What a great morning in the blind!
The turkey season here in NH has been open for a couple of weeks. I've only made it out a couple of times and it had been frustrating so far. I will admit, I am not a die-hard turkey hunter. I enjoy it but, it doesn't drive me the way big game does.
Last night I drove by a field that had been hammered with hunting pressure, only to find a couple of birds heading to roost. I figured I had nothing to loose and made plans to hunt this morning.
I snuck through the field at 3:45 this morning and set up the blind and decoys in the back corner of the field.
Shortly after I could hear something walking behind the blind. A yearling doe came to within 15 yards trying to figure out what the blob in the middle of the field was.
As it started to get light, I could start to make out dark shapes in the trees about 80 yards away! Turkeys! I hoped I wasn't too close.
I could make out one bird strutting on the limb.
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/79E1CD4E-D057-42A8-B073-7C5098D68491_zpshiulycip.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/79E1CD4E-D057-42A8-B073-7C5098D68491_zpshiulycip.jpg.html)
Well....I'm waiting....
The birds held in the trees for quite a while. I could hear several birds gobbling off in the distance but not a peep from these!
After about 15 minutes, a hen pitched into the decoys! Nothing like having the real thing!
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/06B6DB11-D70A-4B1B-99C3-03D8A9AE310A_zpsrnk5beyt.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/06B6DB11-D70A-4B1B-99C3-03D8A9AE310A_zpsrnk5beyt.jpg.html)
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/34DF756B-2ADE-436B-8C31-8B64E0E58131_zpsms862sg5.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/34DF756B-2ADE-436B-8C31-8B64E0E58131_zpsms862sg5.jpg.html)
A few moments later, the gobbler pitched down into the field edge. There was just enough crown that I couldn't see him.
With the hen in my decoys I didn't call.
The hen eventually, picked her way behind me. After a few minutes, I gave some soft calls. The Tom gobbled from just below. Then, a cranky hen started blasting at me. I gave it right back to her! She was not happy!
Every time she'd start, I'd cut her off! Finally, she stormed over the edge to see who was challenging her!
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/DA849342-3338-47AF-A899-96CE3E7EC021_zpslsdej3ki.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/DA849342-3338-47AF-A899-96CE3E7EC021_zpslsdej3ki.jpg.html)
I no sooner put my phone down, and he came right over the edge. He stopped and looked at the decoys from about 25 yards and went into strut. He was a beautiful long beard! When he saw his hen moving off he started to follow her quickly!
With limited space in the blind, I didn't have much window to my right. I swung and called at the same time. He stopped for a second and I dropped the string!
I pulled my shot right and just missed his beard! He exploded into the air and flew up and over the trees! He might be still flying!
I sat in the blind internally screaming at myself for the miss! Another gobble snapped me back to reality! As I looked to my right, I saw three birds running for my decoys!
The biggest ran up and slammed my Jake decoy!
As he turned his back to me, I drew and picked a spot between his wings, and released.
He dropped in his tracks! The Snuffer had severed his spine.
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/AAD8A0C9-72C6-42B3-B41F-22D3DAEAEE47_zpsy4czbo3a.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/AAD8A0C9-72C6-42B3-B41F-22D3DAEAEE47_zpsy4czbo3a.jpg.html)
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/F996B1CE-9318-458F-9CD1-6C5E7D4F83AA_zpsyorgqabl.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/F996B1CE-9318-458F-9CD1-6C5E7D4F83AA_zpsyorgqabl.jpg.html)
Awesome!! And with a Whip no less. Nicely done. If you weren't addicted before you're hooked now :D
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Congrats. That last photo is great, the lighting and the truck are nice touches.
Way to go sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I am fully hooked now!
Thanks to my good friend Dave (Huntrdfk) for encouraging me to take up trad!
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/DSC_0007_zpsbc599b8d.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/DSC_0007_zpsbc599b8d.jpg.html)
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/DSC_0004_zpsa8fa6c33.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/DSC_0004_zpsa8fa6c33.jpg.html)
(http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p753/sethstevens/DSC_0003_zpsf67a5145.jpg) (http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/sethstevens/media/DSC_0003_zpsf67a5145.jpg.html)
Shot with my 62" Toelke Whip, Heritage 250's and 160 grain Snuffers on a 33 grain adapter.
Thanks for looking!
I bet you are a die-hard turkey hunter now! Thanks for sharing esp the pictures.
Great work ..and awesome pics THXS for sharing they sure are a addiction!!
First is the most memorable!! Good for you!!
:thumbsup:
Super cool! Thanks for posting and nice pics.
Great job. Congrats!
Congratulations on your first trad success and a difficult one at that!
WAY to Go Seth!!!
Good stuff. That Whip looks great. Congrats!
Way to go!!! Nice bird and it sounds like it was an awesome hunt too!!
That is a great hunt and memory. Good job!
Nice bird! Congrats on your first kill. Nice pics and story, too. :clapper:
Congrats on a great bird!
Awesome hunt! David is good people.
Congrats! I envy you and the others that seem to take 'em so easily. I've been hunting nearly everyday of our season (began April 28) and haven't been able to seal the deal yet.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by pred80:
Great work ..and awesome pics THXS for sharing they sure are a addiction!!
X2
Hey Seth, way to hang in there and congrats! It's been a tough season here in the Granite State for sure but 10 days left.
That's a nice looking bird :thumbsup: Congrats.
Way to go! :thumbsup:
Jon
Very cool having a gobbler as your first kill, congrats!
Great Bird, Congrats.
That Dave.... he has ruined you...LOL.
Man thats awesome! Great job and congrats! Good pictures too!
Congratulations! A beautiful bird and a beautiful bow.
Congrats on a fine bird and great story telling, too.
I have found turkeys to be one tough critter to hunt with stickbow. Congrats on such a great trophy and being your first traditional kill makes it even better!
very nice
:clapper:
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! What a warmup for some timber goats! :thumbsup:
Congratulations!
I was thrilled when I saw you killed this bird this morning Seth. So cool. Now I have to find some time to get back out there......
I have been hunting with Seth since the early 90's......finally got him to give the longbow a try......he is a natural and I can't wait to see him kill his first deer with it.
David
Thank you everyone! It means a lot!
Great job! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Wow, way to start with the hard stuff:) Congrats!
Wow your first trad kill and a turkey no less quite an achievement I would say !!!!!! :clapper: :clapper:
Nice bird nice bow, but boy do you need a new truck.LOL Congrats
Congratulations! Starting out with a turkey as your first is quite an accomplishment. Nice looking bird and bow! Gotta love those whips!
Congratulations on a fine bird!!! :thumbsup:
Congrats, Good Job.
That is fantastic! Congrats Brother!
Really great job, and that's a beautiful Toelke too! I love the photo by the old Chevy; you need to frame that one. Congratulations!
Congrats!
Congratulations! Great story and photos.
Congrats. Can't think of a better first.
Well done, and you picked a great trad mentor.
:thumbsup:
A tom turkey in full strut is one of those beautiful sights of nature. Congratulations on a beautiful bird.
homebru
Congrats!