Dr.Kent Zocher has a tale to tell!
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:campfire:
O.K. Doc, out with the story. Pics, too.
Way to go, Doc! Can't wait for story and pics!
Bisch
Come on DOC!... :campfire:
Kent is catching a plane in Orlando for his flight home. He will likely post something tomorrow.
.....patiently waiting
Its a very unbelievable story.
Kent always weaves something worth reading.
Last year he was our first Osceola hunter of the season.
It did not take him long to harvest a beautiful specimen.
This year's success took a bit longer but he did an incredible job.
I'm just back from the field ready to review the recovery video.
Kent will be with you all shortly.
He earned the right to tell his own story.
I'll just say this bird takes no back seat position.
Congratulations, Kent. It was a pleasure to have you back again.
And thank you for the turkey breasts and legs.
Feel very lucky to have seen the pics.....
Can't wait for the story...
:campfire: :coffee:
I hope he saved the right wing feathers for me!
:thumbsup:
This guy gets one every year down There!!!!
Congrats Kent., looking forward to the tale, and pics.
I got a text on my way home from Cincinnati.....Wait to you see this!!
Looking forward to hearing about this hunt. :goldtooth:
Nice going Kent, two in a row, awesome!
Nice going Kent, two in a row, awesome!
Waiting for his story! :campfire: :coffee:
Congratulations to him
Now with pic, more coming.
Excellent,Kent !!!!!! Let's hear the story now.
Wow!! You guys are on top of it! Thank you for all the interest, way cool :) This hunt could be described as " Nothing like waiting until the last possible moment", or, "What I lack in skill, I make up for in tenacity". I don't know about fate, but check it out ;) Unlike last year, which was over almost before it began ( not complaining one bit!), this year was all about being stubborn enough to spend hour after hour after hour in the blinds. I will say that Irv and Jim were more than accommodating and let me hunt from the day I arrived until my 85mph race to Orlando International Airport.
That's my Bro! Fortunately, I got to see some cell phone pics right away. Unfortunately, I do not have a "smart" phone, so I can't post them.
Sorry guys.....
:thumbsup:
The evening I arrived I tried putting them to bed, but only had one lonely hen fly up. This was to be the norm for the next three days w/ only three hens spotted. Even more frustrating was the fact that they reliably pitched down right onto the "neighbor's" property where they would spend the day, then right back over my head to the roost. The toms had completely vanished despite me throwing everything in the book at them. In fact, I never heard a single gobble until my "last" evening!
A pretty nasty looking thunderstorm had worked in w/possible 50mph winds expected. I reluctantly crawled out of the blind and was headed back in when the thunder clapped and not one, but two toms shock gobbled! I stopped in my tracks. They were close, but, of course, south of our hunting lease. I pulled out a slate and got one call off before it was water logged..they jumped rt on top of it. Finally, some excitement! I low crawled to the edge of the canal to try to get a look, but they were nowhere to be seen. I eventually walked out soaking wet, but excited about the potential. Maybe they would fly up over to our side?? I was determined to give it one more morning despite the fact that I should have been packing for the trip home. Irv and Jim graciously told me to go for it. One last try.
Morning found me back in the blind w/renewed optimism. It was a beautiful morning, clear and not too windy. I was careful to not overcall and let my desperation ruin my final opportunity. I tried barely audible tree yelps, an occasional cluck, very discreet. Nothing! Are you kidding me?? Try as I may, I could not find a bird if my life had depended on it:( I decided I could hold out until noon, then I really needed to get packed and to the airport.
It's noon. Other than a visit from our local horse, nothing was happening. I half heartedly put my calls away, pulled myself together and proceeded to slide my stuff and myself through the front window. I'm half out and I glance up the lane to the north and it's a hen!! I sneak back in w/my BW bow, but my catquiver and pack are in the hen's line of sight. I managed to slowly drag my quiver under the blind. I peeked out the back and she was working in towards my hen and skinny jake dekes. She gave a couple of alarm putts when she was standing next to my pack (couldn't get that one inside), but she quickly relaxed and fed off into the grove, straight away from me. Cool! Maybe, just maybe?? I look out the window to the south and another hen is working in! She flirts w/my deke and feeds off in the same direction as the previous. I was trying really hard to grow a beard on either of those hens ;) Okay, I text Irv, "I think I will give it one more hour and still make my flight, Irv". I get a thumbs up and I'm still in the game.
I frequently check the time as the hour quickly vanishes. Finally, with minutes left to hunt, I decide to get aggressive w/my calling. What have I got to lose, right? I begin to yelp and cut and purr like a flock of crazy birds. "No Osceola in it's right mind will buy this", I thought, but what the hell. Within minutes, I look up just in time to see a huge red head working through the overgrown grove not 10 feet from my dekes!!! Holy Crap!! This is gonna happen!!
He's big, mature and coming in aggressively. I scramble for my bow, get an arrow on the string, and I wait for my opportunity. When he's up nose to nose with the skinny jake, his body language changes and he starts to slowly move away, at a quartering angle. Omg, he's nervous and he's going to bust out of here! I put tension on the string and prepare for the quick shot. Then, he stops, and turns facing me head on.
I don't like these shots, way too much room for error, but it's now or never. The string comes back, I hold for just a few seconds concentrating on the base of his neck. The arrows gone and to my astonishment watch as it buries to the fletching exactly where I needed to be. He doesn't go five yards and he's down!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! I try to text Irv, but I'm shaking so badly I keep screwing it up. I finally get the text off and the rest is history:) Gorgeous Osceola.. 10" beard, 1 3/8" spur, amazing. I dont want to ever cut it that close again, but what a rush!! Thanks for hanging in there Irv and Jim and thanks to all the TG's for reading my tale. I'll try to get my brother-in-law to post some pics asap.
:coffee:
You just put in that last one as I was waiting.
Congrats.
Way to go Kent! Great bird, Jim sent me pic on my phone. Simply outstanding.
Congrats. God bless.
Congrats Kent and great story!
What, no pictures?
Congrats!!! Now for a couple of pictures.
nice congrats :clapper:
Congrats!
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What a story what a bird congrats!!
Way to stick with it. Congrats on a well earned bird.
nice job
Way to go bud!!
Waiting also, love a good hunting story! A Osceola is on my bucket list. Hope to make it to True South someday.
Attaboy Brother!!!!!! You're doing me proud!! see you don't need me to call for you!
Congrats on a DANDY of a bird!
Nice one and congrats! Not rocking that dale dye this year?
now thats what i call a turkey!!! congrats
Thanks for the note that you're back in WI safe and sound.
Glad those birds decided to break up and
come visit our side of the canal.
The credit's all yours for sticking it out.
Way to go, Kent.
Congrats on a great hunt. Awesome shooting.
What an awesome story and result!!! Did ya make your flight, or did ya have to re-schedule it?
Great shot and a nice story. Congratulations!
Great bird Kent.
Another great hunt with irv and Jim,way to hang in there till the end! Excuse me while I turn green
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I sincerely appreciate all of the wonderful remarks! To answer a few questions: My bow was a new BW PSAX that Roger and Toby hand-picked for me. Beauty!! Yes, I did make my flight! Yes, Jim, I saved all of the good rt and left wing feathers :) And, Sean B, I still need you to call for me! We'd have killed one on the first day, bro!! ;)
Congrats on a fine hunt. :thumbsup:
Congratulations on a nice big tom. This makes me not able to wait a couple of weeks for our season to open.
Way to hang in there till the last minute! Congrats on a fine gobbler! :thumbsup: