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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: thetroutguy on May 11, 2007, 07:49:00 PM
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I just got back from a hunt with Fred Eichler for Merriams in southern Colorado. What a great hunt. We had toms hanging around every day we were there. Finally connected on one the last day.
24 lbs. 8 1/2" beard. 3/4" spurs.
GREAT time had by all. I will tell the whole story after I am caught up on sleep.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r266/bowcamp/Bowhunting/2007%20Turkey/EricFredTurkey.jpg)
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Way to go...
Congrats.. :clapper:
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Thanks. We had a great time. My buddy and I both hunted for four days. One afternoon we took a couple of hours off after lunch to shoot the 3-D range with Fred. I won't tell you who won (me) because Fred might get mad. LOL.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r266/bowcamp/Bowhunting/2007%20Turkey/shootingwithfred.jpg)
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One more for good measure. Will get more pics later...
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r266/bowcamp/Bowhunting/2007%20Turkey/Copy_of_P1000726.jpg)
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Congrats Pal...nice bird, looks like a great trip and beautiful country. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Way to go Eric! Congrats buddy!!!
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Was a great trip. My Dad went along to take pictures. It was a hunt of a lifetime. I haven't been able to hunt with my Dad for the last 7 years so it was pretty special to have my Dad along to share the experience. Good friends, good family, good hunting. What more could a guy want?
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Was Fred shooting the longcurve on that 3-D shoot?
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No he was shooting a Toelke whip longbow. Actually, Dan is a friend of mine and when Fred ordered his longbow (10 minutes before I was ordering mine) we decided to make matching whips for Fred, my friend Tim, and I so we have bows made from the same piece of cocobolo and the same piece of koa (on the veneers). They are absolutely gorgeous. I have a picture of the three of us standing on a hill with the matching bows. As soon as my Dad emails it to me I will post it.
Fred does have the "Longcurve" and is planning to hunt with it this spring. My Dad made the longcurve and was pretty excited that Fred ended up with it. Cool story all the way around.
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Congrats!!
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Very cool :thumbsup: Congrats on a really nice bird. Love the colors in those things.
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Way to go bud!!,, Absolutely beautiful bird and nice backdrop to boot.
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Very AWSOME! Congratulations on a beautiful trophy! :thumbsup:
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Great pic's..............nice looking Gobbler>>>>CONGRAT's
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congrats on a great looking Merriam. now all we need are the details..
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Congrats Eric on a great hunt, having your dad long makes it extra special. :thumbsup:
David
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Congrats!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
F-Manny
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OK guys here are some details...
I met Fred and Michele at the Montana Bowhunters Convention in March. They were kind enough to donate a hunt to the raffle and I was fortunate enough to win the hunt. Needless to say, I was excited. I brought along my good friend Tim who also hunted and my Dad who didn't have tag but spent the weekend hunting with a camera.
When we arrived in camp we were pleased to see that Fred was just as excited and fun as he was at the convention. Sometimes speakers "put on a show" for the public and then when you are with them on their turf and they aren't trying to promote themselves they are totally different. Not Fred. He is the same at 3 in the morning as he is at 3 in the afternoon. He is the same in real life as he is on TV. That guy is one happy son of a gun and he never gets tired. He is always willing to share a story, but is also willing to listen to one.
So we set up in the bunkhouse, and prepared our gear, etc. and decided to shoot a little. Fred has a great 3-D course set up on his property so my Dad, Tim, and I shot the course and had a blast. It was nice to shoot with my Dad again. I moved away 7 years ago and he had some health issues that kept us from hunting or even shooting together for all of that time. It was very special to me to be able to shoot with my Dad.
We hunted hard the next three days with Tim getting two shots and not connecting. I must have walked 4 billion miles in three days and spent a million hours in a double bull blind and at the end of it all, although I had Tom's all around me every day, I had finished my 3 day hunt without a single shot opportunity.
Luckily our plane didn't leave until dinner time the next day and Fred said we should give it one more try. This was a fourth day of a FREE 3 day hunt and Fred was as excited as anyone. He sure didn't have to do that, but that is what makes Fred, Fred. So we set up on the edge of an alfalfa field and waited for daybreak. Sure enough just as the sun was hitting the field 4 big toms sauntered into range. The last one was the biggest AND the closest so I waited. And waited. And waited. Until finally the last one of the 4 came into range at 17 yards. I calmly drew my Toelke Whip longbow proceeded to shoot an inch over his back. The bird hopped a little and just calmly kept walking. By the time I got another arrow knocked was about 25 yards and this time I smoked him. He hopped about 6 feet in the air when the arrow struck its mark. Then he just tucked back in line and walked with the other 3 toms. I knew I had hit him but didn't know how well. After a few seconds he went down in a heap. Nothing like a last minute bird. The fourth day of a three day hunt, mere hours before I have to catch a plane and I had finally taken my first turkey.
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Congrats on a real nice bird, enjoyed the photo's.....
Fred is a great hunter and guide and an even nicer guy.... He runs a top notch guide service.
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Way to go son... You have a right to be proud. This was a hunt I will always remember. You and your hunting partner Tim, and ofcourse Fred Eichler made me realize that archery will live on long after I am gone.... Thanks for a trip of a lifetime.
Love, Dad
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you took your turkey on the fourth day of a three day hunt??? Doesn't that make it 4 of 3 just like your bow ?? Got you on that one...
Sado
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You are right. I made that connection a few days ago, but figured I would save it for the magazine article.
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Here is a picture of Fred and I after completing the 3-D course. You can probably tell how it went...
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r266/bowcamp/fredpout.jpg)
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Of course I made Fred leave his Palmer recurve at the house and shoot the longbow since he wasn't as practiced up with the Whip.
Here is a picture of Tim, Fred, and I with the matching Toelke Whips.
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r266/bowcamp/Tripletwhiplets.jpg)
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Great story and photos. Nice to know there are guys like Fred out there. :thumbsup: