longspurs
Active Member
There was a little opening day magic for this archery hunter and I couldn't be more pleased! A late morning encounter resulted in my harvesting a healthy two-year-old gobbler with a thick 10-inch beard that weighed in at an even 25 pounds. Here's how it all unfolded ...
After two close encounters at my morning setup I headed out for a hot lap around the countryside. I should explain a little at this point because those close encounters were without the aid of a blind. Call me crazy, but I prefer to go w/o one. Both of the early birds were less than 15 yards but neither presented a shot (too much brush) even though I was able to draw back undetected on both of them. At about 10:30 a.m. I decided to set up on a hay field that was sheltered from the wind below a horsehose-shaped ridge. I set out two decoys and trimmed my shooting lanes before standing behind my selected tree. My second series of calls was answered by a gobble that sounded like it was a mile away. Every few minutes I would call and each time the bird would answer - only closer. Finally, at a distance of several hundred yards I spotted the bird heading my direction from an adjacent picked corn field through my binoculars. He strutted for what seemed like an eternity and eventually wound up nine yards from my tree at the closest point. I did my best to "be the tree" and it must have worked because he was in full strut facing me head-on most of the time. I waited as he strutted nearly a complete circle around my decoys (talk about testing your nerves) before he turned around and I was able to draw back. I picked a spot and let him have it at 12 yards. The arrow broke his right leg and wing causing the gobbler to drop in his tracks at 11:15 a.m. I was amazed, and A LITTLE worked up, to say the least. I honestly can't recall a more intense hunt as it seemed like the tom was staring straight through me at times. My arrow nearly flopped off the rest I was shaking so hard. This is my third bow bird w/o a blind and I highly recommend giving it a try to anyone looking for an intense hunt, even if it's not a successful one. I'll get some pics on as soon as I can and I'll be picking up my second archery tag ASAP ... good luck, everyone!!!
-Longspurs-
After two close encounters at my morning setup I headed out for a hot lap around the countryside. I should explain a little at this point because those close encounters were without the aid of a blind. Call me crazy, but I prefer to go w/o one. Both of the early birds were less than 15 yards but neither presented a shot (too much brush) even though I was able to draw back undetected on both of them. At about 10:30 a.m. I decided to set up on a hay field that was sheltered from the wind below a horsehose-shaped ridge. I set out two decoys and trimmed my shooting lanes before standing behind my selected tree. My second series of calls was answered by a gobble that sounded like it was a mile away. Every few minutes I would call and each time the bird would answer - only closer. Finally, at a distance of several hundred yards I spotted the bird heading my direction from an adjacent picked corn field through my binoculars. He strutted for what seemed like an eternity and eventually wound up nine yards from my tree at the closest point. I did my best to "be the tree" and it must have worked because he was in full strut facing me head-on most of the time. I waited as he strutted nearly a complete circle around my decoys (talk about testing your nerves) before he turned around and I was able to draw back. I picked a spot and let him have it at 12 yards. The arrow broke his right leg and wing causing the gobbler to drop in his tracks at 11:15 a.m. I was amazed, and A LITTLE worked up, to say the least. I honestly can't recall a more intense hunt as it seemed like the tom was staring straight through me at times. My arrow nearly flopped off the rest I was shaking so hard. This is my third bow bird w/o a blind and I highly recommend giving it a try to anyone looking for an intense hunt, even if it's not a successful one. I'll get some pics on as soon as I can and I'll be picking up my second archery tag ASAP ... good luck, everyone!!!
-Longspurs-
