt for a 1/4 mile. The arrow was painted but we all saw this bird pull a Lazarus. Unbelievable. I looked at Seth expecting a burst of emotion. All I got was a head-down smile and a shake of the head as almost to say "these birds are the devil". Why yes they are son, yes they are.
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*Wry smile
We checked the arrow and it confirmed a pass through soft tissue. Bloody as heck, Tuffhead sharper than ever. Is what it is I guess.
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*Bloody 2020
I'd like to say we pulled some stuff out and made something happen. We almost got it done on jakes, but we ended up packing it in. It was awesome anyway! I think my other mates got a dose of this Tradbow turkey hunting and will be hooked. I know my son has no choice now: he has been grabbed and pulled into the deep water by something he will spend his whole life doing. Last night after work he sat on his stool and relived that shot many times, making it every time. I see a fire burning and that is alright by me.
We said goodbye to Nick and Ryan with well wishes for the rest of the family. We made plans for another hunt in turkey Valhalla, next time with a boy a year older, with a fire for this game that will be stoked a little hotter because of this trip. Until then amigos...
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:thumbsup: :clapper: Great story!! Get better Mike...Take care.
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Looks like a fine time, Mike!
Congrats on your bird, and best of luck to Seth and your new trad buddies!
Bisch
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Sounds like fun was had by all...and you ate well!!
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Well done Mike on all accounts! You are a wonderful ambassador for traditional bowhunting and it's fun to see your boy growing up in the tradition... May God bless and keep you and your family as you face this medical/life trial. He is able and He is good, all the time... I will pray.
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Kaz, thank you brother! ALL the time!!!
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Awesome trip , get well brother we have a hunt to do....
,,,Sam,,,
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That was a great story! Thanks for sharing!
Bisch,you're a Texan....thought you boys grew up on nut fries!
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Sounds like fun was had by all...and you ate well!!
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This was a great hunting story. No doubt it was a fantastic father/son event, and yes it is tough to realize that a boy is becoming a man, making Dad not quite as necessary. Also, I hope your illness is taken care of soon and that you will be shooting the bow again soon after. Many of your Trad Gang friends are praying for you.
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Sam thank you! I appreciate all the kind comments and well wishes. Just going to savor this one for awhile, get the battery of tests coming up and get this surgery over with. I got an elk and mulie hunt with my wife in September!!!
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Great story, Mike! Hoping all goes well with the medical issue.
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Great story, and a great read as always !!
All the best as you move through your health issue.
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Awesome Story Mike on all accounts. Congrats on the quality time with your son and being there leading and shaping his way into manhood.
Congrats on your Bird and I hope your operation is quick, painless and successful.. With the attitude you exhibit, I Truly believe it will be a walk in the park.
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I love this thread every year! One of the bests!! I am going to try to get some more info on this place, my buddy Ethan (hensone) and I are going to try to get our slams here in the next couple of years and this looks like the place to do it.
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Cool story! Congrats sir! Best of luck to ya!!
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Nothing better than hunting with your son. Zach & I sure missed camp this year. Get that darn GI taken care of and maybe next year we'll have a father/son tag team. Great story...stay strong.
tippit
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Great story! Thanks for sharing and get better soon.
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Great stories and pic's. Prayers for your health and family during this time.
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Great hunt and story Mike. Wishing you the best and a quick recovery.
Joe
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Great hunt. Well done Mike. I've gotta get to that place someday soon. Glad your son is getting into it. We need more good ones. I agree with you. The hardest part about shooting at game is picking a spot. When we can do it it seems so easy. When we cannot it seems nearly impossible! I hope your health improves and I wish you luck if you are still chasing them in Illinois.
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Great stuff Mike. Hunting with your son is as good as it gets. Turkeys are tough for some of us old guys too :D
Sorry to hear about your guts--get well soon!