Texas Turkey!

March 31, 2009, 02:09:00 AM

Well I got down to the lease for a couple days of turkey huunting and the birds were everywhere. The first morning I went to the "Astroblind". It is a permanent ground blind with a feeder that the turkeys frequent VERY often. Before it was light enough to see good 6 pigs came in. The feeder had not gone off yet and they actually bedded down around it. Then a few minutes later they got up and left - before I could manage a shot. Well, the feeder went off at 7:30 and at about 7:40 here come the hens; about 20 of them. I was watching out a small viewing window to my left and following the hens comes Ol Tom. He walked in and immediately presented himself at about 7 yds. I drew back my brand new Sarrels Blueridge TD longbow and let the arrow fly. WHACK! My arrow went bouncing off behind the bird and he took off running to my left. He amde it about 18-20 yds, started to wobble, and fell over in sight.

That afternoon I went back to the same blind and at about 3:00pm here come two toms by themselves. They strut for my decoys and then turn around and walk right in front of my main window at 10yds. I draw and shoot. WHACK! This time my arrow stayed in the bird and off he runs. I waited a little while and hgot out to go get him. He had other plans! He got off in the brush and I could'nt find him. I was kind of bummed out about that.

The next day I hunted from daylight to dark with only a 1 hr break around lunch time. I saw a group of hens with two jakes at about 9:30 am but never got the shot. At about 6:00pm a big group of hens came in. Following behind them was MR TOM. He came in just like the one the day before - about 6 yds right in front of me. I shot this bird with a 1 7/8" GK broadhead, complete pass-through, and he waddles off in the brush. I found my arrow and it was covered in blood and feathers. I searched until dark for this bird and could'nt find him. I was REALLY bummed out then.

This could have been a stellar turkey hunt that turned out pretty depressing. I still can't figure out how that big BH did not kill that bird in sight. Oh well, I am going to South Africa in less than 3 months and I guess if I'm gonna lose something I'd rather it be a turkey here than a Kudu or Gemsbok in South Africa.

I hope to everybody at Vanderpool in a few weeks,

Bisch

Here's the pics:

longbow1 · March 31, 2009, 03:38:00 AM

Congrats on your bird, sorry about the other two. I have to wait until May 1st for our season to open. I usually carry two different broadheads turkey hunting. One for head shots at birds under 15yards and a mechanical three blade for birds over 15yards. Good Luck in SA and shoot straight.

wollelybugger · March 31, 2009, 07:50:00 AM

Tough bird to kill, have shoot a couple and thought I had them and they got away. Some people use string trackers, at least you will have a string to follow.

Smallwood · March 31, 2009, 10:17:00 AM

what kind of bow is that? it's really pretty.

MJB · March 31, 2009, 12:13:00 PM

CONGRATS

Papa · March 31, 2009, 12:32:00 PM

Congrats on the great bird!!

just_a_hunter · March 31, 2009, 12:41:00 PM

Great job!

Todd

bayoulongbowman · March 31, 2009, 01:04:00 PM

Wow!!!!!!!! man congrats thats a beauty for sure!!!way to go!!!!!!Marco

SouthMDShooter · March 31, 2009, 01:33:00 PM

Congrats i still got two and a half weeks

straitera · March 31, 2009, 05:23:00 PM

Bummer Bisch! Turkey threads are cluttered with ideas how to stop these strong willed birds. The Rios are naturally camo'ed so you could step on one and not know it. Guess the best way might be a dog to track them. Better luck next time. Did you do any calling? Bob makes pick of the litter bows. What kind of specs were you using? Arrows too?

yekrut · March 31, 2009, 07:26:00 PM

What part of the bird were you shooting at? Was he faceing away or broadside? Geez now I am worried about my hunt hope this does not happen to me! :rolleyes:

March 31, 2009, 07:48:00 PM

For everybody that wants to know, the bow is a Sarrels Blueridge Takedown longbow. Mine is 55#@28" and 62" long. The limbs are black glass with bamboo core and the riser is cocobolo. I use GT 55/75's with 250 gr up front and shoot GK broadheads.

Bisch

Elksong · March 31, 2009, 07:51:00 PM

Congrats! Really pretty bird.

hunt it · March 31, 2009, 07:58:00 PM

Congrats

tradtusker · March 31, 2009, 08:17:00 PM

very nice well done!

BlackDog · March 31, 2009, 11:18:00 PM

Good bird from the brush country. Nice!

Gerardo · April 02, 2009, 03:34:00 AM

CONGRATS!!!! Great Bird,

Last week a shot a big tom about 5 yds I taught I had a good shot into him and he went running to the woods , I searched all over for him , and all i found was ticks all over my body, hope i can get my first one these season , now I am going to run after it and never lose sight!!!!!!!!

Over&Under · April 02, 2009, 10:27:00 AM

Tom gobbler + Trad Equip = Trophy!

bowhunterfrompast · April 02, 2009, 01:24:00 PM

Congrats

BlacktailBowhunter · April 02, 2009, 02:48:00 PM

Nice bird.

That is a bummer about losing the 2.

I am really considering a string tracker for mine. I hunt a relatively open area with a field fence around the property, so if I wound one, I should be able to leave it for a bit and then recover it.

A lot of guys are using Jagd terriers in TX for blood trailing in the brush.

Paul