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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: flintlock on April 16, 2011, 04:38:25 PM

Title: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: flintlock on April 16, 2011, 04:38:25 PM
The thundering gobble brought me to FULL attention!  I could see him, at the edge of a little cut in the field about 200 yards across the way, standing at attention looking in my direction.  I gave him a few more yelps with 4-5 hard cuts and he came unglued!  I think my breathing increased.  :)

Slowly he made is way toward me and I knew it was going to be tough to draw on him not being in a pop-up blind, just tucked into some briars against an ash tree.   I adjusted my feet, checked my knock and peered through the briars again.  He had cut the distance to about 100 yards but was stopped again looking.  I hit him with the slate call that Stubby458 had given me last year and he couldn't help but double-gobble.  I think my breathing increased even MORE! 

The edges of his feathers shined in the morning light as he crested a little rise.  The top of his softball head was white and his cheeks blue as the summer sky.  He was behind a thin screen of briars and I kept my head bowed, to shade my glasses.  He came on around and was in wide open, full view.  He went into half-strut and I couldn't help but smile.  He dropped out of strut and must have seen a grasshopper. He was standing at about 18 yards and when he bent over the other way to snatch that hopper I drew.  I was almost all the way back and he snapped his head up and took a few quick steps.  I came to full draw picked a spot that was TURKEY and relased missing him clean.  I failed to pick a small spot and his nervousness must have given me gobbler fever.  He quickly moved off, but never putted.  I smiled and cussed at the same time.

At midday I shot my bow some and made some slight adjustments, trying to rebuild my confidence.

The next am, I opted to hunt another field and got tucked under the only small cedar in the fence-line.  I pulled out my camo rain jacket and proped it up with a stick on each side, to give me a little concealment.  I heard a bird sound off quite a ways off, but hit him hard with some calling/cuts.  About 5 min later I heard what almost sounded like quail talking to each other and I glaced into the briars to see them, and a big ol gobbler head popped up.  He was about 12 yards from me.  I dared not move as 3 gobblers moved by me and then made a b-line for the jake decoy I had stuck in the green-field about 15 yards to the south.   It was comical watching them go into strut and bump the decoy.  I started to draw but was stopped immediately by the big strutter, who snapped his head up and stared a hole through me as only a gobbler can do.  I shifted my attention to the other 2, as Big Daddy slowly moved off, all the while keeping an every-watching eye on me.  Gobbler #2 soon followed and I decided when #3 looked away I was going for it.  Within seconds #3 looked away and I came to full draw.  I picked a spot on #3, which was about 22 yards and let fly, making a perfect hit.  He went about 10 ft and piled up, then got the  "war dance" by gobbler #2 on him.   I thanked the good Lord for such a morning as this and for my friend that allowed my to enjoy such a wonderful day afield.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/WessKansasBow2011.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v664/flintlock/WessBow2011.jpg)

Good luck if you are after them.
Wess

Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: WyoHunter on April 16, 2011, 04:46:18 PM
Good read! Congrats on the fine bird!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: bbcoach on April 16, 2011, 04:56:28 PM
Great Job Wess.  Wonderful Stories and Beautiful Bird!!!

God's Creation is so Beautiful!!!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: TRKYHTR on April 16, 2011, 05:10:07 PM
Great story Wess. You've been spending time with Catdaddy. What in the world do you have on your face. You look like Brian Wilson of the Giants with a grey beard. Congrats on a nice gobbler.

TRKYHTR
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: guesswho on April 16, 2011, 05:14:47 PM
Congrats, and good job with the stick and string :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: tnturkeyman28 on April 16, 2011, 05:33:30 PM
Good Read!! :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock: congrats
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: cannonball on April 16, 2011, 05:39:19 PM
congrats! :you_rock:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: njdevilsb on April 16, 2011, 06:54:20 PM
Congrats.  Sounds like a fun hunt.
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: BowBendr on April 16, 2011, 07:11:47 PM
You look like one of the Soggy Bottom boys.  :z-guntootsmiley:
Awesome read and a fine tom. Congrats.
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: JVA54 on April 16, 2011, 07:18:20 PM

       :icon_thumright:  Congrats!!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: LX_Trkyhntr on April 16, 2011, 07:22:14 PM
Great read!!  Congrats getting it done with the bow!!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Wrangler95 on April 16, 2011, 07:43:31 PM
Very nice,congrats!!

:z-guntootsmiley:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Ol'Mossy on April 16, 2011, 08:09:03 PM
Congrats  :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: fallhnt on April 16, 2011, 09:40:58 PM
Congrats on the bow kill
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Trip on April 16, 2011, 09:45:29 PM
Congratulations!! Nice bird and a great story!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: hunttherut on April 16, 2011, 09:52:22 PM
Enjoyed reading....Congrats on the bird
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Dan Mallia on April 16, 2011, 10:34:14 PM
Fear the Beard  :wav:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: TalksToTurkeys on April 17, 2011, 02:40:26 PM
Wow, That Was COOL. Congrats.  :icon_thumright:   :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: bowhunter84 on April 17, 2011, 05:56:35 PM
congrats :you_rock:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: flintlock on April 18, 2011, 08:35:13 PM
Thanks guys, good luck! 
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Hognutz on April 18, 2011, 10:52:32 PM
Way to go, Wess. Great story. Congrats on the bow kill. You are out of my league, man. Well done, ol' Buddy..Mike :you_rock:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: archery1 on April 18, 2011, 10:55:06 PM
Quote from: LX_Trkyhntr on April 16, 2011, 07:22:14 PM
Great read!!  Congrats getting it done with the bow!!
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: PANYHunter on April 19, 2011, 09:03:58 AM
Congrats!!  Thanks for the great story.  :icon_thumright:   :icon_thumright:
Title: Re: Gobbler Bowkill
Post by: Basser69 on April 19, 2011, 09:46:08 AM
Congrats!