Turkeys seem to be just about the toughest darn things I have ever bowhunted. My limited success with a bow has been pretty much sitting in a blind and hoping to draw one into range.
But that generally means putting the blind in place ahead of time and I tend to be very immobile while hunting this way. I know that my best chance of success comes from just sticking it out and waiting. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting......
I kind of miss the old "run and gun" days of turkey hunting when I toted my trusty ol' 12 gauge. But that is tough to do on turkeys with a bow in your hand.
Joebuck is one of the few that seems to have it figured out. I am making a real effort this spring to follow his formula for success, and am commiting myself to stick with it for at least the first two hunting periods that I hold tags for this year. (I actually have three tags, but will withhold a decision on how bad I want a turkey for the last one)
Here is my set up.
Turkey eye view -
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Turkeys%202011/2011Turkeys001.jpg)
My viewpoint -
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Turkeys%202011/2011Turkeys008.jpg)
There are three keys to the set up that I am hoping will make the difference. I've used the ghili suit before, but new to me this year are the bow blind and a Waldrop Pacseat.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Turkeys%202011/2011Turkeys006.jpg)
Attaching the bow blind was a bit of a challenge, but Joey the Inventor came up with a great solution. I needed an out of production Cobra stabilizer mount. This would allow the blind to be folded to the side of the bow for easy carrying through the woods. A long shot plea on the classifieds here led to a response, and thanks to the generosity of Chuck Cook (elknutz here) I was hooked up and ready to go.
Here is a close up of how the blind attaches to my Super Diablo.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Turkeys%202011/2011Turkeys007.jpg)
On other addition to my set up this year is a new gobbler decoy that is still on the way. I think it is called a SpinNStrut. It sits on stake and with the use of a rope I will be able to spin it in place and raise and lower the fan. Looks awesome to me - we'll wait and see what the big birds have to say about it... ;)
Thats cool,great looking Diablo.
Whip....yeah....that's not a bad guy to 'wanna be' like. As a matter of fact, there a bunch of guys on TG to 'wanna be' like. Looks like you are ready for sure.
BTW..what kind of bow is that?
Nice set-up Joe. Good luck!
T, it's a Damon Howatt Super Diablo that I recently refinished. It's a sweetheart!
Good luck!
:bigsmyl: Looks good Joe :thumbsup: and should work great, Good luck buddy looking forward to more storys and successful picks!!
Shoot strait :archer2:
Tracy
Whoa...Joe's in Joey drag and I like the way he looks!
Hmmmmm....I'm not sure I should have said that.
Good luck Joe. Waiting for the story and pics.
Hunting turkeys like Joey is a WHOLE 'nuther level! I have a hard enough time out of the Double Bull. Good luck to you Joe; it will be fun for sure.
Looks like a killer set up to me! Very nice looking bow Joe! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Heck of a set up, Joe!Good luck,I'll be hiding in my blind.!
Bill
I am not Worthy!!!! you got it nailed Whip. hope u get covered up with birds.. Keep us current on your endeavors...I have been covered up with Tee Ball and honey dues but it will pass
Nice setup for sure, I hope you have some luck
That is clever!
You should have been in my back yard a couple hours ago. You for sure would have had them laughing enough to get a shot.
Very interesting Joe. How does it effect your shooting? Good luck, looking for some hero pics!
Pretty cool Joe. Looking at the first picture, did you ever think about using actual brush instead of the burlap? You might have some kind of local vegetation that would be quiet and effective...
Love that Diablo!
Like it!!!! Should be some entertaing stories to tell as well. Good luck Joe!
Lookin great whip, wish ya well. Might need to try that myself... For me to sit for longer than 5 mins is very challenging for myself. Keep us posted and thanks for sharing.. Btw always has a soft spot for the Howatts..very nice refinish work..Warberg
Very Nice I need to hunt some turkeys
Very inventive set up. Does the blind interfere at all?
Good luck!
It was good to see you at P&Y Joe! You did a fantastic job on the Super Diablo. :thumbsup:
I don't think those turkeys stand a chance!
Great looking set up and bow, good luck!
-Jay
Looks Good Joe. Good luck! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by jcar315:
Does the blind interfere at all?
