Today at noon this Colorado tom passed within 10 feet of the blind.. I could hear his wings dragging in the sand. He spit and drummed all the way in.
The only thing that separated this sharp eyed bird from me was just a mere fraction of fabric; the side blind.
Some day I will keep the camera in hand and get some good shots of the tom interacting with the decoy just 12 yards away.
This day would have been the day but, for some reason, I just have to grab the bow and put the camera down.
This tom is within spitting distance and he is focused on the Bud the jake decoy.
Does one shoot lower or higher or just mid body at that range. What did my practice teach me?
There is surely a different sound when an arrow hits the ground, ie, a miss, and when it strikes feathers and flesh--a hit.
What a target! A big tom in full strut. His tail fanned out along with every feather on his body. His head the color or a bright red tomato.
He appears to be as large as an elk.
Come on Saturday....
I had drawn a limited tag to be used in one of the game management units along the South Platte River. This tag would allow me to hunt private and SWAs within the boundaries of the unit..
When one draws a limited tag, one can also purchase a OTC tag that same year, but it has to be used on private property in the prairie regions but can also be use in other OTC units west of I-25.
I check out two SWAs. One I had to put on my waders to get across but I did not see much turkey sign and the property was quite narrow and the turkeys I had heard last Fall while duck hunting, must have been on adjacent private property.
The other SWA, I saw three hens but the property was only a mile long and 3/4 mile wide.
I decided to look farther down the river. This looked promising so I set up the blind and hunted adjacent to the property line until dark. The only tom I heard was right a sundown and he only gobbled once and he was across the river 1/4 mile away.
I had a double cheese burger, fries and two beers for dinner at a local bar and then decided to get a motel room at a reasonable motel, for $45.
In the morning, at 4:45 I was up and heading down the road but just two miles to the road that lead to the SWA on the east side. I did not have to cross the river.
I did see one tom and 8 hens in a roost but they were across a long tributary, and then another Jake pitched out and sailed from another roost tree. I hunted around but never had any action. I was carrying my Head Up decoy.
At 10 am, found me back where I had been the night before in the parking lot. There was another truck there and both hunters were armed with 12 gauge shotguns.
I drove back up the county road, 3 miles up stream and checked with a private land owner. His wife stated he was 6 mile way on the tractor, plowing up a few fields. I knew the area and if correct, it was near a good river bottom where I have helped mentor a new bow hunter last year,. the CBA's BAB, Becoming A Bow Hunter Program.
I contacted him via the call phone and he said, sure to hunt but only this afternoon because he had a father/daughter coming in tomorrow.
Not much time as it was now 12 noon.
I parked short of the river, and carried, my light weight T-2 blind, bow, chair, backpack, and four decoy that include my new, Bud the jake decoy, 1/4 to the bottom.
I check out the road and along the fence and found no turkey tracks, droppings, or feathers. What gives!
I walked 500 yards to the south end of the property and was standing behind a big cottonwood tree when I saw movement head. Three jakes feeding in the bottom 100 yards away. Well that is a good sign.
They moved off and down the river, and I thought, what the heck. I will set up right where they were in a good clearing.
It was now 1pm and I had just sat down in the blind after making a few cackles/yelps on the box call, when behind me. Gobble, gobble, gobble and coming fast.
I opened the back port a few inches and there he was just yards away and in full glory. I picked up the camera and tried to focus.
Well, now you know the rest of the story. Well almost!
A Hit! But as they say on the TV hunt shows. "I hit him back lower/farther than I wanted to."
Ok, now what? Do you bail out of the blind, run him down, and try to get another shot.
He still has the ability to run, and then fly.
I waited and then waited some more for another shot opportunity.
Finely he hobbled forward at 22 yards. The arrow was on it's way.
It took two arrows, one from each direction to put the very noble tom down for keeps.
This just shows the staying power of these birds if the arrow is not placed in the correct kill spot.
My wife just asked me, "honey, are you going turkey hunting again this year?"
:) My best, Paul
PS, "do cats climb trees?"
Thanks for sharing again Paul. And share some more IF you got turkey hunting again this year ;)
--Jim
Thanks, Paul.
Glad you were able to finally put him down, Paul...great story!
Best of Luck, Jeff
Good luck on your hunts this year. Paul
Andy
