Well, I guess my luck from last year is carrying over.  I shot my first eastern with a recurve right close to the last of the season last year.
Today, will be my second.

My brother and I set a blind up near a camera that we had seen a few gobblers, and some hens on.  We went in this morning and sat with the decoys out, calling ever so often.  We heard nothing, No gobbles, clucks, nothing.  

It was quite discouraging, because we can nearly hear the entire 1100 acre track from the hardwood ridge we were on.  I chocked it up to the coldest winter on record, and figured the birds would be a bit behind.  

I happen to pull the card around 10 this am, and we headed to breakfast.  After breakfast checked the card and had 20 hens with 3 long beards scratch their way by around 545 yesterday evening.  I told my brother that we were going back to be set by three.  He agreed.  He is not a bowhunter at all, but I appreciated the fact that he wanted to sit with me as I did.  Off course I do let him carry his old scattergun just in case a scenario like today happens.  

It was 4 pm, and I had been calling every 10 minutes since three o'clock.  At 10 after , my brother, all 300 plus pounds decides he is going to lay down and take a nap.  I made one last sequence of calls, and he was in the fetal position.   I heard the distinct sound of leaves on the ridge behind us.  I told him to scram and sit upright.  I didn't dare look out the back of the blind to give our position by letting in light.  I heard the charge.  I knew that they had seen  the dsd flock of decoys.  First there were 22 hens.  I was wandering if my hen decoy wasn't about to get demolished when I heard what sounded like a heard of deer running towards the hens.  My wide eyed little brother looked at me confused, and I said "scoot over here they come" , and indeed three long beards barreled in front of my jake at 12 yards on the attack.  I was at full draw before they were even in my line of sight.  The middle bird started to strut, and thwack!!!  I pin wheeled him.  I knew it was a good hit.  Well, the best part of the story is the others didn't really seem upset,  and my dear little brother got to get his as well.  

This is by far the most meaningful hunt, of my life. Thanks for reading.

Oh, and yes Manitoba that  was your bow.  I let Will shoot it for a day, and took it off his hands.  I actually had a picture of your riser on my phone for over a year.  Will bought it for me and surprised me  that he had it.  He knew I had wanted that particular bow for quite sometime.   I never thought I would own, it.  I put my 53lb olive ash burl limbs on it, and am shooting an axis 400 spine arrow @ 30" with 200grain treesharks, and it's a thumper.  

Thanks for reading along.

Tom


   

Great story, but where are the pics?  

That's a fantastic day, even more so that you got to spend it with your brother

Nice job with some fine photos.  I like the bow too, very beautiful wood combinations.

That's great! Purdy bow

Thats awesome buddy!  I hope you can do the same on our elk hunt this fall:)

Nice shooting Tom.  What are the woods in the riser?

You know its also amazing at how early your season open there in your neck of the woods.  I have to wait a little more than a month to chase the big ol blackbirds here.

Spalt flare and rosewood outsides. Maybe Honduras. Not sure

That's a beauty for sure Tom.  Congrats on the fine big ol gobbler as well.

Great Shooting Tom and great story, bet your brother got a little taste and hankering for a bow  

Awesome! Good going!!!  

Great story Tom,  Way to go!!!!!

DD

Fantastic story! Congrats bud    

Congrats brother!!  I luv this time of year when you southern boys start killin turks.

Makes it little harder on me because I have to wait till May 1st here in NY, but I luv the stories of early success!!

Too bad you didn't have a camera yet to film    

Way to go. Congrats.

Great Story, beautiful bird and bow! Thanks for sharing.

Congrats!

Congrats on the bird,  love the looks of yer bow.