I thought I would get this hunt started with some pics and Mike will jump in and fill in some of the details after he gets home and settles in.
Mike and I have talked about a turkey hunt for a long time and we finally got it done. We had a great time, lots of birds and I have no idea how many gobbles we heard or how many birds were seen but it was plenty for the small field we spent most of are time in.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a26-2.jpg)
We had three fun days of gobblers!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a9-6.jpg)
Jakes!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a29-2.jpg)
Hens!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a3-14.jpg)
Bearded lady's!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a4-12.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a28-2.jpg)
Some of Mike's selfbows!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a42.jpg)
And a little blood to!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a43.jpg)
Tracy
:campfire:
:thumbsup:
I cant wait to see the rest of this one!
C'mon boys... Spill your guts! :coffee:
I bought a new hen decoy to try out this year, there exspensive but after what we seen happen the last few days I think it was well worth the money.
Mike got there late in the afternoon and we rushed out and set up as fast as we could and climbed in the blind. Right away we had some hens come in and work all around the decoys talking and checking out the hen decoy the most.
The really seemed to like her.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a7-7.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a13-5.jpg)
Soon after I peeked out my side window and there was two nice gobblers 20yds away coming outof the timber. They seemed a little timid of the strutting decoy and started to move off gobbling at are every call.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a1-19.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a2-16.jpg)
It all happened pretty fast and before we new it another hen and a couple big gobblers came into the field a couple hundred yards away.
Mike gave a few yelps and they headed are way.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a5-11.jpg)
Both looked like they had been beaten up a little and didn't want to come in stopping about 35yds out strutting and gobbling.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a8-6.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a10-6.jpg)
Tracy
Cool!
Thanks for sharing.
Now I'll get my :campfire: while waiting for Mike to join in.
Thanks again!
God bless,Mudd
Then another big gobbler and a few more hens!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a14-4.jpg)
Deer were filtering into the field now also and I was thinking this was great way to start the hunt.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a11-6.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a12-6.jpg)
Tracy
I know how it ends, but I sure have been waiting on this one buddy :) :thumbsup:
That first afternoon was great, we had hens all over us but the big boys stayed out of range by about 15 yards. They would come no closer than around 35 yards. They hung around then followed the hens to the other end of the food plot. That hen decoy was the real deal, the hens loved it but the longbeards liked strutting for each other.
I've been wondering how the hunt went. That bloody arrow says a lot.
On with the show!!
Yep, Just when we thought we had a chance them dang hens headed of strait away from us and out of the field. :knothead: The one thing we did notice was all the turkeys kept coming and going out the same way in the field, It looked like we needed to move the blind.
We were back early that afternoon right after lunch, we pushed a few hens out of the field when we got there. But after setting up again and climbing in the blind we had hens coming back shortly. This is were we really saw how well the new hen decoy would work because we didn't set up the strutter this time.
The hens came up talking the whole time walking around her then started preening and finaly laying down beside her like they were best friends.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a19-3.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a17-4.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a37.jpg)
This would happen over and over the next few days.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a18-3.jpg)
Tracy
The hens acted like the decoy was their watch dog and felt like taking sun baths for hours. If the longbeards would have acted the same we would have had it made. After watching the turkeys end up at some time or another at the end of the field we decided to move blind to that end of the plot and thought we would have it made. For the next couple of days the hens and jakes were our best friends.
We thought we had it made at daylight the next morning when after hundreds of gobbles the turkeys were coming our way and less that 50 yards behind us.
:campfire:
This is a *most-excellent* thunder chicken hunt!
Thank you for sharin'!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
:campfire:
At this point I need to say Mike is one heck of a turkey caller with his voice and one of the best owl callers I've ever heard. Curt Cabrera is the only other person I have heard that is so good at calling without a call. :notworthy: :D
Mikes right hundreds of gobbles and they were getting closer and closer. Both of us were checking everything making sure nothing would go wrong when the time came to shoot. We had a slight breeze and the decoy was moving around slowly looking quite good and there was a couple hens down the field. Everything was perfect!
Tracy
:bigsmyl:
Tracy really knows how to show you a good time and had tons of game. Those birds that were coming fast and 50 yards or less and it looked like it was going to be a done deal real quick. The trail that the birds used coming into the field was a short three yards from our blind. Now all of the sudden for reasons unknown to us a hen behind us started alarm putting and the whole flock left with no turkeys coming into our decoy the rest of the morning. All we could figure was a coyote or bobcat came to all the talking these birds were doing.
