I missed a gobbler monday morning and I've been feeling bad over the whole ordeal ever since. Misses happen, but in this case...looking back...I realize that the shot was marginal and I never should have pulled the trigger.
Fast forward to this morning...
I decided to go back after the bird that I'd shot at to see if he was still around. He has been roosted in the same exact spot on a gully bank for the past several times that I've been there. He's had hens roosted around him and they all pitch down in to the open hardwood flat below. This is where I missed him the other day, but I was on top not in the bottom where I should have been. This morning, however, I decided to set up in the hardwood flat where he's been landing. At 5:20 he gobbled right where he was supposed to be about 50 yds away and I felt better about the miss since I knew now that he wasn't laying dead in the woods some where. He gobbled two more times on the roost...a hen flew down behind me...I got ready...a couple of minutes later he glides down and lands 25 yds away right in front of the gun barrel...BOOM...game over at 5:45!!!
The coolest part of the whole thing is that this bird has 5 beards!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sucks that I can't count him as an upgrade for the contest this year. Will post pics later...
Sweet redemption! Congrats on making it right.
Congratulations! I am glad you got to redeem yourself. Sounds like an awesome bird! Cannot wait to see pictures! Congratulations again!
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0407.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0407.jpg.html)
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0445.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0445.jpg.html)
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0447.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0447.jpg.html)
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b284/WNYBowhunter/zDSCN0454.jpg) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/WNYBowhunter/media/zDSCN0454.jpg.html)
That is a stud of a bird!!! Congrats on redemption and a sure enough trophy!!
STUD for sure. Congrats!
Congratulations on about as fine a trophy as the come!!! Is he getting a ride to the taxidermist?
Why can't you use that as a upgrade ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: WV Ridge Reaper on May 14, 2015, 01:53:15 PM
Why can't you use that as a upgrade ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This year had a rule change in which only the longest beard of a multi beard counted. I do not like the rule but understand why it was put in.
Congrats! Nothing like redeeming yourself good job! Awesome bird by the way he would be an awesome bird to mount with his 5 beards and just the story behind him.
Nice bird, congrats
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: davisd9 on May 14, 2015, 01:55:17 PM
Quote from: WV Ridge Reaper on May 14, 2015, 01:53:15 PM
Why can't you use that as a upgrade ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This year had a rule change in which only the longest beard of a multi beard counted. I do not like the rule but understand why it was put in.
I didn't like this rule before I shot this bird and even less now...
Quote from: WNY Bowhunter on May 14, 2015, 09:48:39 PM
Quote from: davisd9 on May 14, 2015, 01:55:17 PM
Quote from: WV Ridge Reaper on May 14, 2015, 01:53:15 PM
Why can't you use that as a upgrade ?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This year had a rule change in which only the longest beard of a multi beard counted. I do not like the rule but understand why it was put in.
I didn't like this rule before I shot this bird and even less now...
Right there with you buddy!
Sent from the Strut Zone
In a way, I'm kind of glad I don't have to take pics of all of those extra little beards... :z-dizzy:
What was the total length? Good spurs?
Sent from the Strut Zone
The beards totaled about 21" and his spurs were an inch. I know he was a two year old because I've been getting trail cam pics of him and another gobbler since they were jakes last summer. He would have been something next year!!!