I tried last year to kill a bird with my Morrison and it never happened. After many almost hunts but no shots I traded the Morrison in for the 870 and killed a nice bird which was my first bird. But this year I wasn't going to take the easy road out and trade the bow for a gun. I had made my mind up I was going to use a longbow I built last august.
I watched a few toms the week before season and had 2 toms figured out. Like clock work 2 hens would lead them into a field at the same place about the same time every day. I had my ambush spot all picked out for opening morning.
Opening morning the 4 birds hit the field like usual, a little late but from the same spot. Much to my surprise I watched them do something they had yet to show me.... the fed off in the field the wrong direction. Away from my set up. I watched as the slowly strutted and gobbled their way out of sight. I had made up my mind after they walked away I was going to set up closer to where they enter the field not were they end up. I work 6 days a week and have very limited time to hunt and new I needed to get a little more aggressive this year then I was last year. So I talked to the boss and he was kind enough to let me come in a little late the next morning.
So the next morning, April 24th found me in my blind at 5:30 and to the best of my ability in the dark close to the trail the turkeys used to enter the field. At 6:00 the toms woke up and started gobbling. 2 near me in the woods and one across the field by where I was the morning before. They hammered away all morning but once on the ground they threw curve ball number 2 at me, they headed straight away from me deeper into the woods. So being it was so early I didn't get to discouraged. I'd let out a couple yelps every now and again and soon. I had a hen join in with my decoys a little after 7:00. Now the toms sounded to like they were making a big circle and getting a little closer. Just as quick as the hen showed up she took off to another hen east of the blind by about 50 yards.
I kept calling and soon it was obvious that one of the toms at left the other and was closing in on my set up. It wasn't to long and he let out a gobble that sounded straight west of the blind. I peeked out the window and soon spotted a red head in some tall grass indeed straight west on my blind by about 60 yards. I peeked to the east and saw the 2 hens still feeding and thought perfect he's going to have to pass my set up. It took him 15 minutes or so to strut his way into shooting range. At about 15 or so yards out I got my bow up and ready with some tension on the string. One he was about 5 yards from my decoy he started side stepping up to it. He was facing me in full strut at 11 yards. Once he bumped the decoy he stopped moving long enough for me to draw and find my anchor. Before I knew it my tree shark tipped surewood was on its way. The impact was so hard it knocked him back down on it butt, but to my surprise he stood back up with half my shaft sticking. No flopping around or trying to fly he just stood back up and took 3 or so little bunny hops and then just kind of laid down in the field. I couldn't see him because of the taller grass Infront of the blind so waited about 10 minutesi watched carefully but saw no movement so decided it check out my trophy.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z463/dlnwohio/2012-04-24_07-19-27_633.jpg)
Just as I had hoped down for the count! I was excited and in shock that it had all come together and I had indeed harvested my first turkey with Trad gear! I didn't even second guess myself as I drove right past work and kept going straight to the taxidermist. In all my excitement I forgot to measure his beard which is every bit of 9.5 maybe even 10 inches and his spur which are over an inch for sure. When I got the meat back from the taxidermist he had weighted him and said he tipped the scales at 23.6 pounds.
My bow is a 60" hybrid longbow that's 55@28 and like i mentioned I was shooting tree shark tipped surewood shafts with turkey feather fletchings from last years bird.
(http://i1191.photobucket.com/albums/z463/dlnwohio/2012-04-24_07-44-04_201.jpg)
Congrats dlnwohio! Nice shot,and bird. I to killed my 1st ever with my longbow this year.
Very nice. I think we should start a "Turkey Success Photo Thread" as there seems to be a lot of successful turkey hunters this Spring.
Nice job as well riverrat! Its quite the feeling isn't it!
Way to go sir! Congratulations! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Yes sir it is. Right up there with deer hunting.
Love the early morning conversation you have with the Tom's and Jake's while they are coming off roost. And watching those blue heads appear out of nowhere it seems.
Congrats great job and beautiful arrows and bow
Nice job on a big Ohio gobbler!!!
Congrats on the turkey,and that's a nice set-up to.
Nice work!
Woot!! Way to go man! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Good Stuff...Congrats!
A huge congratulations on your first bird with a bow you made yourself!!
congratts! :thumbsup: show us your bird when you get it back from the taxi, please :thumbsup:
Congratulations David!...you did a great job! very nice story and pics!
Kenny :clapper:
NICE!!!
Congratulations
Glenn
Arrow30 I plan on showing it off when I get it back. I should have my buck from last fall back in a week or so. I plan on showing that off and the story too. That was my first trade buck too. And thanks everyone for the complements! I really appreciate it
Congrats!!!RC
great job!!!! i missed on this morning with a 12Guage :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Congrats! Very nice.
Congrats...it is such a thrill...I got my first 2 trad turks this year...the shotgun will have to gather dust from now on.
Nice pics too.
Lyle
Very nice. Congrats. Hope to do that myself someday.
Very nice! That has to feel great, taking that bird with a bow and arrows you made. Congrats to you Sir!!! :thumbsup:
congrats on a fine bird!
Well done.
Now that's just awesome! Congrats! :thumbsup: :notworthy: