I posted last week about the 20" of snow we received after my son and I had returned from True South Adventures. Quite the rude welcome home.
I finally had a chance to get out and do some turkey hunting again this am. I did not even have 1/2 my coffee drank when the birds started gobbling.
I was nice and comfortable in the blind, the dekes were set and I was ready to start talking turkey. My first soft yelps were met with not only gobbles but hen yelps. I was then pretty quiet as the flock was carrying on quite a bit. Multiple gobbles, yelps, purring, jostling and such.
After a few minutes I heard the same hen yelping. So I answered her and she responded. She was coming in hard. That is not all that uncommon, but she was pulling a gobbler with her. When I first saw her she was on a mission, the gobbler was gobbling, then running, then trying to strut. It was quite a site and for those who have turkey hunted know that it rarely happens like that.
They hit the dekes and she went over to my hen. The gobbler finally caught up and hit full strut. Paying no attention to my strutter or hen deke.
I then lost track of the hen and was fully concentrating on the gobbler. I had already nocked an arrow and tension on the string right after I got the first visual.
After one false draw, he dropped out of strut and turned broadside. I drew, anchored, picked my spot and released. The arrow flew true, or so I thought. He jumped at impact and started a slow run. This is where I typically watch them run/stumble 20-50 yards and watch them go down.
He did no such thing. Made a loop and came back by me at about 15 yards. I was still waiting for him to tip over, but then I noticed the broadhead had come out low. After I watched him make another big loop behind the blind, I thought o'boy, I might be in trouble.
I had good tracking snow, so I was just going to give him plenty of time. I always get a bad feeling on turkeys when they do not go down right away. But I also know that if hurt bad enough they will not go far and tuck in to hide.
As I was trying to finish my coffee and wait for time to go away. I heard multiple gobbles and carrying on again. I grabbed the call and gave some seductive yelps. Immediately I heard a reply. I yelped again, gobble, yelp, gobble, all the while getting closer. Once they were close, I just shut up. Soon enough I could see some hens coming my way, and bringing up the rear was four more gobblers.
Three of the gobblers and a few hens got sidetracked doing what turkeys do. But 1/2 dozen hens and one gobbler conitnued working their way in. While they were doing that, two of the rear gobblers started fighting. They put on quite a show. Purring, wing beating, and such pecking order violence.
Finally the hens and first gobbler came into the dekes. He gave me another great broadside shot. Same drill as before: draw, anchor, pick a spot, release. This arrow passed completely through. The gobbler jumped and started his death walk. I have seen it a few times, zip and arrow through a turkey and they slowly/gingerly walk/run away. He made it about 25 yards before he hit the snow and death flopped.
Wow did that just happen? My SD archery tag and my SD Black Hills tag possibly filled? But I have a turkey to find yet.....
I waited two hours to start tracking the first bird. Easy to track, plenty of blood and the broadhead was dragging in the snow intermittently. He was following the rimrock: he stopped, zigged and zagged, made circles and even backtracked some.
I had followed the tracks about 200 yards from where I shot him when started wondering. Doubting, questioning, the feeling that is always there until you find the animal. It just started to become a bigger elephant in the room.
That's when the tracks dove off the rimrock into the canyon. I looked up and saw a turkey moving away from me in the ironwood trees about 80 yards in front of me. Seemed to be moving OK, and I could not see an arrow. I had not found an arrow yet. I didn't know if that was him or another turkey, so I stuck with the tracks.
I kept trailing, keeping my eyes peeled in front. Hoping to possibly get a glimpse. I came to a small rise and the track was gone. He took off flying. Very common occurence in the Black Hills. I studied the tracks and the wing marks to get a take-off direction. I then started zig zagging in that direction. After about 35 yards I saw a big hole in the snow with blood. I found his crash landing sight. The arrow must have hampered his flight control.
