Had my best hunt in 8 years, the Wed. before our local Turkey season closer (also my worst - LOL). Had seen a couple turkeys the day before while scouting. Figured out a logical place and a setup and went out that evening and set up my "hammock seat" on a tree surrounded by bushes, and my camo umbrella in front of it - all ready for decoy placement in the AM. Out, dark and early Wed., set decoys in the dark, and got situated in my "chair". Set there for 4 hrs (in case of an early show). and figured they should show within the next hour and a half, if they followed yesterday's routine. So, I got out of my chair, after taking the arrow off my Anneewakee Addiction bow, leaning her safely against the tree, to answer nature's call and stretch my legs a little before "curtain time". I walked around the tree & surrounding bushes and prepared to relieve my aching bladder. I caught movement about 20 yards to my left. It was the two turks, trotting down the hill, headed to diagonally cross in front of my stand, right towards my dekes. At the same time, they saw me (of course) and launched off the hill in their next step, without even breaking stride, quickly gaining speed and height,flying over the brushy/sandy area and into the swampy, tall-tree area beyond. I said a few choice words as they disappeared - at MYSELF, and then thanked the good Lord for letting my plan work out as I had hoped for - right up until I BLEW IT! - LOL I hate the person that stole my pop-up blind this past year, even more now - I could have stayed in the blind and used my bottle - LOL Well, what can I expect, I'm only 80, and still learning - slowly.
Sounds like a great morning to me! "Only 80", you have a lot of hunts left! You'll get one next time! :thumbsup:
Bernie (another Bernie)
LOL - Thank you Bernie B. - good Lord willing, I'll be out there trying.
Glad you got out and had some action just the same Bernie.
One of the best turkey calls is having to answer mother natures. Getting out something to eat works good too. A sandwich in one hand and a drink in the other will bring them right in, lol. And it seems to work equally well with the deer.
Sorry to hear that somebody stole your blind. It seems that respect for others is becoming a thing of the past.
Bob
I've noticed that same phenomonun, Bob - snack or nature's call really does work well on Turkeys and Deer, it seems :D Your also right on track with thieves and their lack of respect for other folks' belongings - :(
I hope I can still get out there at 80 years old. It does seem to always happen as nature calls or like you said while eating something.
When I use to hunt ducks I would just get one bite out of a sandwich and here comes the ducks. Course my lab appreciated it he taught himself to look for sandwiches every time you started to blow on the duck call. One chomp and no more sandwich.
If I had a dollar for every time I screwed up on an animal, I'd probably be rich by now. That's what makes us smarter, I think. Sounds like your plan worked like a charm up until that moment. You do know that if you'd have waited or just wet your pants, they probably wouldn't have come in at all:). Have fun and good luck.
Ive been caught with the pants down before too... and managed to get a doe. Those screw ups are some of the best memories that stick in my mind.
Hang in there, better luck next time. Hey when you gotta you gotta go. A real shame someone stole your blind.
Nice one Bernie. I guess the days of standing in formation, at attention, for hours at a time holding your bladder are over ;)
Tom
It's obvious we all have "these moments" - LOL It's better than no excitement at all though. Tom, you sure got THAT right - ain't happening these days - :D
I find that having a coffee cup in one hand and thermos in the other is a magnet for whatever I am hunting or fishing for. Hopefully year 81 will be your year.
Bernie demonstrated the oldest trick in the book..the pants down fake-out. Like most of us, got faked out. That's why they call it hunting.
Absolutely! :archer:
It sounds like you both won and lost that battle.
Cool hunt Bern.
Bernie, I am gonna make a guess that the turkeys don't care about the smell of pee in your blind area. Stay in your blind and wet the bushes from there.
ChuckC
Ha! ChuckC got it right! :readit:
Congrats on the hunt and the bird. I'm still jinxed by them... after chasing them exclusively with trad equipment for the last 5 years! I took bunches of them with the shotgun before that... but to me, they don't even count.
:thumbsup:
It happens to us all Brother. Keep after them and thanks for being a pioneer for us.
Thanks again guys. I know ChuckC is right and I don't want to go to deep into the personal end of this (LOL) but I don't have that kind of "stream" anymore, after my bad urinary tract infection a couple of years back (some of you will remember it occurred during that year's St Jude Auction - LOL)
Best laid plans. I see a new hunting gadget. The ankle strap bladder bag. No need to move, and during winter one ankle would stay warm. Keep after them!
I've often dreamt of something along that line, Michael. It also would come in handy in yer mummy bag when camping on cold nights. I usually do carry my "bottle" (because of my above noted deficiency) but I forgot to stick it in my vest that morning. It might have made the difference in time - but it probably just wasn't meant to be. I do love close calls as opposed to no sightings though.
Bernie, you have my highest regards just for getting out there. Hope if I make it to that age I am still getting it like you do. Kudos!!
Good to see your post, Bernie! There was an obvious absence of late it seems...or I'm not as sharp eyed as usual...
Sorry to read about the blind. Thieves abound in all areas of life I guess... bummer.
I agree that a close encounter trumps a dead woods sit anytime... regardless of outcome!
Keeps the ole ticker humming! Great story!
Thank you, Tom and thanks to my old friend, Doc Nock, now a resident of a great new home place in beautiful Tenn. (He sent me pictures). :wavey:
Hope I'm having as much fun as you are at 80! Thanks for sharing
:thumbsup: