We found this fixer-upper near where we were going to hunt. Thought about purchasing it and then flipping it.
Second thought, NOT!.
I can not imagine what this family had to face in the 1920 to make a living.
Jerry killed his tom at 7pm, but had to chase it down and by the time he finely caught it, it had lost its tail feathers. Sorry no picture.
He was a very happy guy as this was his first Merriam turkey.
I wanted to try out my new Jake decoy.
My calling consisted of hen yelps and some cackles on the box call every 20 minutes. This is big country with small tree lined hills and large pastures so I wanted to be able to reach out with the hen calls.
Being near the roost site may product some returning birds that evening but in the afternoon they were out wandering around so I just sat in the blind, took a short nap and read a few chapters of my book.
Looking forward to the rest of the story Paul!
--Jim
One always questions, will he come in or just pass by.
I presented him with the sexiest hen yelp/purr sound I could muster. And he gobbled with gusto but sill out of site behind the hill.
Will he hang up at the fence or pass under?
Under he went. I dropped the camera, and grabbed the bow quickly as he was coming fast down the tractor trail and that would bring him from behind me and within 8 yards from the blind. He stopped to fan out and then I could hear him drumming although I could not see him. We would pass by the blind at 8 yards and the shot would be 10 yards. He was now moving fast, to kick the jakes butt.
The time was 6 pm. Failure or success?
That would depend on what might happen in the next second. I drew my bow. The arrow shaft was tipped with a NAP Shock Force expandable BH. The same BH I have used on countless turkeys and geese.
My release felt good as did my finger on the trigger. I picked him up in the peep site and placed the 20 yard pin at his middle and just up the thigh. A slight pressure and the arrow was gone.
I almost let him challenge the decoy and give Bud a few kicks and flaps of the wings, but as the saying goes, "a bird in the hand is worth two in the brush"
I did have this bird in the hand at 10 yards, and "two in the brush" could come at a later date.
He cart-wheeled backwards, up-righted himself, sprang away towards the fence, passing under. Limped out in the pasture 20 yards.
Did two or three flip-flops and laid still.
Well, that was exciting!!!!!!
Both Jerry and I believed he weighed 30 pounds.
The heaviest tom I have killed to date.
Thanks Jerry, that was a good hunt. Two toms in 24 hours and with stick and string. Actually Jerry killed another tom last week in eastern Nebraska.
My best, Paul
PS.. Congratulation to those that have killed their toms and good luck to those that are still hunting.
That is a huge bird even for Eastern subspecies standards. Generally Rios & Merriams are lighter correct?
Hope to put a few Rios down in Okla. this weekend.
I believe in this part of Nebraska near the South Dakota line, these are true Merriams (brighter white) and not crosses like farther south where there are mostly Merriam/Rio crosses and those do vary in color, especially the while tail and rump colors.
Good luck n Oklahoma.
My best, Paul
I did not.
My best, Paul
Paul
His mistake was to try to find hens on public land where most if not all, migrate to in the Spring.
I have seen this in other part of Nebraska, Kansas, and eastern Colorado.
I just finished processing him and he is buff and fat. Should be a good eater.
Paul
I love NW Nebraska ... great country. Your photos "took me back."