No interference from the blind, although it does made it tough to follow arrow flight and see the hit on shots more than 10 yards or so. I made a couple of adjustments today that seems to help, and now am seeing the arrow better.
Joe, you might need one of Joey's Wooden Hen scratch calls to complete the picture... been practicing with mine today in prep for hunting in MO next week.
Is there a sign up sheet for wanting to be Joebuck? If so, sign me up! Nice looking set up Whip - good luck. Can't wait to see the pics.
Whip,
I'm not so sure about Joey. Look what he did to me a couple of years ago. I think he just likes to see guys dressed up kinda funny :rolleyes:
Martha Stewart wreath taped to my bow, torn rags adorning my body, and waiting in the woods for a snipe...errr I mean a turkey to walk by :biglaugh: It is definitely challenging but a lot of fun. Good Luck...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/MarthaStewartTurkeyBow001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/VermontTurkeyHunt.jpg)
Doc that sure is a perty wreath,i mean blind, you have there. Maybe you ought to add that purty flower to it as well.
Good luck Whip,I think your on to em now.
Tippit, don't sell Joey short. We have some fine snipes, er, turkeys, down here. I b'lieve that rig will work. Just get you a burlap bag, and whistle like Joey told you.
Don't read me wrong...that was definitely a tongue in cheek on Joey. I think the man is truly innovative in his approach to hunting with the bow :notworthy: Doc
Well, I finally had a chance to put my plan into action this week. First hour of the first morning I called in a nice tom with 4 jakes in tow. He stepped out at 15 yards, but apparently my hen decoy wasn't pretty enough or he didn't feel like fighting the jake decoy. Didn't seem spooked, just simply continued walking right on past me. I was afraid to move for fear of spooking him.
Yesterday started out slow. Had three toms gobbling from the trees, but all seemed to find hens immediately and none came my way.
Later in the morning I heard a gobble from the other side of my property. I headed on over, and he continued to be kind enough to gobble occasionally so that I could get a good fix on his location. I got the decoys up, settled in, and let out a series of yelps.
In a manner of minutes I heard strumming to my left. Sure enough, out walked two jakes followed by a struting tom. Right up to the decoys - this is cool! But now the delemia - how the heck can I raise and draw my bow with so many sharp eyes so close?
I wanted the tom, and finally decided it was now or never. I eased tension gradually on the string, expecting at any second this whole thing was going to blow up on me. Just as I nearly reached full draw, and the struting tom conveniently stepped behind a bush. I eased the string back down.
As he stepped out again, I once again drew back, and all I could think about was dang, this might just work! I think I was a little premature with my release though, and my arrow passed through the puffed up feathers above his back.
They all ran off up the hill, and before even reaching the top he was back in strut and gobbling again. Certainly not overly spooked, but they simply wandered off.
Man, that was close! As disappointed as I am to have missed, I think I was actually just dumbfounded that I could actually get drawn on a turkey, (3 of them) at that range, without a blind, and not get busted.
Although I have no bird in the freezer, I do have a new found confidence that I could actually pull this trick off. And I have two more tags in my pocket that are valid in a couple more weeks.
I will be back!!
Thats cool Joe, I am sure the turkey won't be so lucky next time!!!
What I'm hearing is your new set up is a success!Now, its just a matter of using the new confidence in your set up.You can now concentrate on making the shot,and not wondering if the set up will work.
It seems I learn more from failed attempts then I do success.Is this the same for you?
Congrats on a great morning.
Bill
Very cool Joe! Keep at them.
Keep after them Joe!
You've got it exactly right Bill. I just knew they were going to blow out of there any second and leave me hanging. I was concentrating so hard on not being seen on the draw that I don't think I even thought about executing the shot. Next time!
QuoteOriginally posted by Whip:
You've got it exactly right Bill. I just knew they were going to blow out of there any second and leave me hanging. I was concentrating so hard on not being seen on the draw that I don't think I even thought about executing the shot. Next time!
