Had the Turkey hunt of a lifetime today. I went to Fort stewart for a rematch with the Tom I missed last week. I got there and "my" area was scheduled for control burn.....So I signed in to F1. An area I`ve never set foot in. Looking on the map it had several drains and looked promising and no one else was checked in it.
I walked the first drain I came across. I would walk a ways and yelp a bit then if no action I move on.I checked the sandy high spots in the swamp for strut sign and logged awful hog spots in my head.
I decided to ride the perimeter road around the area and check for tracks. I came up on an old logging road running parallel with a drain and about a 100 yards from it.The road was a bit muddy and had a lot of Turkey tracks with zero human sign.After about 250 yards from the jeep I was standing near a big white oak and heard a Gobbler sound off. I had not called yet...
He was a couple hundred yards away so I cut the distance more than in half. The woods were thick enough I thought I would get away with getting close before setting up.
I had on my leafy jacket and hat ,no decoys and no chair.I had one mouth call and a hungry Hill bow.
I let out a few yelps and THEY jumped on them. There were at least two gobblers and they gobbled at least 10 times non stop. They would gobble at me and each other.
I eased my phone out of my pocket and called Brother John Bookhart. I whispered"listen" and yelped. The Gobblers hammered about 50 yards away. I yelped again and another Gobbler gobbled 20 yards in front of me.A sneaky one. I have been hunting without a blind since I killed my first bird of the year and have really enjoyed the run and longbow hunting method. I was on my knees behind a big triple trunked live oak with gaulberry bushes spotted all around. I had a real thick behind me as well.The bird came to my right side where I could`nt shoot and walked a half circle and was behind me at ten yards. I leaned over and had the bow horizontal to the ground ...same as my pig shot last week.....I missed. Shot low and the bird jumped and went behind a bush. I loaded up another arrow and he came out behind the bush in full strut...my kind of Turkey.
Almost at full draw the bird saw me and turned towards me and kept strutting. I did`nt miss...He flew about 8-10 feet straight up and came down staggering.Walked ten yards and fell over . Estwing Dead....Estwing is a hammer for you city fellers.
where he fell..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0850.jpg)
A pic at the pass and permit the nice Lady took for me.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0852.jpg)
A pic my Son took for me at home.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0858.jpg)
A pic of my homemade Turkey killing single bevel Magnus I head and an 8 1/2" beard.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_0859.jpg)
Thank You Good Lord.RC
I don't think that is Estwing dead...looks like Stanley dead,.....lol! Nice Job!
:thumbsup:
Awesome congrats!!! :clapper:
That is some fine hunting action!!!
Way to go!!
Great story and a nice bird,congrats. :thumbsup:
RC,
Always enjoy your stories and great pictures.
Nice job on thr Turkey. :thumbsup:
I love when someone is handed lemons and he makes lemonade.
You da man! Thanks for sharing with us!
God bless,Mudd
Great story and pics!
Bdddddddddaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Thats how I want to do it. Mad props.
nice job buddy....Jer Bear
Well-done!
Another awesome job.
Awesome, RC! :thumbsup:
HOLY COW!!!!Thats too much.
Congrats,you earned that one!
Great job, RC! Thanks for sharing again. So, how bad was the pig sign?
Way to go RC! Congrats!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well done RC!
The spurs on those turk's will be rattlin' from now on when they know that you are in their neck of the woods.
Nice 2nd shot!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Congrats Congrats....that is impressive!!!
congrats
Outstanding Robert!! :notworthy:
Nicely done RC :thumbsup:
No blind, first day in, what an awesome hunt. Congrats RC. You sure know your stuff! :thumbsup:
Thats the way it should be, fun and rewarding! Great job.
Way to go RC! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Now "that's" bowhunting! Good for you RC. :thumbsup:
very nice!
Congrats RC,thanks for sharing.
Congratulations RC! I've been thinking Joey is the man.
Looks like I might just be wrong.
Nice job RC! No face paint or head net either? I wish I could get away from carrying all the junk into the woods all the time, blind, decoys etc etc. All the extra stuff takes alot of the fun out of it. You have inspired me to make a change. Thanks, Glen
Very nice as usual!!!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:notworthy: Going old school without all the trappings, great job.
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Awesome job RC!!! I'm gonna be trying my hand at the "run and longbow" method in just a couple weeks; I sure hope it works as well for me as it did for you!
:thumbsup:
Great hunt again RC! Congrats on a super turkey.
As others have said too: always click on your threads RC as then are not to be missed.
Thanks again for sharing.
Congrats RC! Awesome hunt! Thanks for sharing!
Way to go RC. That is a great bird.
Another awesome hunt and story. Way to go, Robert. I can tell I need to be there more often.
Good shooting, too. How are you liking the Hill bow.
When are you getting yours?
Dan
Another great story. Thanks.
Thanks guys.
Keith Karr...JoeBuck and Guru kill Turkeys on purpose, I just get lucky sometimes.
Gmasiuk, The leafy suit has a flip over type hood and I had a primos mask on.
DNOVO, I love the Hill bows. I`ve been shooting them off and on for a few years.They seem to work well for my style of shooting and hunting too. Mine should be here soon. Craig told me 4-5 weeks and this coming Friday will be 5. RC
Congratulations.Nice shooting and an equally nice bird.
Whoa, you guys are making me see how sorry of a turkey hunter I am. Good going!
So......what'd John say?
THAT is a challenge!!!!
Congrats on the bird and hunt, someday I wish I can take a turkey with out a blind
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
Way to go SwampRat!!!
Congrats! That's a genuine trophy! :thumbsup:
Phenomenal! Outstanding accomplishment.
Keith, you got it right..RC is the man. :notworthy: we need to turn him loose on Bin Laden....RC could get 30 feet from him!
Very nice Congratulations
RC have I told you lately that I am proud of you?
You have learned everything I taught you and remembered it well. You have always been my best student.
xoxo your Sensei
You.Da.Man RC. :notworthy: Congrats brother. Wayne you taking student applications, I need a mentor.
Congrats on the Nice Bird, AND the Fine Shot!! :thumbsup: :archer:
RC
You are a killing machine, your woodsman skills must be top notch.
Thanks for sharing, congrats!