The pm was about the same as before with hens all over us. I told Tracy with all this dusting and feather cleaning these hens were doing we were going to get some rain and rain it did. So the next morning I left the sinew backed osage at home and pulled out the Black Widow PCH and told Tracy just watch, that I would kill something now.
Dangit Man! You should have seen are faces when those turkeys went crazy putting and leaving the area. :mad: But nothing we could do about it.
More in the morning, Finish this up!
Tracy
Been waiting for this one to unfold. Good stuff already, and looks like much more to come!
I bought the same hen decoy this year and am anxious to give it a try. Glad to hear the glowing reports.
Great so Far. :thumbsup:
Keep it up :campfire:
Looks like a railroad line in a few pictures. Did it bother the birds?
Great story,..... :campfire:
great stuff Tracy! Is that the zink deke? I have the feeding hen and love it!!!
See ya in a few weeks.
Ps....I'm sitting at work....it's below freezing and still pushing knee to waste deep snow....this is torture I tell you ;)
Did I miss it? What brand decoy is that? Cool pictures and story and it's not even over!
Varmint, it's a Zink AvianX (At least it sure looks like mine)
Come on Tracy - it's morning and I'm already through two cups of coffee waitin on ya! :readit: :coffee: :coffee: :p
ditto that whip...I have the feeder and love it, great for traveling also. If I wasnt worried about traveling I'd go with the David Smith Deke or the new kid on the block Double bulls own "best turkey decoy".
Thanks guys!
Hud,trains don't bother them at all.
Yep Dan it's a Zink decoy and I plan on getting the feeder next they look and work great.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a44.jpg)
I will let Mike tell his story and I will put a few pictures up for you to look at. After the turkeys spooked it took a while but a few more hens started coming back into the field. Once again they started spending lots of time around are decoy.
Then this Jake showed up!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a21-2.jpg)
He was one nervous bird with all the big guys around but finally starting slowly going into strutt lke he new what he was doing.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a22-2.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a23-2.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a24-2.jpg)
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a25-3.jpg)
Tracy
These birds stayed around for along time but we decided to pass on this bird. We had a good time watching them though and were exspecting a big guy to show up anytime but it never happened.
We stayed till noon then headed in for a quick lunch and was back out there around 2:00pm. A few hens showed up but not much else till 6:30pm. My son said there was a group of four Jakes around but we hadn't seen them, They feed out into the field and so did another hen.
Mike gave a few yelps and here came, the Jakes followed right after her.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a30-2.jpg)
They were getting all excited not seeing any big guys to kick there butts and all the hens all by there selves. :D They came right into 8yds.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a45.jpg)
I was telling Mike it would be dark shortly but plenty of light for pics and we could bye another tag. I was ready to watch him drill one.
Tracy
Great hunt and pics!
Now I'm trying to convince myself I don't need one of those dekes. :D
Rob
Love seeing the play by play again Bud!! Keep it coming :thumbsup:
And you are absolutley right Mike when you say Tracy knows how to show a good tima and has a lot of game :)
No sense fighting it Rob. You definately need one - You'll never kill a turkey if you don't!
Did I help? :bigsmyl: :biglaugh:
Are there any sponsors that sell them?
I just sold my blind so I might as well have a good decoy to even the odds.
Rob
Great stuff guys!! Tracy, those pics are just awesome. You do a great job with the camera.
I bought one of those decoys last year and have had great results with. I need to get the feeder soon.
Looking forward to more. :campfire:
We were hoping for the big guy but it just wouldnt work that way this time. He did come back but walked right on by with every dusting and feeding hen in the food plot. We did have that group of four jakes come in and do their little side ways jake walk up to the decoy.
When they passed by at about 6 yards this one got a razor sharp Woodsman on a Traditional Only shaft right through the sweet spot. The arrow passed compleatly through and I saw the bright red shaft fly out the other side as he spun to take off. I told Tracy that I drilled him but he got air born and was doing his best to clear the trees on the edge of the field, when right at the edge of the trees and at the top of them to boot he began to slow and died in mid air. I will never forget the picture in my mind as that bird free fell 70' in the air like you had dropped a pillow out of an airplane.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/Kansashunt1064.jpg)
A real trophy, I took a Rio in Texas with this Widow last year and now an Eastern in Kansas. I will be in Wyoming next weekend for their opener to try for my third bird of a traditional grand slam.
I had been hunting with one of my sinew backed osage bows all week but this day it was raining so I decided to pack my Black Widow PCH and thats when it happened.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/Kansashunt1083.jpg)
There is nothing like the feeling you get when turkey hunting with a bow. This PCH is so easy to shoot in a blind that it makes it easy to do the shooting, great bow.
(http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac73/mikeyancey/Kansashunt1045.jpg)
I did get the kill on video but it wasen't my best work, I was filming out of the side window and was just getting ready to move the camera when I looked up and seen Mike drawing his bow.
O crap! But it worked out and here are a few still shots I pulled off the film. Here's the arrow (Its Yellow fletched) about to hit the middle bird.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c1-4.jpg)
And after hitting and buried to the fletch.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/c2-4.jpg)
It was a perfect shot! I couldn't believe how far that bird went with no lungs. We did a autopsy.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/1778733d.jpg)
The big bird that took the hens was quite impressive and we had him at 50yds but he wasen't about to leave the live hens!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a40.jpg)
Tracy
It was a great hunt even though we didn't get the big one but there's always next time. :goldtooth:
Plans were made for future hunts and I'm really looking forward to them.
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a36.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
Tracy
Congrats guys! Great pictures too as always.
By the way, I liked the pictures so much I ordered one of those decoys! Gander has them on sale online with no shipping. Sweet!
Sounds like a gret hunt. The pictures were also fantastic
Most excellent! Two better guys you will never find. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats and thanks for the great pics!
Super hunt and pics guys. It must of been pretty cool to see that jake die in mid flight. And a relief also. LOL :archer2:
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Great story and awesome shot on a great Bird :thumbsup: :campfire:
:clapper:
Great job guys! Love the photo spread.... :thumbsup:
Great pics and story guys! Congrats Mike on a fine bird. Send me some of that mojo will ya. These birds are makin a fool outa me ;)
Tracy,
I noticed in the picture of me and you that our beards are getting a lot more silver. We might ought to speed up those future hunt plans.
Mike it was tough there, the big boys didn't want to play right. That sure is a good bear you took, good luck on the turkeys.
Mike
:bigsmyl:
Hang in there Mike D, it's still a little early buddy just to many hens running around yet. I like it a little later myself when the hens are off sitting longer on there nest.
Hey Yancey my son went over and tryed are blind tonight and used the longbeard decoy but had the same thing. Lots of hens and the pair of big gobblers plus the jakes but the big guys stayed out at 35yds again. He said some of the hens came up and layed down again with the decoy, He thought it was too funny but good :thumbsup:
Tracy
Way to go guys!!! Huntin with Tracy is about as fun as it gets. Always lots of critters to chase and great company.
I'd hoped to drop by and spend a little time with the two of you, but it just didn't work out this time.
Glad to see some blood drawn. As always great pics. and story Tracy.
Congratulations on a fine shot Mike.
bretto
Congrats again Mike!! Tracy is as good a host and friend as a guy can find. :thumbsup:
Nice hunt Mike and Tracy. You got to just love turkey hunting.
Great story and pics; the old boy has it too easy. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by steadman:
Congrats again Mike!! Tracy is as good a host and friend as a guy can find. :thumbsup:
X2 :campfire:
Awesome, thanks for sharing!!!
Way to go and great pictorial!
Great hunt guys! Congrats Mike!
OK KS Trapper...I am now broke thanks to you and Mike. New blind, 2 new decoys...now if ONLY I could shoot as good as you two fellas :)
Great story and pictures guys!
Wapiti792 All that you need now to get it done is a new Black Widow or a Pine Hollow Longbow and you can do it just like that!
I see a trip to your bow school in my future Mike :campfire: Again, great bird and great pics!
That will be great Mike we have fun at them.
Mike
Congratulations on a great hunt! Really enjoyed the pictures! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Great Job! Thanks for taking us along!
Congratulations Glenn
Thanks for the great story and photos guys. Really enjoyed it.
Congratulations! Great pics and story. Thanks for sharing.
Nice bird, good shooting and a good tale well told... :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing- looked like great fun and the pics were awesome.
Thanks for the story and great pics. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great story and pics from both of you. Thanks, enjoyed it :thumbsup: