Yesterday's hunt was in the rain on the opposite end of the 1/2 mile winding field and I had a bird start to work me in between showers but when it started pouring again he clammed up. I sat with no sightings up until hunting hrs were over at 1pm and had been rained on several times.
I went back to roost birds last night in the drizzling rain and although I was pretty sure where I wanted to set up this morning the visual of some birds in the corn stubble late just confirmed my game plan.
I started off this morning shutting the alarm off at 4:30, as I could hear the rain beating on the roof. I still decided to get up and check the weather map, where it appeared that it was going to be raining most of the day off and on, (hmmm a repeat of yesterday).
I turned on the TV, hit the recliner and at about 5:30 it looked like it was clearing off, back to the computer and I hit update on the weather map where it showed some promise of partial clearing for the early morning so I headed out.
I never heard a bird gobble off roost this morning but had 2 jakes in the decoys shortly after fly down. At about 10:00 a gobble rang out from way down the field, I guess his hens left him and he decided to investigate the calls that I had blindly let out every 1/2 hr or so throughout the morning.
It took him about 20 minutes to make it up the field road to my location as he would stop, strut and let out a roar to let everyone know the king of the court was present. I would occasionally cut him off with some quick excited yelps to keep him interested.
Finally as he approached around the 100 yard mark I noticed the 2 earlier jakes had reappeared in the decoys. As the Gobbler approached within 50 yards the jakes scattered back a bit to watch the show.
BIg Boy ran in full strut up to my DSD strutter and immediately gave him a chest bump followed by a floggin, this in turn gave me time to draw and pick a spot with my pin.
I let him strut around until I was presented the angle I wanted and released the Spitfire Gobbler Getter through his chest. A mere 5 seconds and less than 20 yards later this toad of a Gobbler was mine.
I quickly took a few pictures, loaded my bags and and started my trek to the truck in a drizzle of rain. It was pouring by the time I reached the truck and I was soaked but somehow it made it just that much sweeter of a rewarding memory that will always bring a smile when I look back.
I knew this was a heavy bird when I went out to pick him up but little did I know that he would top anything I ever killed in the weight department, coming in at 26.55 lbs.
Sorry for the lengthy read, bow hunting for spring gobblers gets me pumped! Have a great season to all that are still hunting.
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/EasterGobbler-2640x480.jpg)
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h248/gslam95/EasterSundayGobbler4-24-11640x480.jpg)
Wow what a whopper, Congrats on a monster. Scoot
Awesome Bird! Even better getting him with a bow. gotta love those DSD's, still waiting on my Strutter.
Nice Job!
Congratulations John on a great bird and read.
Quote from: spurman on April 24, 2011, 09:18:21 PM
Congratulations John on a great bird and read.
:agreed: what a stud!
Congrats on that great bird John, sweet upgrade
Great bird, John! Way to go! :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock:
:you_rock:
That's a big un. congrats.
Nice bird. Congrats on the bow kill. :you_rock:
Quote from: turkey slayer on April 24, 2011, 09:41:17 PM
Quote from: spurman on April 24, 2011, 09:18:21 PM
Congratulations John on a great bird and read.
:agreed: what a stud!
X3 what an AWESOME bird, and a cool way to put him in the dirt!!!! :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock: :you_rock:
Congrats buddy! That is a HOSS
WOW what a turkey! Congrats on a great bird!
MAN WHAT A BIRD!!!!?????
Congrats to you and our team on this one
what an awesome bird and done with a bow tooo......YOU-DA-MAN!!!!!!!!!!1
I am working 12 hr shifts (7pm-7am) so I am getting to hunt every day. I took the 20 gauge out yesterday as I wanted to do a little run-n-gun hunting.
It paid off and I tagged my 3rd bird, I now have 1 tag for Illinois and 1 for Missouri left to fill. I may have to take a day off as I am starting to feel like a zombie!
I got this bird to strike late morning and it was a chess match for a while. I wish I had taken the bow as he presented himself plenty close once he committed to coming in. With the work hrs I have just not felt like packing the blind and bow so I opted for the 20 gauge on this hunt.
I will be taking the bow back out though as my NAP rep has sent me some of the new FOC 170's (A 3"cut 2 bladed Gobbler getter).
Pictures of the bird are in the check in thread.
Good luck to everyone that is still out there... Later John
Congratulations on another great bird John.