At this point the turkey is heading straight down, to the bottom of the canyon! The elephant is getting smaller, there is a glimmer of hope. After tracking for another 60-70 yards, I finally see him tucked in by the base of a tree. A coup de grace was administered and my snow double was complete.
As I as write this we are in another winter weather strom alert and expecting another 8-16" of snow. I don't think I will complain about the snow. :)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p20/cscholten67/Snowdouble.jpg)
Well done my friend. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Now that is a Turkey hunt!!
Mike
That's amazing.Nice job.
:thumbsup:
:archer:
That's so cool!! :archer:
Wow cool story...I don't think too many get to turkey hunt in the snow. Congrats :thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Quite a change from 80's of south Florida. It is not uncommon to hunt them in the snow around here. But it has been an exceptionally white April so far. With big accumulations of 20, 6, and the expected 8-15" tonight/tomorrow since returning last Monday from FL.
When we get the big snows, the turkeys will typically stay in the roost all day. Then they go into what I call survivor mode. More focused on food than anything.
But have successfully called them in during little snow squalls that can be very common this time of year in the higher elevations.
That's a fantastic hunt no pun intended.
That was a very good read. Thank you for taking the time to post it. Congrats on a fine double.
That's awesome Chad!!! :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Gerardi:
That was a very good read. Thank you for taking the time to post it. Congrats on a fine double.
I agree thank you :thumbsup:
Thats too cool good job.
very good story and CONGRATS on some fine birds and one heck of a hunt!!!
Great story and congrats!
Now that's a turkey hunt! Congratulations on your double! You're in one of the prettiest areas of the country!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
:thumbsup:
Congrats! That is a cool hunt.
Great hunt!
Congrats on the birds!
Bisch
Thanks for all the kind words.
Went out after supper and finished processing the birds. As I suspected, the arrow on the first bird was about 1.5" low (breast is not best) and came out the offside leg. Right through the drumstick.
Second bird was right through the ribs as it should be placed.
Great Hunt, thanks for taking us along! :thumbsup:
Congrats!! One bird is a great hunt, two is incredible!
Nice work. One to remember.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Fine double and most excellent story telling. Thanks for taking time to share.
Not our typical spring turkey weather, but very cool hunt!
Way to go!!! That is a fine a turkey hunt story that I have ever read. Great pic too! :campfire:
Great hunt! Thanks for sharing!!
Great job Chad! What an amazing experience.
Thanks for the great story,too.
Now that's not something that happens very often. Well done. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Chad,
Congratulations...WOW!
Too bad we couldn't get it done for you in FL.
But you made up for it with this nice double.
And Cade?? I suppose the poor lad is in school while Dad is hunting.
I would love to tag along on one of those SD hunts sometime.
Maybe a WI or FL trade-a-hunt?
Hey Sean...I found one of your arrows with the SG head on it. Horse stepped on it and ruined your nice spliced feathers.
I'll save it for ya.
Irv Eichorst
True South Adventures
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Wow that is quite a story! Excellent job!
A double on turkeys? What is this tradgang bunch coming to? That is fantastic and congratulations!!!! :notworthy:
Awesome hunt congrates! :notworthy:
Awsome hunt. Thanks for sharing it. I love those long track storys. That is a great picture too.
God bless you, steve
Unreal. Congrats!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Oh man! I luv snow turkey....
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
great job,and beautiful picture,what's the specs and make of your bow if you don't mind? a big congratulations to you , gib
Very sweet hunt and great fortune on you!
Irv,
The turkeys were in FL. I just didn't get the job done. Cade and I learned a bunch about Osceola's though. The most important thing was the great time we had. Poor Cade was in school, but he will be out hunting this weekend while poor Dad is at work.
Gib,
The bow is made by a friend of mine 62" and 54# @ 28. Kind of a hybrid reflex/deflex. Easton Axis 340 arrows with brass inserts and 215gr Eclipse heads. Total arrow weight is around 560gr if I remember right.
Very nice!! Great story too!!
Thou shalt not covet, it's too late! Great dbl dude. :thumbsup: