(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday003.jpg)
Gotta go pick up the kids at school....I'll get more pix loaded and get going with this....great hunt!!!
I knew you'd have a story to tell, pretty soon! Can't wait! :bigsmyl: :coffee:
Congratulations Curt! All of your preseason scouting paid off, looking forward to the story. :clapper:
Congrats.
Congratulations, Curt!! Great shot, looks like that string didn't go very far. :thumbsup:
Man how did I know I was going to see this thread...Congrats Curt. I look forward to reading your story when I get home from work.
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :clapper:
I'd have been disappointed to find the whole story on page one! :p
I like where this is going :campfire: :coffee:
Alright man way to go Guru!!!
Way to go Kurt!
good work
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Very nice bro. You da man. :notworthy: :clapper: :jumper:
Way to go Curt, I knew it wouldn't take long.
Jack
Congrats Curt! Tracy sent me the pic, just waitin on the story... :thumbsup:
Gotta love it when they pile up in sight! Great shooting and congratulations. You earned him!
Dang Curt,
You don't believe in messing around! Congrats!
That didn't take long! Congrats Curt!
Way to go Curt :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice going Curt , congrats :0)
Sweet!! cant wait to hear the rest...
Yeah.....now THAT'S what I'm talkin bout! :clapper:
Looks like you want to "string" it out... ;)
Those pics look familiar...Sitting in the woods calling my cell phone started vibrating...felt good...anyway...I open it and there is Curts bird...
Good job buddy....
The plan was to hunt the "Three Amigos" if I could roost them last night. Well we had parent/teacher conf. that I had to be to by 7:30. So I head out a little earlier than usual to try to roost these birds. When I got close to where I thought they might be, I started working my way closer crow calling as I went.
It worked! Heard the boys, and figured they'd roost close. So I had the prettiest set-up you could ever imagine planned for the morning. They'd be above me up on a hill, and I'd be set-up in a peach orchard that was in full bloom with beautiful pink blossoms. A prettier set-up you couldn't imagine!
Rain holds off, and with the cover of darkness, I get the blind set in a perfect flat spot at the end of a row. Set my strutting jake, "Lil Floyd" about 8yds, and a hen even closer...pefect!
Well till birds started gobbling behind me and nothing gobbled up where I thought they'd be! I guess sometime between the time I left the woods early the evening before to get to the school, and darkness the boys had moved down the valley.
Now the agonizing decision, stay and hope, or pack everything up, and move closer to the gobbling birds and not get picked off. I rolled the dice, and packed everything up as quick a possible, and like a junk yard dog, with things hanging all over me and under my arms I sped as quick as I could over a stone wall and an out of breath a quarter mile later settled on a spot in another orchard and set up.
Birds still gobbling, and me sweating in the humidity, I made my first call and got an immediate answer...game on!
We go back and forth and I could hear several birds gobbling off in the distance besides the closer one's that answered me....this was shaping up pretty good....
After calling a few times in about a half hour, the birds went silent and didn't answer me. Usually this means they they are either coming, or they've moved away out of earshot. So I wait about 15 minutes and then call again and gobbles erupt behind me about 20yds away! Oh yeah!!
I peek out the back of the blind and see a red, white, and blue head with a full fan behind it, and he's coming! Then behind him come three jake's and a hen. I watched him come thru a brushy hedgerow at about 20yds and when he saw Lil Floyd and his girlfriend he immediately blew up and started to come.....I reached for "Cy"......
The hen came into view first with the strutter behind her, but he was passed by all three jake's as they all arrived at the deke's and the chaos ensued at 8yrds!
The were all shuckin' and jivin' and for about the longest twenty second I didn't think I was gonna get a clear shot at the gobbler! They were circling and jostling around so much I was starting to think something bad would happen before I'd get a clear shot! But after about 30 seconds at the deke's and with the hen getting ready to go, the jake's parted and there stood the gobbler,strutting, stone still right up against Lil Floyd, facing directly at me!
The plan was to hit dead center and between the beard and the waddles. As long as I hit dead center l/r, I'd break his neck and drive the big snuffer into his vitals......
With what is best described as a "crunching blow", the arrow took him dead center thru his neck, just below the red waddles! In what seemed like slow-mo, his head just flopped and he collapsed in a heap!
What the big snuffer did beyond his neck was all for naught,it had cut a giant hole,dead center, and he was dead instantly beside a little flopping......
I grabbed my camera and got this.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/th_openingday002.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/?action=view¤t=openingday002.flv)
Where he fell and flopped too....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday007.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday011.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday008.jpg)
The set-up.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday012.jpg)
It doesn't get much better.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday0242.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday029.jpg)
Sweet Bro!
:clapper:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday0272.jpg)
Homemade(by me) carbon arrow/antler striker and a mouth call from TG'er Charles Sorrels. Been using this mouth call for three years now....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday035.jpg)
I was hunting with "Cy", my 56", 58# Kempf Kwyk Styk...and I was shooting older style(but brand new)CX Terminator 45/60's with big 160 Snuffers on 75gr. steel adapters.....and as you can see I was wearing my Sitka Gear....
The payoff for all the lost hours of sleep....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday043.jpg)
Lil Floyd...who is Floyd with some modifications....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday015.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday037.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday040.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/openingday041.jpg)
And no, I didn't want to string this one out because I'm taking Cade out with me this weekend and hope to have another story to write about and pix to share!! :pray:
Great shot Curt...and great pics,congrats.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
And everyone...Thank you :notworthy:
Super shot Curt :thumbsup: Great pics as always, congratulations.
Amazing Curt... :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Another one bites the dust ... brought to you once again by Mr.Automatic the Guru! Congrats Curt on an awesome shot and a beautiful bird! :thumbsup:
Dang Curt...great shoot! :thumbsup:
Good luck this weekend.
Great job curt and congrats!!! I couldn't get today off from work, the first time in ten years, but, I do have all next week and hopefully i'll be able to pull it off tomorrow!! congrats again and thanks for sharing! Jim :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome Curt! Great story and shot.
Somethin' tells me that you didn't use a "string tracker" ... Bet it was a Tazer Line! :rolleyes:
Congrats On Your Gobbler Curt!
... mike ...
Nice shootin Curt. Congrats. Hopefully the tail you gave me has some mojo in it!
Brian
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
One of my favorite things is waking up to the phone buzzing and a text coming in from one of my Tradgang buddy's.
Thats the way to wake up exspecially when it's a picture with success on the other end. :notworthy: :notworthy:
Good luck tomorrow with Cade :archer:
Tracy
:thumbsup:
The guy want so bad to try the Bullhead/Guillotine he uses the Snuffer as one!
Looking forward to the weekend report...
nice bird,congrats! :thumbsup:
Nice, very nice.. Love it when a plan comes together!
Hard to beat a day like that...Good one!!!
Congrats!
Congrats Curt.
Don't ya just love it when hard work pays off.
Well done Curt!!
Damn, you're making it look EASY Bro! :notworthy: (Like the saying goes: "The harder you work, the luckier you'll get!")
Good decision to pick up and move, no matter how tough it is...You're always a better caller when you call from the right SPOT!
Excellent hunt & pics as always. Congrats Curt. :clapper:
>>--Ron--<>
Here`s to the love and honor of the hunt!!!!
The preparation, the sacrifice, the dedication, and the undying respect for all that we, as hunters, hold dear.
Turkeys, deer, bears, hogs, and the list goes on and on.
Congratulations Guru...thanks so much for sharing in your success!!!!
April 1st of every year is the official start of turkey season for me, although our season doesn't start till may 1st.
That's a quote from you Curt on your "The Quest Begins.." thread. And how true it is! Although your morning was short, you have been at this for awhile and you finally got a chance to make all the preparation and scouting pay off.
Congratulations on showing us how it's done!!!
Now go get another one with Cade as your coach!
Good job!!! Congrats!!
Great story and pictures!!
Congrats Curt
SWEET!!
"CY" strikes again, congratulations.
Congrats :thumbsup: on a mighty fine turkey
Great shooting Curt, your decision payed off!!!
