Had some luck Friday morning and was able to arrow this nice Eastern. Our season came in Wednesday and I got close both Wednesday and Thursday before connecting on Friday. I had what sounded like 3-4 Toms just going crazy from about 200 yards, I managed to get them within about 90-100 yards but couldnt see being these were in the woods and not a field. They eventually went away from me and then became silent. I sat in my brush blind I had constructed the day before that was on an old lane that runs through the middle of the woods left over and over grown from an old mining operation many many years ago. I seen and heard nothing else so I decided to go deeper down the lane and maby here or spot some more birds. I made it about 200 yards and a Gobble broke out to my left about 60 yards in the woods, I imediatly set down the decoy as It is on a stand, and not a stake that I had made for it. I also had a pretty girl lay down Hen that I placed to. Ironically this happened in front of a spot that I have killed birds out of before. It is just an old Pine tree blowdown that has rotted away and I had trimed out to sit behind years before and its 15 yards off the lane. It has just 2 shooting lanes cut and plenty of brush in the way hiding me when I need to draw. After settling in I did some soft yelping on the diaphram and imediatly got cut off with two thundering Gobbled I smiled and just kept quiet for awhile. They Gobbled alot in the next few minutes but never came closer so I Yelped again and got cut off. This time I could tell they were on the move so again I shut up. I finnaly see both of them cross a log and ever so slowly strutted toward me. The finally locked up at 30 yards as they seen the Deke and got cautious. They were back and forth for what seen like forever and a couple times I almost drew and took the shot but I only had small windows through the brush and decided to play it out. I ever so softly gave two soft clucks and they responded, the hair on the back of my neck stood up This time they gave in and commited to the decoys. Its a hard decision when to draw when two sets of eyes are at 15 yards and im not in a pop up. The dominant bird IMO that was doing most of the strutting puffed out and chest bumped my Tom Deak the exploded on him knocking the tail fan off ( its wing nutted on) he hit it hard and when this happened I drew and to my suprise didnt get busted. He puffed up again and just as he chest bumped the Deak again I let go. It nailed the wing joint but he was quartering toward me and the arrow came out just above his hip on the opposite side. The arrow stayed half in him and half out the other side just like I like it to do. When he went into the mad wing flap belly scoot I knew he was mine. He made it into the woods and all went quiet except for once I heard him flap his wings again. I waited for a few minutes before looking. I heard his buddy alarm put and run about the time I seen him laying 30 yards from where I shot him. To my suprise he was still alive but couldnt go anywhere. I quickly finished him with one more arrow and it was all over. He weighed 19 lbs, a little light for what I usually get in my area and had a 9 1/4 in beard, the spurs were both 1". Not a big bird but a fine looking 2 year old with a very dark tail fan, something I dont see often. Im happy but sad my season ended so soon. My 2011 spring Turkey
Congrats Dan, I didn't even buy a tag this year. Son playing highschool baseball now leaves me very little time or money to get out there. Just think, I only have 5 more years of it after this one.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys! you people are awesome Forgot to mention, pics were taken with my new Camera. got a Cannon Rebel T3 now.
I don't see no 9 inch beard on the TURKEY... oh wait you most be talking about the bird. Congrats on the bird !!!! The almost clean shaven look is throwing me. Is it really you ??? If it isn't you... what did you do with fat fingers Crik ??? Don't make me get a hold of Tuco. If it is really you. Did hell freeze over ???? Did you lose a bet ??? Or did the wife finally decide you needed to look respectable ??? Probably the latter !!
LMAO Tim, I shaved the Goat several months ago. I had a respirator fit test at work and you cant have a Goat for the test. After shaving it off I realized how old that grey thing made me look even though I am SO I decided to just leave it off,,besides it has freaked my family out, they say I dont look the same to grow it back,,,so im leavin it off,,,I have been talkin to Tuco, he had a bird get hung up in his hairy arms the other day! LOL
That's a very helpful write up. I had my first turkey hunt (woods with a bow) and it was a huge learning experience.
