Now that was HUNTIN'!

[4est trekker]

I'll tell you now, I didn't kill anything tonight, but what a fantastic hunt nonetheless!  I've been trying to pattern this particular flock of turkeys on some new land I've been hunting.  I couldn't do it earlier this fall, so it's trial and error while trying to bag a bird.

Well, I had some time this evening to venture out, and decided to spot and stalk. I donned my trusty ol' Fred Bear hat, put on my wool plaids, and grabbed my homemade stickbow, arrows, quiver, and haversack.   I chided myself and laughed at my own stupidity for even trying this as I started off into the timber an hour before sundown.    Yet it wasn't long before I heard the racket of the flock.  I followed for about 250 yards before they held up in a grove of oak trees.

I crawled into a shallow depression left by a fallen tree the was flanked by down timber and some dead grass.  I counted somewhere between 40 and 50 birds, and man were they lettin' it all hang out!  I started a little kee-kee-run in hopes that a hen or two might get curious.  Wasn't long before three birds came within ten yards of my "blind."

The only shot I had out of this hole was over one log at 3 yards and under another at about 7 yards.  To my amazement, a nice hen presented herself broadside in that lane at 12 yards off.  I came up slowly and let loose, and the next minute was the most fun I've had in a long time!

I had to release nearly horizontally to keep from getting busted, and so the arrow couldn't quite clear the shallow shot opening.  The nock end just clipped the far log, sending the arrow just over the hen's back.  It struck a tree branch just beyond her and snapped.  Man, was there a turkey rodeo then!  I giggled like an idiot  watching those birds scatter for the trees, the creek hollow, the ridge, and whatever else they could find.  I even had three does pop up and hightail it about 30 yards off.  

I've been out six times this fall in my blind, and haven't been presented a shot closer than 30 yards.  Guess the old fashioned way broke the streak!  (Must have been that nice looking hat!       )  Nonetheless, guess I'll have to settle for a Butterball this Thanksgiving.

[shakeyslim]

thats a hunt now! loved it

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Cool!

[Wannabe1]

Sounds like you had a blast! Makes all the uneventful times in the woods worth while doesn't it?      

[maineac]

Its all about having fun, and that sounds like fun

[sou-pawbowhunter]

Sounds like a blast!

[Scott Bradford]

Wow, I have shot a few turkeys with compound bows.  They are hard to hunt with a compound, much less a long bow.  Great story and good luck!

[mcgroundstalker]

"Now that was HUNTIN'!" is an understatement. You have captured the "true art" of traditional archery hunting in your story. On the ground, natural cover, selfbow.......

Thanks! A Great Read!

... mike ...    ...

[Brian Krebs]

sounds like you had a TWANG     Yep that is traditional bowhunting - and I love it too        

[Doc Nock]

Great story!!! Thank for takin us along for the ride!  Them cackle chickens can raise a ruckus can't they! I've seen them spook the bejabbers outa deer when a big'un was doing that 2 legged trot through dry leaves... must've sounded like a person to the deer!

Keep trying. Somethings bound to happen.