First Turkey With a Bow (Nebraska panhandle)

[nebgoosehunter]

Just found this forum yesterday so I'm excited to join.  I'm on a few waterfowl forums but there isn't much turkey discussion on them.  Let me start this off by saying I'm not an avid bow hunter by any means. I bought a used bow from a buddy a few years ago to try and get a muley out at our farm but haven't been successful. My dad and I tried one archery hunt for turkeys last year and they were roosted 200 yards off a highway and it was a full moon so we couldn't get set up where we wanted and it just didn't work out. Fast forward to two weeks ago, while I was scouting for snow geese I came across a nice group of turkeys with a pile of toms on a landowner I have permission from. I had a buddy roost the birds last Thursday night and we slipped in early Friday morning and set up about 100 yards away. Birds started pitching down before shooting light even and soon we had birds surrounding us gobbling their brains out, but they stayed just far enough away. Finally a group of three toms come in perfect and I had the first shot. I don't know if I rushed my shot or what but I must have hit him with a glancing shot as he just kinda walked off and joined the main group looking like he was ok. My buddy shot right after I missed and nailed his bird. The whole flock proceeded to come over and beat up his bird but I just didn't have a shot on any of the toms as they kept moving around and hens were in the way. One determined tom kept after the dead one for almost ten minutes and finally he gave me a window to shoot and I made the most of it. Smoked him right in the vitals and he was dead instantly. I didn't have a lot of confidence after missing my first one so I totally surprised myself and said out loud to my buddy "oh...I drilled him" lol. With all the ducks and geese flying around, and the sounds of spring, and so many close turkeys, it's a memory I won't soon forget.  By the way this was not in the Pine Ridge but in the North Platte River valley.  I do hunt some private ground up in the ridge that I will hopefully get up to for gun season this spring and will gladly report back when I do.

[Ozark870Hunter]

  
Congrats on the first archery bird! Not an easy feat to pull off!
Planning on heading to NE next month to shotgun hunt. Hows the roads up there after all the flooding?

[tomstopper]

Very nice. Congrats to you both.

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[nebgoosehunter]

 
Congrats on the first archery bird! Not an easy feat to pull off!
Planning on heading to NE next month to shotgun hunt. Hows the roads up there after all the flooding?

I forgot to mention I am the guy on the right in the green stocking hat.  The roads in Dawes County are not good.  Many roads are closed still.  Not sure about Sioux and Sheridan Counties in the Pine Ridge but I'm sure they have problems also.  We are set to get another whopping blizzard today and tonight.  All that moisture back on the roads won't be a good thing.  Ground is already saturated so when it all melts next week there will be a lot of running water again just like last month.  Only difference is it's not on the same scale as eastern Nebraska with the big rivers.  Guys coming to the Pine Ridge this weekend and next week may have a hard time getting around.

[FLGobstopper]

Nice! Glad to hear y'all and the turkeys are surviving all this craziness out there. Congrats and praying y'all don't get to bogged down with this one hitting today.

Hunted Pine Ridge 3 years ago and can't wait to get back out there. Was gonna try and make the North Platte area this year and it just didn't work out. Anyway, hope ya can get on another 1 or 2 this season. 

[Drycreek]

Congrats on a beautiful bird!

[PharmHunter]

Great job, congrats!

[dublelung]

Great looking pair of gobblers and a hunt to remember. Congratulations!

[Ozark870Hunter]

 
Congrats on the first archery bird! Not an easy feat to pull off!
Planning on heading to NE next month to shotgun hunt. Hows the roads up there after all the flooding?

I forgot to mention I am the guy on the right in the green stocking hat.  The roads in Dawes County are not good.  Many roads are closed still.  Not sure about Sioux and Sheridan Counties in the Pine Ridge but I'm sure they have problems also.  We are set to get another whopping blizzard today and tonight.  All that moisture back on the roads won't be a good thing.  Ground is already saturated so when it all melts next week there will be a lot of running water again just like last month.  Only difference is it's not on the same scale as eastern Nebraska with the big rivers.  Guys coming to the Pine Ridge this weekend and next week may have a hard time getting around.

Thanks for the update.

[runngun]

Welcome aboard! This is just an all around great place!

Have a good one
Ray

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[spaightlabs]

Welcome aboard Tyler!

Glad to hear there are still a couple birds up there.  Hope you get a chance to get your kiddos out for the next one - I gotta guess they love it and I always enjoy seeing pics of your kids in the field.

Hope the storm doesn't wreak too much havoc in your universe - stay safe!

Almost forgot - CONGRATS!

[BKnisley]

Welcome to OG!! All things turkey here! Great looking birds and one heck of a hunt.

[Kytomgetter]

That's awesome Thanks for sharing

[CAPTJJ]

Well done. Glad I took the trip out to the Pine Ridge last year, sounds like this year would be tough. Had my 2013 trip ruined by the blizzard that hit in early April that year, was stuck in my motel room for 2 days, then couldn't get on any back roads.

[zsully]

Congrats and welcome. A buddy and I will be hunting NE next spring. This year hasn't even started and I'm already pumped for next year