Exactly what I did last year my first time in the ghillie!!! Not this year :pray:
Stay with it bud :archer2:
Grasshopper '!!!!!! You got it!!!! Here's a little trick I do I do not talk about much but my bow and arrow are same height needed to shoot bird at decoy by resting the bottom bow tip on the back of my boot about ankle high. When I draw, I push out bow just a little to clear my boot and draw and shoot.......most important thing is keep your cool when bird is at decoy, draw when opportunity presents, and be confident.......my bow stays in bow stand 99 percent of time till right before showtime...then I place it on back of my boot at right height so no movement except draw is needed
Keep your chin up........
The master has spoken and I'm taking notes.
Bill
Way cool Joe. Sounds like you are on the right track.
I really like the flexibility and mobility of this system. In years past when that tom started talking I would have been pinned down in my blind hoping against hope that he might travel my way. This time I just grabbed my decoys and chair and was able to go to him and set up close. What an advantage it is to be able to call from 100 yards away instead of a 1/4 mile.
Also much more flexible at daybreak when they are gobbling from the trees. I never liked trying to be mobile with a blind, chair, decoys, and all the paraphernalia. So I always had my blind set up ahead of time and was locked into my location for the morning. Not anymore!
I spent 16 hours in my Double Bull blind over the last two days and saw nothing.I could hear them but they sure didnt want to cooperate. I have the Pacseat and also have a Bush N A Bag that I got from Big Jim.Reading this thread makes me want to head after them this weekend and leave the Double Bull in the vehicle.At least I would get lots more exercise.Good luck Whip!
Joe,
So close!! You will get em next time. Getting that close to them is awesome. I missed a tom @ 4 yards last year out of my DB. That was the most exciting miss ever. I am going out with the bow during the 4th period, next week. I cant wait. Good luck!!!,
Matt
What is the name of Joey's blind, and is their a setup that works with bows that are not drilled for a stabalizer.
Very Nice Joe!!! Looking forward to seeing the pictures when it all comes together!
hey i look at it like this
at least you got a shot right
:bigsmyl: :goldtooth:
good luck and safe hunting to you n yours
The bow blind is called the Hidden Hunter blind. Do a search for Innovative Hunter Inc. and you will come up with it.
It works really nice with a stabilizer hole set up. I would think that maybe the gadget adapter thing that Great Northern sells could be adapted to make it work on bows that don't have the stabilizer hole.
Thanks for sharing Joe!
Joe, I really think psyching yourself into focusing on the shot and not on the fear of getting busted is the hardest part of this game you are playing. I've failed more than succeeded but I distinctly remember the first bird I connected on, I told myself right before shooting that I don't care if I get busted....just focus on that spot and make the shot. It worked. Did it again the second try, same season, and haven't been able to do it since!
Hey that's as close to a win as you can get the first time out with a new system. Great stuff Joe!
By the way, what type of noise occurs with this umbrella attached to the bow upon release?
No extra noise at all that I noticed. It did take some getting used to learning to shoot through the hole in the netting, but it is very quiet.
Sounds like you had a pretty good time. Keep after them Joe. We get to start chasing them tomorrow.
im rootin for you whip, still working on my first bird also with a stick an string. im gettin closer each yr. :thumbsup:
Great stuff, but as one who hates hanging stuff on the side of the bow. I am wondering about some sort of small screen over a light frame you could just set up directly in front of you?
QuoteOriginally posted by LITTLEBIGMAN:
Great stuff, but as one who hates hanging stuff on the side of the bow. I am wondering about some sort of small screen over a light frame you could just set up directly in front of you?
The Hidden Draw blind is actually what you are wanting and attaches to the front of the bow.I looked the info. up and actually placed an order for one yesterday.They are located in Iowa.There is also a Hidden Hunter blind but it is a pop-up type.The Hidden Draw Blind is made by Innovative Hunter and that is the one Whip is usiing.
Whip..... any luck yet??? :campfire:
QuoteOriginally posted by PA stickbow boy:
Whip..... any luck yet??? :campfire:
Whip may not be back home yet.I met him this past weekend at the Tenn. Classic near Clarksville,Tn.
I figured he is probably out and about and I'm sure there will be a story to follow :)
Yep, still on the road, right now in AL with Don & Skyler Wilson trying to get in a little bowfishing in between visiting. My next turkey tag won't be valid until the middle of next week.
Hope to have more stories to report then!