Yeah Man!!Great story! Good shot...awesome Bird. Hey I like wham-bam-thank-you-mam(man) stories.
Good luck with Cade!!
Curt, :thumbsup: :)
Hope you and Cade have a great weekend.
Way to go Curt.
Absolutely AWESOME My Friend!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup:
Nice job!
Excellent! Congratulations!
Way to make it all come together Curt. Congratulations. I'm already looking forward to the follow-up story about your hunt with Cade.
Thanx so much for the kind words fellas :notworthy:
We had a great hunt today....I mean a great hunt, but we didn't get a bird..... :(
Long story short....
....Took about an hour of following two hens, for "Bell Bottom", to get where he could see Lil' Floyd(strutting jake deke), and when he did, he left his hens and marched up the two track behind us headed for the deke's. He came into site on Cade's side of the blind about 10yds from us....looking good so far....
But for some reason before he got the dekes' and good spot to shoot....and I have no idea why....he spooked and started to walk quickly away....
As I drew in an awkward spot(not where I was planning to shoot), my bow arm hit the back rest on my chair(lesson learned)....I'm very bummed to say that all I got was some back feathers.....I was sick, but Cade was quick to tell me......"It's alright Daddy..."
It was a great day....but I'm still a little bummed....but....
We have another great set-up tomorrow....
The hunt is on for "The Count"...he's got some serious hooks!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/moreturks003.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/turkeys/moreturks0292.jpg)
Got him roosted tonight , and Cade and I will be up and out early :pray:
I'll get this done with Cade yet!
Thanx again guys
Sleep well, you two!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
Just like Joe, I recieved the call bright and early!! Congrats again bud!! When ya want to call one in for me? Shawn
Great job Kurt. :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Congrats Curt...Can't shoot much better than that..
I like stories with lots of pics...It really helps in being there....Cool stuff!!!
Nice shooting Curt. The string tracker may not be needed if you can center em like that. Good luck with your second hunt and number one son.
Curt~
As always, great shootin on them birds. I know how much work goes into it, and making it all come together...Excellent confidence in the shot near the waddles...most guys wouldnt pull it off...best of luck in the ensuing days...
Been a little remiss here, great job Curt!!! Glad to hear Cade is going with you too, I'm sure you two will do well......can't wait till you connect when he's with you......
Good job!!!!! :archer:
David
Curt- great job! I figured nothing but excellence after all the great pics. It had to be about as great as hunting bunnys when that arrow hit.
Matt
Awesome as always Curt. Great pics, great story, and great shooting. As for bird number two we will cut you some slack. I hope you and Cade can make it happen.
Well done!
Chris
Can't wait till you share the story when Cade is in on the hunt, Curt are you letting him call?
Congrats Curt!
CKR
Congrats Guru!
Way to go Curt !! :thumbsup:
I wasn't surprised when Shawn txt me that you had gotten 1 on Fri after all "your" season started weeks ago and putting in the time pays off.
Good luck on tag #2
now that's a heck of a shot :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats Curt on the culmination of preparation and anticipation. What a great bird, pics and story you've shared with us and I hope you can share the next with your boy. How I wish I could have had one of my boys in the blind this morning to witness gobblers in all their glory about to wreak holy h___! on ol" fake jake. How I love to turkey hunt! Man! Great Job and good luck.
Dave
Congrats Curt!! I've kinda been out of the loop and just now saw this!! Way to go bud!!
Too deadly, Curt, too deadly! Well-done!
CONGRATULATIONS BUDDY :clapper: That picture and text made our day.....
Curt,
Once again, it's been my (our) pleasure to share this journy with you.
Thank you so much.
Todd
Way to go Curt! Couldn't ask for a better shot than that! :thumbsup:
Curt....you always make it look so easy!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Congrats bud! :clapper:
Thank you everyone :notworthy:
Dang dude your a turkey killing fool.Hope you get one with Jr.this spring. :clapper:
Nice turkey Curt. Good luck this weekend with your son.
Good job Curt, great pics and story!
Izzy,Jeff, and Bill....Thank you
I've been struggling since....