I got a call from Jon as he was walking back to his truck from a field in western Kansas! It takes quite a bit to get Jon wound up but not this evening! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:archer: :coffee:
:thumbsup:
Come on Jon, where are you?
Thanks Tim! Now let me get some pics uploaded to photobucket :bigsmyl:
OK....
So Tim told me to take lots of pics so here we go...
I only live about a mile and a half from this little bottom but I've never really hunted it before, but that's going to change. :readit:
Some of these pics are from the week before but I'll add them just so you can get a feel of where I'm hunting.
Roost trees-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0195.jpg)
To the North-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0196.jpg)
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0197.jpg)
Little group of trees I set up in-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0198.jpg)
And behind me-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0199.jpg)
My set up is a 71@28 Silvertip with Heritage 350's with a total arrow weight being around 600, and a BIG Simmons TreeShark leading the way.
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0200.jpg)
Come on boy.....get on with it! Man I love that countryside! :)
This season has had some up's and down's about like any other. I always start off hunting without a blind and then usually once I hit the breaking point take the shotgun. I was determined to get a turkey with my bow this year though.
I started the season hiding in bush piles, then I made a "Guru" ghillie and bow blind, and then I broke down and got a blind. First time I'd hunted from a blind in about 8 years, all I can say is I enjoyed myself more than ever sitting in that blind.
:campfire:
Here is the view from the blind-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0205.jpg)
My set up wasn't much, just one lonely hen decoy. After I got all set up I wait a little bit and do a few yelps, one lone gobble straight in front of me. Then about 5 minutes later I see a couple turkeys north of me heading east. I would call a little and then would stop and look over but kept on that same path.
30 or so minutes go by and I decide to change diaphragm calls to a real raspy hen. I did a few yelps and 5-8 gobblers went off right in front of me. I think to myself "Oh man this is going to be good..."
10 minutes go by and those toms gobbled at everything I did, and the best part was some of them were getting closer. Pretty soon 3 big toms show up and sit about 200 yards away just gobbling for all their worth. I finally get them to cross the creek and they start to close the distance.
Then all the sudden two gobbles right behind me about 20 yards away! I get ready. I was guessing it was the two jakes from earlier and I was right. The 3 toms saw them and started to pick up the pace, but they were to slow. The two jakes came strutting in at 4 steps from my blind. Everything happened so fast I didn't pay any attention to see if they were both there. Before I knew it I came back to anchor and the shot was gone....
Perfect hit! The jake ran about 20 yards and laid down and didn't move. His buddy was right beside him and he tried to fly and my arrow was sticking out of him! :scared:
Apparently they were shoulder to shoulder when I shot. My arrow went clean through the one I was trying to shoot and stuck his buddy. So now I not only shot my first turkey with my bow but I also got my second with the same arrow!
Awesome! Way to double with the bow :thumbsup:
Here is the view from the blind after the shot-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0207.jpg)
As I said it happened so fast I didn't even think about picking a spot. As one of the Wensel brother says, "I went into cruise control." I looked at the mess window and notice I barely got through the window!
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0208.jpg)
Here is were the turkey's were standing at the shot-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0206.jpg)
My first jake with my bow!
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0202.jpg)
And about 60 more yards his buddy-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0204.jpg)
In the unit I'm in, you can't shoot two birds. So I called the Kansas Wildlife and Parks to report the accident with the second bird. Hopefully I will be able to keep him too.
After I got home I asked my lovely wife to take some pics.
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/DSC00206-1.jpg)
Entry hole, must have had that leg forward at the shot-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0212.jpg)
Exit hole-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0211.jpg)
The one I was going for-
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/IMAG0210.jpg)
Sorry for the length, I just didn't want you to miss anything. Thanks for coming along!
(http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k567/snakebit40/DSC00213.jpg)
Pretty cool!
Well deserved Jon!
I know how hard you've been at the birds this year and how much practice time you've put in with your "Classic Silvertip"! Good things happen to good people! My buddy Fred would be thrilled to see his quiver in your photo.
The picture with you and both birds is priceless! :thumbsup:
Thanks Tim! I'm honored to be carrying the quiver in the woods with me. :notworthy: :campfire:
Double CONGRATS :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go Jon!
Hey Jon,
I just saw this thread!! GOOD ON YA BUDDY!!! great pics, great birds! Thanks for sharing with us.
Bob.
:bigsmyl:
Congrats, always nice to to see a classic tip in action.
Awesome to say the least!!!!
Fantastic!
Martin
Jon, terrific story. Congrats on hard work, commitment and persistence. Wish I woulod have been there to share in your success and exciterment. I guess the blind made a huge difference, hope we both can fit in it next year> Well done my friend.
thats just plain COOL!
and thats a hunt you wont ever forget, im sure your friends will here that story every year from now on. :thumbsup: congratts!
WOW! Great looking birds and the bow aint to shabby neither! Congratulations
Glenn
Fantastic! I hope it all works out with the officials.
very nice congrats :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
That's really cool. Congrats! :thumbsup:
Twice is nice. Awesome story. :clapper:
:thumbsup:
CONGRATS snakebit40! nice double,rat'
:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Jon sorry I missed this, great shooting!
Wow! Great job....and what a hole that shark made!
That's what I call.... INTEGRITY.
WOW !!!
Congrats :)
Another round of applause for my buddy Jon who got his name up in lights! :clapper: You look good a the top of the page!
I knew this guy before he was famous! :laughing:
Always enjoy a hunting trip story man. Great looking birds I hope I get to post a story with my bow soon too, but bad luck keeps happening. Seeing the pics though I know I am keeping at it. Big congrats man it looked like a blast.
Thanks guys! I never thought I'd see myself up there! I'm truely honored!
Congrats Jon!!!!!!!
Bisch