The 'work thing' got in the way of our departure until about 1pm.
Then we headed east.
It was about 5hrs to the public land we had decided to hunt.
I had never been there before, but Aaron had hunted it so we had a game plan.
We arrived about an hour before sundown, just enough time to see a few birds and drive around to see the 'lay of the land'
Near dark, we drove to some spots and 'howled' to locate some roosted birds.
We found a couple good spots and our 'game plan' was ready for Saturday morning
Spot 2 here we come!
[Always good to have multiple plans]
We got to Spot 2 - which we called Hen Crossing
And headed in toward the roost trees with a blind, decoys, chairs, and all the stuff needed to hunt turkeys
We set up about 100yds from the roosted birds in a cottonwood draw, on the edge of a nice green field.
All set up! Here we go!
Gobble Gobble!
We were in a blind an location X1 about 100yds from the roost trees.
The field in front of us was nice and green with Winter Wheat
At 7am the birds pitched down
It was a cold morning - frosty!!
And waited...
GOBBLE GOBBLE....
Waited some more...
It was cold!
About 830am we decided to get out of the blind and go see what we could make happen since obviously the birds werent coming to the green field this morning.
We snuck down into the draw and under the roost trees and up the other side to check that area out.
THERE THEY WERE!
The gobbler was strutting under a big tree - 40yds!
Well, as most of you know, turkeys dont hang around very long when they think something is amiss
And these turkeys did just that.
The rest of the day [Saturday] was spent locating birds and putting a couple unsuccessful stalks on the birds.
Not wasted time by any means as we found some great spots that are definitely over-looked by the Public Land turkey hunters.
I set up a blind on one side of the draw and Aaron set one up on the other.
Good for them kids!
This was my view Saturday evening.
The roost trees were just off to my left about 100yds
It was coming closer
GOBBLE GOBBLE!
Really close!
Waited...
I then heard him fly up to the roost! Somehow he got between me and Aaron :(
I peeked thru my blind window and saw him on his roost. I ranged him at 93 yds.
I waited til dark and quietly slipped out of my blind and met up with Aaron
It was coming closer
GOBBLE GOBBLE!
Really close!
Waited...
I then heard him fly up to the roost! Somehow he got between me and Aaron :(
I peeked thru my blind window and saw him on his roost. I ranged him at 93 yds.
I waited til dark and quietly slipped out of my blind and met up with Aaron
As daylight was breaking, the gobbles started.
It was a much warmer morning. Mid-50s
Perfect
It was nearing 7am. Fly down time
I peaked thru the blind window and saw the tom starting to flex his wings
I yelped a couple times to let him know a hen was over here
7am - He pitched down!
BUT!!! Not in my direction!!!! :(
For the next few minutes all was quiet.
I wondered if he was going to make his way over to my set up
The hens were yelping occasionally. I yelped back at them - mimicking them
GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
I waited
nothing.
8am
I realized they were in the green field from the previous morning!!!
I quickly took off my black jacket and quietly unzipped the blind and quietly headed to the field.
I was determined to make something happen
This is my way to the green field.
Lots of brush and downed branches - not an easy stalk for sure
THERE HE IS!!!
IN FULL STRUT!!
I ease back down, pondering the distance....
30yds? 35yds?
I decided it was 35yds.
I drew my bow as I was hunched down. And I slowly stood up and settled the 'gap' of 35yds on my pins. The grass obscured my view just a bit, but it was about half way so I knew my trajectory would clear.
He noticed something wasnt right and wasnt strutting - just looking around
And the arrow was released!!!
The arrow hit him and he folded like a worn out lawn chair!
I nocked another arrow and got ready to shoot again if needed.
I slowly walked out to the field and saw 2 hens wondering what happened
I eased up to the tom. He still hasnt moved a twitch
I saw my arrow a few feet beyond the bird.
He flapped once and never moved again
Well. That was fun!
Its only 8am and Aaron was coming back to pick me up at 1030 so I had plenty of time to take some pics...
420gr tipped with a SlickTrick
The hit was high in the breast and sure did a number
Thats good yes?
If I'm not mistaken, that's the same field JTreeman killed a bird last year. Except it was milo stubble then.
congrats again
Aaron says you should post an aerial where you shot yours last yeasr.... ha ha! :)
We went by there :)
Still "flat line" on the turks? :)
well there is now 'blip' on the screen :)
I am still waiting for the 'magic' to happen as I never have seen a tom come strutting into a setup in front of my blind.
Both of my Neb turkeys [1 shotgun - 1 archery] have been spot & stalk.
Bottom line is its still making the shot when the opportunity - whatever that is - arises and making it happen.
There are 3 kinds of people in life.
Ones that make it happen, ones that watch it happen, and ones that wonder what happened :)
That sure is a pretty gobbler ! Congrats !
Mark
--Mitch
You should heed TBM's advice since it seems you have a lot of trouble calling in elk! ;-)
cnelk's Link
Ameristep Bone Collector - see link
We may have been one of those shotgun blasts!
I love Nebraska for the youth turkey and deer seasons, probably not as much as my Son tho.
paul
