Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Birdbow on May 15, 2016, 03:25:00 PM

Title: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Birdbow on May 15, 2016, 03:25:00 PM

 (http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o691/toddgregory1/IMG_1698_zpsnqjxaedu.jpg) (http://s1338.photobucket.com/user/toddgregory1/media/IMG_1698_zpsnqjxaedu.jpg.html)

After 3 seasons of very few spring turkeys about due to severe winters and a bout of avian pox in the area, some birds finally showed on the rebound. I managed to telephoto some pics of a nice tom on my land....

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Birdbow on May 15, 2016, 03:31:00 PM

So on May 3 I got into my blind early after setting out a jake and breeder hen decoys. A little light calling and 3 jakes silently approached. The dominant bird thrashed my jake deke, bending its stake to the ground, and then spent a full 45 minutes trying to coax a response from the synthetic hen....  (http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o691/toddgregory1/IMG_1803_zpsn3xoguos.jpg) (http://s1338.photobucket.com/user/toddgregory1/media/IMG_1803_zpsn3xoguos.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Birdbow on May 15, 2016, 03:40:00 PM

Eventually the trio lost interest and wandered off. A couple hours later, a single gobble in the woods indicated something else inbound. When the tom appeared, he made a bee-line for the jake deke which I had repaired after the earlier assault. He was accompanied by the previous 3 as his wingmen. They respectfully stood by as the big boy went to work on my  deke (again!) I was forced    ;)  to save my embattled imposter!

  (http://i1338.photobucket.com/albums/o691/toddgregory1/IMG_0737_zpsnboqa5j3.jpg) (http://s1338.photobucket.com/user/toddgregory1/media/IMG_0737_zpsnboqa5j3.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: DIAMONDBACK on May 15, 2016, 04:28:00 PM

Congratulations,excellent job!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Bernie B. on May 15, 2016, 05:06:00 PM

Wow!  Nice pictures!  Congratulations and thanks for sharing with us!     :clapper:

Bernie

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 15, 2016, 05:06:00 PM

Nice Todd! I have been out once, for an hour before work. Hope to do it again once or twice this week.

Congrats!

David

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: wooddamon1 on May 15, 2016, 05:21:00 PM

:thumbsup:     :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: KyStickbow on May 15, 2016, 07:48:00 PM

Great job!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Longbowwally on May 15, 2016, 08:17:00 PM

Nice pics and story….Congratulations!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: eidsvolling on May 15, 2016, 08:21:00 PM

Well done and congratulations on what must have been one fun hunt!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: mark Willoughby on May 15, 2016, 08:30:00 PM

Awesome brotha a turkey with my bow is deff on my to do list

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: CoachBGriff on May 15, 2016, 10:32:00 PM

Nice work!  

I've got to get a turkey with the bow!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on May 16, 2016, 10:17:00 PM

Congrats Todd!!!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Keith Zimmerman on May 17, 2016, 06:16:00 AM

Great pics and story.  Congrats!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: maineac on May 17, 2016, 08:27:00 AM

Fantastic!!!  Congratulations!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Lady Frost on May 18, 2016, 04:15:00 PM

Congrats!!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Nole on May 18, 2016, 05:11:00 PM

Nice Bird!

Title: Re: Opening Day in the Granite State
Post by: Birdbow on May 19, 2016, 02:04:00 PM

Thanks all!

As a postscript: I was using Avian X decoys which consistently, over the seasons I've used them, get superior reactions from the turkeys.

I was shooting my Big Jim TC LB, 60#, carbon arrow and a Centaur SB Big Game broadhead. My shot was low, a pass through, through the upper thigh which shattered the leg bone and artery leaving a very easy blood trail.

Was also using a Drifter string tracker which worked fine for the first 60 yards before the string broke. No fault of the tracker - the string was pulling through the mess of shattered bone as the tom hobbled away.

Good hunting to all whose season is still open!