1st morning, Turkey Hunting

[Cossack]

Had a total or 5 gobblers in within 20 yards, including a BIG Tom, but have nothing to show for it but a rapid heartbeat. Heard them fly down, respond to my calling, work their way toward me, gobbling all the way. Came in behind me (I was set up over corn, against a brush pile), so close I could clearly hear the drumming and wing drags. But they just didn't trust my decoys. (Hen, jake and a gobbler). The big boy came rushing in from the right to kick the decoy but spotted me as I moved just a tad to get in position. The other 4 were jakes. They came in but the Tom decoy had them on edge (The big Tom has been chasing them ceaseless whenever a hen is nearby).They left but a Squealing Hen call brought them back again.There were just to many eyes to get a shot off. Had I been using my Beretta instead of the Phoenix, game over. Man, talk about a rush. I'm still smiling

[ghost]

Sounds like you had a great hunt.

Ghost

[Cossack]

Yesterday was a bust but today, a HOOT

He's right where the landowner/deer hunting buddy said he'd be....not 50 yards from the Crossing Stand tree. A predawn crow call sets him off, he shock-gobbles instantly. Let him settle down, you know where he is. Set up. Next a soft tree call to let him know a hen is nearby. He gobbles instantly. Wait a bit, let his interest peak. Hit him again; double gobble, he is HOT! A soft wine and yelp is more than he can handle, he gobbles and comes sailing off the tree, hits the ground and gobbles again. I let him know his obsession is ready and willing, and keep quiet. He knows where I am, I hear him drumming, he's coming - like on a string - down the mowed trail. A soft ''pip-pip'' just to confirm my whereabouts and I shut up. I'm cotton-mouthed so further calling may make the diaphragm sound off key. First a head appears in the gloaming, superimposed on his fan. He's in plain sight, facing me; too late to turn the lighted reticule on (WHY didn't I think of that before?!) I'm thinking 30 yards; the big breast presents a tempting target. He's edgy, where is that hen? No decoy (That may have been a mistake) I went in light, expecting to move in order to locate him. WHERE is that hen?! I would prefer a broadside target but it's now or perhaps never. I see the arrow hit (doesn't sound right, now that I think of it) and he's off, cutting a warning to any other turkey that may be nearby. I hear him moving through the brush and leaves. I'll wait until it gets really light to look for him.
A crow triggers another shock gobble east of me. I can't resist playing the game. I creep to where the sound came from, getting close as I can. Actually, too close...dawn reveals three shapes in trees nearby; one so close it'd make an easy target... if I were so inclined. But I've got one down already..... I set up and get ready to play. In about a half hour, two sail down to land uphill. The third, a jake, waits a bit and comes down close to me. My clucks and whines convince him he's in good company, he hangs around some 10 minutes until a gobble from uphill lets him know that his branchmates are waiting for him there.
The full light of day, reveals the whole story...a handful of bright breast feather but no blood or bird. The arrow must have been a bit off to either side rearranging his wardrobe but doing no bodily harm. I look for an hour in ever expanding circles but there is no bird or further sign to prove me wrong.
WHAT A HUNT! I've rewound my memories and replayed the scene repeatedly. The would-ofs and should-ofs have crept in; I've analyzed and learned from them to apply to next time. But I'm counting coup on this Tom. I found him, brought him in and 'touched' him. It matters not one bit that he's still out there

[Cossack]

The what ifs kicked in too. Checked my bow for accuracy, the usually accurate Phoenix was all over the place. The scope base wobbled noticeably! Had checked it for accuracy before day one. Perfect Zero; and it had been loc-tighted so I didn't bother to check the base screws. Apparently the rides to and from the hunt for three days on our gravel road left their mark.
So, as Paul Harvey would say, that's the REST of the story.

[ghost]

Turkey or no it sounds like you had a great time.

Interesting about the scope, I have bounced my around some but never had the scope base loosen.

Ghost

[Cossack]

Scope base coming loose happened to one of my other bows previously, it's why I loc- tighted 'em. My fault, I assumed it would hold. Bad assumption, and it cost me. Won't happen again, I'll be checking those bolts regularly now.

[vixenmaster]

No matter the hunting good & glad you got some action. He will be around fer another go at him.