First Turkey!

[Tom2008]

After switching spots again and locating some more Toms we finally had some success. Yesterday morning was our first time into this new spot and boy did we see lots of animals. That morning we had 9 deer at 10 yards, a gray fox, a hummingbird flew into our blind, and a skink crawled in the blind too. We heard gobbles all around us, but never spotted a turkey. We went back home, but since Kels had to work I decided that last night was going to be a good night and I better take advantage of it. Here is the story.

I showed up at our spot and on the way out I forgot my release. So I run back and look in my bow case and its not there! Luckily I kept Kelsey's bow in the truck so I snatched up her release was off to the blind. Just an F.Y.I. , Kelsey's release won't even fit around my wrist so to take a shot i have to grip onto the strap and shoot that way.

We had the blind set-up in the middle of the field underneath a small tree, but from what I read, after the morning hunt, was that its better off to be along the edge of the field, especially with decoys. So I moved the blind and got set-up. Two hours go by and finally at 7:00 there is some movement. Two does graze out of the corner of the field. Then 200 yards up on the road I see 3 hens making their way to a different field. Shortly after a jake books it across the field at 100 yards. About 15 minutes later another deer comes out from the same spot and I watch it for a few minutes. Then all of a sudden I hear leaves crunching at a pretty steady pace. I look over my shoulder a little behind the blind and I see him. A red head sticking out of the woodline and the cool part was he was already at 15 yards. Then another head pops out and its another Tom! The two Tom's make their way past my blind at 10 yards. My heart was pumpin' so bad that I had to look away and take a couple breaths to calm myself. The Tom's at first didn't see my decoys and then the first one spotted the three hens and the jake I put up. I tried to make it look like the Jake was breeding the smallest hen. This technique worked like a charm. Those Toms swung right around to the front of my blind and right into my biggest shooting window. At this point I'm like "ok when do I shoot?" I drew back when it seemed like they weren't paying attention and both of them started to quarter away a little. Instinct seemed to just kick in and I put that 20 yard pin right on the spot. The arrow flew and I saw it hit that first Tom hard. He hopped away and soon after he slowed down behind a pine in the field. After that I didn't see him anymore. The bird ended up going only 40 yards and the Rage did a number on him! All I can say thanks to everyone who answered questions I've had and it was just an awesome experience to get one down with a bow. All I can say is that I'm hooked for life now.

Now it's time to get Kelsey on a bird.

2 year old bird with a 9 inch beard, 7/8" spurs, and 15 lbs. Oh and it's my first bow kill with the hoyt!

Rage Damage. The tip of the broadhead poked a little bit through the other side.

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/l.../turkey008.jpg

[Kels]

Wish I didnt have to work that night.
Very happy for you though!

[fly]

Nice Tom!
Bow birds are an exceptional trophy and yours looks great!

[HuntnMa]

Congrats on an awesome hunt and gobbler

[Jorden]

Congrats on the bird

[beagleboy]

congrats

[woolybear]

Great job, he's a slammer for a first, specially with the bow

[Ohiobucks]

Very nice bird, congrats!!

[Zambo]

Way to go Tom! Sounds like an exciting hunt. Congratulations on your first bow turkey. Hopefully it will be the first of many for you.

[dbHunterNY]

I haven't been able to get in much hunting time, with NY being mornings only and work being busy. I've been out with my bow trying to fill my second tag and haven't been able to yet. Looks like you've done it, so congrats!

[PotashRLS]

Very nice bird indeed. Good job with the bow too.

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

nicely done... congrats on the bird!

[Bowtech_archer07]

Congrats on a great bird!! I hope that I can take a bird with my bow someday!

[BAMABUCKS]

Congrats on the bird. Awesome!

[3seasons]

Awesome job congrats