Just got back from our Kansas trip late Sunday! It was an interesting, but successful trip!We dealt with 30-40mph winds and sometimes more, blinds blowing away even being staked down, and decoys blowing over spooking a nice tom. Unfortunately, mo bowhunter was really sick and left early leaving me to fend for myself the next few days. I think he became more sick when he got the text i arrowed a tom! Lol. Here's the story : My birthday was April 2nd and as usual it rained the better part of the day. After the rain quit the sun came out and we decided to go check the field that mo bow and I hunted the morning before. As we approached the field we saw a strutter strutting in the middle of the field as well as 4-5 other turkeys. We tried to put the sneak on them, but I think they saw us. The good news is we knew they would roost there close, so we decided to setup there in the morning. That morning came and I had two gobblers gobbling behind me about 70 yards with some hens even closer. One pitched down into the field I was in about 75 yards down from me and was kee keeing her head off. Finally 5 other hens flew down from the neighbors property and into my field. All 6 of them ended up working 12 yards in front of my blind. We had a tom slip in behind me around 3pm but was at 57 yards. At around 5 my buddy's brother joined me in the blind with his camcorder. At 6pm we glassed down the field to my buddy's setup and he had a hen around 5 yards feeding in front of him. We watched her for a bit then she walked into the woods. At 6:30 Jay looked to our left and saw a jake coming right down the timber line we were sitting on and right behind him was a nice tom. He started videoing as they both worked our way. Jay ranged them at 47 yards. Too far for my comfort, but they were still coming. The tom got to 33 yards and i slowly drew my bow without them even knowing we existed. I settled my 30 yard pin right at the wing butt and released the arrow. I 12 ringed him and he did a death flap for all of 5 yards and was done! My first tom with a bow and first turkey actually hunting them rather than shooting one during deer season. He had a 9" beard and 3/4" spurs, and weighed 21 lbs! Did I mention this was on public land? Here are my pics: Field we hunted. They came in from the left right at the timber line and worked out in front of our decoys! Me,my bird, and Jay my cameraman! Me and my tom! Me and my buddy Joe that I work with at Bass Pro
Thanks everyone! This is a trip I'll never forget. I've got the beard and fan drying to make a fan mount. I also cut off the legs to dry them. The one still has the tag on it.
