Well, it has been 4 years since I started turkey hunting with a stickbow. I have had some good years and a couple of bad! Monday was opening day in IL. I threw on my ghilli and hit the woods. My daughter and I had roosted a tom the night before and confirmed his roost tree with an owl hoot. My little girl got the biggest kick outa that bird getting fired up over an owl. We had spent all afternoon Sunday working off our Easter dinner by making me a ghilli hat.
So that first morning I took my new hat and suit and proceeded to call that bird to my lap. But as birds will do at 10 or 12 yards with a dude in a yeti suit nearby, he spooked.
So I had to go to work and stew on this bird all day! I roosted him again, same place, and then worked him yesterday. This time Don Juan had plenty of ladies and just stood there at 100 yards and gobbled...HUNDREDS of times. I ended up slipping out the back door and finding this jewel...from a buck that I had tried to kill all fall. Glad he made it!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/jewel.jpg)
I decided that bird was too tough for me and looked for another willing subject. I had been watching a group of birds near my new barn (and hopefully my new house if I ever get to build one). I snuck in there yesterday evening after work and put up my old Predator blind with it's busted poles and smelly insides. Seems I left my new blind down in Florida with 'ol Tarponut, and since I was gonna do it ghilli-style, I wouldn't need it. Let one bird walk all over me and I am hunkered down in the first blind I could get my hands on :)
:campfire:
No wonder he spooked - look at those legs!
:campfire:
So this morning I slipped in with my gear. I took along my new video camera to make it that much more difficult...what a nutjob :knothead:
Soon after getting settled one of the birds in the little block of timber cut loose. After a few tree yelps I had him talking hook, line and sinker. He would thunder gobbles my way so I just shut up, played hard to get, and listened for him. He hit the ground and walked every inch of that 30 acres EXCEPT for the 1 acre I needed him too. I caught a break when another bird gobbled down the ridge from me and the stand-off was over...almost.
After circling the blind several times he got directly behind me and strummed that breast like an banjo at a hoe-down. I said to heck with the video crap, unzipped the back window and finally got to see my bird about 30 yards away. I purred real soft and it was enough for him to ease my way.
Shooting from my knees through a barely open window was tough! I had never shot through the mesh before, but after talking to my friend Tracy (KS Trapper, turkey hunting savant) I knew it'd be ok. When he hit the red zone (about 20 yds) I just dropped the string!
What Whip said! BUT the other 2 pics look great!
My jaw dropped at what happened next...he just ran about 10 yards with his wings out and fell over dead! Quickest death of about any turkey I have ever killed. After a couple of years of heartache...I was a total trainwreck! Everything has happened to me and success snuck up on me. This is what dreams are made of!!!...so forget the helicopter that blew my birds out 2 years ago, forget my wife walking down the lane I was hunting just as I was drawing on a big gobbler last year, forget sneaky demon birds from hades that sneak in and catch you unawares, Forget 'em all!!! :)
This was my bird and to say I am happy is an understatement. I have had some physical problems lately: hospitals, tubes in some bad places, but I was healthy enough to run to my bird and cry out my own rebel yell!
He ended up being the best of birds...vocal, willing, full of sound and fury. A 2 year-old looking for love in all the wrong places. The hooks were close to an inch and the beard 10 inches if you care about such things.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2007.jpg)
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2008.jpg)
I killed him with a Kanati longbow 60 inches, 49 at 28. I usually shoot heavier bows but do to my treestand accident I am having some trouble drawing them. I draw to about 30 inches and like this bow real well. I traded another Tradganger for it, and boy am I greatful! The Ace broadhead made a mess of this bird, zipped though him and buried in a stump. Took me a minute to find my arra...it went farther than the turkey :p
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2005.jpg)
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2011.jpg)
Congratulations! nice turkey and great story
The entry was clean the exit a mess :readit:
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2009.jpg)
I took it all in and tried not to think about the work ahead. I rushed a few photos and gathered my gear, but did something I have wanted to do for some time!!!
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11022.jpg)
Mike I like that!!! They will come a little easier now.
Mike
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11020.jpg)
*An old smelly blind
I gathered my gear and headed home. I had just enough time to con my wife into a few pics of me with my tom and clean the bird for the table.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2003.jpg)
*A cheesin' bowhunter
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2010.jpg)
*Made some mighty fine protein, as well as wings for calls and fletching, and a fan/spurs that will become a little wall mount with a retired broadhead.
Thanks to all that have been good to me here, and coached me through my struggles (and off the ledge when I got stupid). I am greatful for the friendships and look forward to sharing a campfire with you soon.
(http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r296/wapiti792/April11part2001.jpg)
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing.
Man photobucket is about to give me vertigo...keeps tilting my pics! Maybe it's the drugs they've had me on :)
Waaaaay to go Mike!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Kudos brother!
:archer:
Great writeup.
Spring turkey is the most exciting hunt of the year, and the one that I look forward to most.
Congrats on your success!
Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :cool:
Great story, lots of good things after lots of bad things. Gotta love it. Thanks for sharing.
Way to go Mike! That's great stuff right there - from the hunt, to the story, and finally the bird - perfect!
great job!!!!!!!!
Good deal,congrat's!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Well Done Mike :thumbsup:
Excellent story tellin' :thumbsup: and pics
Man this is great! :bigsmyl: :thumbsup: :archer:
This has been fun watching all my buddy's shooting turkeys this last week and I bet a few more are going to go down real soon. I get off work tonight and will be off a few days I plan on chasing a few around and see if I can get her done. :D
Congrats agin Mike the text sure made me smile this morning. Good luck this weekend!
Tracy
Congrats Mike! Great bird and awesome story!
:clapper: :clapper:
Mike,
I just talked to you but I want to tell you this again CONGRATULATIONS! I know how much these things have given you fits! I'm proud of ya man and I can't wait to be sharing in that excitement of a notched tag. Good story as always!!
David
:clapper:
Great photos too!
Congrats Mike!
Big Bird Down! Sesame Street in an uproar!!! Congrats Mike. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Mike congrats to you for shooting such a fine bird and taking us along.
Thats too cool . Way to go. :thumbsup:
Congrats on a nice bird...!.... :thumbsup:
That is great! Thanks for sharing.
Man Mike, thats great! Congratulations and I am sure happy for you!
Awesome!!
:clapper:
Fantastic!! In that blind those big white legs won't scare the birds at all. Great job and congratulations!Nothing like a redemption bird.
Congrates Mike! I just love these turkey hunting adventures. Gets me fired up for mine on May 2.
Great!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: God bless.
Very cool.
Congrats! :clapper:
Congrats! Great bird! I love the pics, but I got a little dizzy!!! :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Love the pics and story, way to go!
Great pics and achievement!
Congrats Mike way to stick with it.
:clapper:
Congrats buddy, great story and hunt!
Hopefully it's just the start of a great month for you...maybe a S.C. bird and a hog or two will top it off :campfire:
Thanks everyone! Curt I sure hope so! Tried to send you a pic via text but it bounced back.
I am a spoiled kid these next 4 weeks: I get to hunt birds in KY,IN,and SC and finish it off with a last season tag back in IL. It will be weekends mainly as I have to work but the Tradgang Contributor hunt will be special! I am taking a few days off for that one :campfire:
Simply awesome Mike great work brother!
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Forgot to mention my coat!!! :smileystooges:
My brother is a 3rd Group SF Major and that was his coat his last trip to A'Stan. He left me it last month as he said it would bring me some good mojo. It is perfect for the blind! So thanks to my brother for the jacket and the mojo :campfire:
congrats on the bird
Congrats........
Congrats on a great hunt! I watched the video with my two sons Jake 9 and Matt 14, we all thought it was awesome!! :thumbsup:
Good on ya man :thumbsup: :campfire:
awsome!...congratts! :thumbsup: ..goodluck on the other birds in your upcoming hunts.
Awsome job Bro. My ticket starts next week. Wish me luck too. Maybe that practice session we had (and the elk loin) is gonna bring us both luck this year.
Congrats on a great hunt and fine bird. I still gotta wait 2 more weeks for our season.
Congrats nice bow and bird :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats Mike!!
Great hunt!!! Congratulations. :thumbsup: :archer:
Great story and pics!!! I'm on year four of tag soup with my recurve. Hoping this year will be THE year!
Hang in there Bronz...it'll happen! Believe me I made every mistake known to hunting and still got a bird. Just a matter of time before you break the ice :archer2:
Excellent story telling and pics! Congrats to you it sure sounds like you deserved it! Good luck on your other hunts this season I'm off to camp today for a try myself...
Nothing like hunting thunderchickens.
Congrats!
Congrats and GREAT story that is what makes me coming back for more. Thanks again really appreciated it.
Thanks again my friends...12 days and I am at Ray's for the Contributor hunt I won here on Tradgang. I am looking forward to taking all of you with me. I have had some tough luck health wise the last year and will take advantage of this great opportunity :campfire:
Thanks for bringin this back up Bud!! Congrats again :thumbsup: Hey that broadhead looks very familiar :) Good luck on the hogs!!
Too cool man congratulations!
Thats great man, tons happy for you. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Mike-great hunt, story, & pics! I am proud of you brother! Congratulations.
Kenny :bigsmyl:
great story....I too have put the scattergun away when chasing turkeys and ate all 5 of my tags last year.....and have missed at 18 and 20 yards this year by mere inch at a time...one time to the left...one time over back. I am not giving up as I know I will be grinning from ear to ear and shaking like a leaf when I finally connect.
I am so glad to hear you finally got your bird with a stick and string....congrats it is well deserved.
never give up....
Congratulations on a great bird! Nice pictures, and you have a super knack for telling a story. Good luck with your remaining hunts. I can hardly wait to hit the woods next week! :pray:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Way to go Mike! Thanks for the pix and story...they're always top notch. As for the videoing, time will tell? Remember...we're hunters 1st!...Ry
Great job I really enjoyed the story. I hope you are feeling better. Take Care :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome Mike!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats Mike! A job well done!
Good looking Tom. I love those ACE broadheads. Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: