Well, Got up early this Morning for some Turkey hunting. Eased in the same Creek Bottom I killed the Jake in last week. Listened for a while...nothing. I`m already here I thought and I know that somewhere in this swamp is a Gobbler so I sat down and started to call some. I`m a self proclaimed poor caller.After a few calls and about a thirty minute wait I call again. This time a bit louder.Wait a few minutes and I hear a Gobbler yelping. Not gobbling but yelping.I wait and realize I am in an awful position to shoot the direction hes coming from.I move a bit and get "better" and wait.
I hear some hens yelping and the Gobbler yelps. I think they getting close and my calling is bad so I scratch a few leaves with my hand and in about 15 minutes I got 3 hens and a Gobbler at about 20 yards.I`m setup stupid...I got no draw tree or decoys out and the birds are going by. realizing it aint gonna get better and is about to be over I try to slow draw and its working.....One of the Hens spots me and runs as do the other two. The Gobbler runs too...towards me. I hit anchor and MISS the rascal at about 12 steps.He flys off and thats the end of that. I did`nt pick a spot.Shot at the whole bird as he came towards me. knowing it was coming apart I rushed my shot and choked.Now for the REST of the story...RC
:campfire:
I head out dejected,mad at myself and ...hungry. Missed breakfast. what was I thinking.
I start to ease out and see a limb move a bit and ....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1459.jpg)
After Breakfast and short nap I decide to go set a blind I have in the corner of my Uncles Field. I see Turkeys there every afternoon from the road and I`m feeling the need to shoot on for a confidence builder.I porbably shot 50 arrows after my miss and had to get even with`em.
Long story short I get in the blind and it is HOT.Its in the sun and I ain`t liking it.My hats off to you Fellas that hunt Antelope from one and sit all day. I sit a few minutes maybe 20 and pull an Orange out I brought and peel and eat it. Thought about Biggie and chuckled. I didn`t have doughnuts.
Wipe my hands off on my pants...My Mom would have yelled at me for that and looked up.A Gobbler in the Food plot/field. He pecks here pecks there and mainly does what Turkeys do with not even a small chance of being in a hurry to do it.He is coming down the edge towards me so I get the Big Five on ready....I`m starting to shake and close my eyes and tell myself to calm down and pick a spot. The Turkeys about 15 steps give or take and I shoot. The arrow hits where I was looking and the Bird does the unthinkable. Takes to the air . Bad
I listen and get a bearing. He flys in the Branch. For you yanks thats a small creek down here. I set back and text a couple of Friends and gather my pack and stuff and get to looking...
Sounding good so far. Got my fingers crossed for you.
Gerald
Rob what is that in a tree....damn near looks like a python. :scared:
My pack is kinda different. I`ve been using it for nearly 20 years. I found a drum of pouches in the woods once while hunting fort stewart. They had been there so long the drum was nearly full of water. I got about 6 of them from the top that were still good. I washed them up and made me a double pack from them . This was before you could buy packs at stores around here and the internet. After the "modern" packs have came out I`ve bought probably a half dozen and still always go back to my homemade old one.It works.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1474.jpg)
I find a way in the branch without having to crawl and with a whole lotta luck this fella fell right in the open by the water...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1462.jpg)
Not a "Big" Bird but I`ve said before I`m not a Trophy Hunter.The Trophy for me is seeing that ball of yellow go where I was looking.
The Big Simmons bags its second Bird of the year and should have been three except for operater error..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1472.jpg)
Happy swamper...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1470.jpg)
And my favorite Turkey hunting book with the two beards from this year. At least they are getting BIGGER...God Bless,RC.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1478.jpg)
Congrats! Still Working on mine.
Great story telling RC!
Thanks for the pictures to back it up.
Congratulations!!
God bless,Mudd
As always RC....great story and great pics.
A RC story is never complete without a snake picture.
Thanks for sharing.
Congrats, and well done, as usual.
Gerald
Way to go RC! Well done, Congrats. :thumbsup:
Nice shootin' and wonderful story telling. Thanks for taking us along.
-Jeremy :coffee:
Good story with a happy ending. Thanks RC
Great story congrats,that snake looked huge. :eek:
Way to go RC! Love your stories :scared:
What a day! Can't wait til my son gets home from work to see your story. And thanks for explaining what a branch is, I'm a Yankee!!
as always nice job. hay by the way what kind of snake is that.thanks ED
way to go rc!! :thumbsup:
Awesome RC
The TURKEY DANCE is what those ol' toms do when they hear that RC IS IN THE WOODS!
Nice confidence shot right there!
:jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:notworthy: Nice job.....what kind of snake was in the tree?
Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks guys. It was a big rat snake.You get used to`em.RC
Thanks for sharing RC,always enjoy reading your stories and pics..
What kind of snake was that in the tree.Looks like it was big enough to back a bow by it self.
always love reading about your adventures.great hunt
Nice job again RC!
Fantastic story...thanks for sharing. Love the pic of the dead turk in the creek with your awesome yellow fletched arrow sticking out.
GOOD STUFF!!
Congratulations on your turkey! I think I'd go absolutely nuts if I saw a snake like that in a tree! I'm not sure a person could ever get used to that!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great hunt!! If we always scored, that wouldn't even be natural for predators. Several of my most treasured hunts ended with no harvest.
TV, movies, videos never seem to take me on a hunt like this.
The advantage of going on this trip with you was that I didn't get one tick.
Congrats and thank you for sharing this hunt.
Thanks for taking us along on your hunts! I find myself geting on line to see if you have killed a turkey everyday!
Nice goin RC!
Always look forward to your hunts & pics.
Eric
Enjoyed you hunt.BBBIIIGGG snake.Congrats.nice shooting RC.
Nice story RC.
Great story R.C.. Looking forward to some hunting for the big birds myself. Heard my first birds on the roost this morning. They are just starting to fire up up here.
Way to go RC!
Congrats,great story
Great job on a tough trophy. Man that was lucky he fell in the open and a good job on your part pinning his position down. Congrats. :goldtooth:
Nice job on redeaming yourself,congradulations.Our season hasn't even started thanks for sharing.
Congratulations! Our season in Ontario opens around opens on the 25th of April. Looking forward to it!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats, and well done RC! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
RC, always enjoy your hunts and pics. I know about rushing the shot and missing.
RC, you are a machine! And you always have the best stories! Way to go!
Congrats on your birds. I love this story. Since I am a "yank", I now know what a Branch is and that those southern birds can fly/swim in them. Take Care! Peace!