I just got back yesterday from a marathon trip to Florida with my wife and kids. It was a spring break vacation kind of thing where you hang out in overpriced theme parks and just hold on...it is a terrible place for a bowhunter. My wife knew it was time to go when I started sizing up the flamingos at Sea World and "picking a spot" on the polar bear while drawing my imaginary longbow.
I did however get to hunt for 2 whole wonderful days. I hunted with Tarponut at True South Adventures (sponsor here) near St Augustine. That was my portion of the vacation, and it was too short. I have to apologize to Jim (tarponut) for not taking good photos as I love to tell stories through pics. However, I had so much going on trying to video a hunt and oh by the way, kill my first turkey with a longbow, that my still camera got left behind. I had the pleasure of hunting with fellow Tradganger Rod Schaefer (sp?) who had booked with Jim and we were into birds every day. Jim was a great host and I feel like I missed something in camp by leaving every night to go back to the hotel. NEXT year I am camping and putting the family up in a nice hotel sans dad and husband :)
It was a great 2 days and I had my chance: right after a thunderstorm that got my goat out steps a big gobbler EXCEPT I was fooling with my camera and did not have my feces coagulated. So, story is, no bird, no great pics, but a new friend was made and I am goin' back to hunt those demon birds from hades AGAIN next year baby!
I learned that Osceolas don't talk much, show up when you aren't ready, and 9 year old boys who hang in a blind with you 8 hours have some serious food and digestion issues :)
If you are into torture and want to have your head messed with by tiny dinosaurs that call themselves Meleagris osceola, then give Tarponut a yell. He has one less spot for next year...I already booked!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/sleepinggiant.jpg)
*He sleeps, he eats, he makes vile noises with his rear-end but he is my son and true-blue best bud.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/greymachine.jpg)
*The grey ghost of Talltines got the call and would have closed the show if it's owner would have had his head out of his arse.
Good luck this spring the rest of the way. I hope to have an eastern bird story with better pics next time!
I had one of those in my blind last weekend...if they are not sleeping, they are eating! Good luck next year Mike.
Even though it was a short trip it sounds like you had some fun Mike and that sure is a perty bow. Next year will be different and good luck this weekend :-)
Tracy
Haha that's good stuff, thanks for sharing!
Yep, better luck next year after the ol'dirtybird.
Good to see you made it back safe Bud!! When they get older, they eat more, and well do other stuff more too :)
The hunt and the memories will last longer than a fan and some spurs! Plus sharing it with your son, and the ribbing you will be able to give him when he is older about his emanations in the bind will be priceless!
NOW, you can give the IL birds heck Mike!
:thumbsup:
wapiti792? Should be Longdraw Mike,lol.
It was a pleasure having you in camp Mike, looking forward to next spring. I now have turkey hunting rights on my Ft Pierce property, (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/turkeyhuntstaug12009.jpg)too.
Some world class southern turkey cover. (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/turkeyhuntstaug12013.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/turkeyhuntstaug12014.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/tomsatskittles.jpg)
That's it...I'm headn' back :) Jim thanks a bunch for the oportunity to hunt with you and thanks for posting pics. I am really looking forward to getting more woods time there next year. It is a beautiful place!
Thanks everyone...and you can bet when that first bird worked this morning in IL gobbling it's head off I was thankful. Those Osceola birds are tough, tough critters, but what a challenge!