Post by CopperHead on Apr 12, 2008 19:26:52 GMT -5
Today was opening day of the spring gobbler season in Virgina. The alam clock went off at 0215. I was excited as a kid on Christmas morning so it was not all that bad getting up after about an hour and a half of sleep. By 0230 I am in my truck headed north to my true home. I egt to my final destinantion at 0455 and wake up my hunting partner and cousin Roy. He is the one to blame for may addiction to bowhunting. :-)
Roy and his youngest Cody had roosted a Tom less than 200 yards from the house. SWEET!! The plan was simple. We would setup on the edge of the pasture directly below the ridge old Tom was sleeping one. We would do this under the cover of darkness to ensure old Tom is unaware. Roy, Tyler ( Roy's oldest), Cody ( Roy's youngest) and myself picked our way slowly down an ancient farm trail that leads to the creek and the pasture. Roy was carry an array of calls, his Elite Synergy and a few of Cabelas Carbon Extremes tipped with Shockwave broadheads. I had the camera and the decoy, While Tyler opted to carry the blind. Under the blackness of night we setup our ambush. The docys was located about 16 yards in front of the blind in plain view so she would catch old Toms eye. There was a slight breeze whihc was perfect as it added life to the decoy by swaying it in the breeze.
Shortly after the pinkness of early dawn started to wnter the sky old Tom rattled the hollar with his glourious morning song. The thunder chicken had sounded and at the same time given away his exact location. He was roosted about 80 yards at the best from our location. Things were looking good. After a few gobbles had sounded we started calling softly. Those sweet yelps had suited their purpose and old Tom was off the roost and headed our way.
Finally we spotted him moving down the ridge line headed toward the trail we had came down. Thsi coudl be sticky as he had a creek and a fence to cross to get to teh decoy. We had hoped he would glide down directly into the pasture. That was not gonna happen. This caused isues for videoing too as I was setup to video out another window but from that view I could not see Mr. Gobbler. I quickly passed the camera over to Tyler and he was able to get the bird strutting and showing off for his perspective new girl friend. All I could do was listen and wtahc teh action inside the blind. I passed Roy my range finder. It read 35 yards. Roy drew his Synergy, settled the pin, thunk!!, the arrow was screaming one its way at old Mr Tom. Thump! Flop! He was hit! Roy exclained "I got him!! I got him!!" Next you here the distinct sound of a zipper being ripped back and the video is full of unreconizable pictures. The pack was loose, sprinting to catch the prize and to head off Mr Murphy at the pass. the gobbler is wildly flopping on the ground and attepts to make it to his feet to run away. Tyler gets tangeled in the fence and the bird makes it to the creek. Before he can clear a log on the opposite side I scoop him up and the hunt is over. Ol' Tom is in custody.
Here is the hole the Shockwave left!
Thsi bird had a 10 1/4 inch beard and 1 inch spurs.
Roy and his youngest Cody had roosted a Tom less than 200 yards from the house. SWEET!! The plan was simple. We would setup on the edge of the pasture directly below the ridge old Tom was sleeping one. We would do this under the cover of darkness to ensure old Tom is unaware. Roy, Tyler ( Roy's oldest), Cody ( Roy's youngest) and myself picked our way slowly down an ancient farm trail that leads to the creek and the pasture. Roy was carry an array of calls, his Elite Synergy and a few of Cabelas Carbon Extremes tipped with Shockwave broadheads. I had the camera and the decoy, While Tyler opted to carry the blind. Under the blackness of night we setup our ambush. The docys was located about 16 yards in front of the blind in plain view so she would catch old Toms eye. There was a slight breeze whihc was perfect as it added life to the decoy by swaying it in the breeze.
Shortly after the pinkness of early dawn started to wnter the sky old Tom rattled the hollar with his glourious morning song. The thunder chicken had sounded and at the same time given away his exact location. He was roosted about 80 yards at the best from our location. Things were looking good. After a few gobbles had sounded we started calling softly. Those sweet yelps had suited their purpose and old Tom was off the roost and headed our way.
Finally we spotted him moving down the ridge line headed toward the trail we had came down. Thsi coudl be sticky as he had a creek and a fence to cross to get to teh decoy. We had hoped he would glide down directly into the pasture. That was not gonna happen. This caused isues for videoing too as I was setup to video out another window but from that view I could not see Mr. Gobbler. I quickly passed the camera over to Tyler and he was able to get the bird strutting and showing off for his perspective new girl friend. All I could do was listen and wtahc teh action inside the blind. I passed Roy my range finder. It read 35 yards. Roy drew his Synergy, settled the pin, thunk!!, the arrow was screaming one its way at old Mr Tom. Thump! Flop! He was hit! Roy exclained "I got him!! I got him!!" Next you here the distinct sound of a zipper being ripped back and the video is full of unreconizable pictures. The pack was loose, sprinting to catch the prize and to head off Mr Murphy at the pass. the gobbler is wildly flopping on the ground and attepts to make it to his feet to run away. Tyler gets tangeled in the fence and the bird makes it to the creek. Before he can clear a log on the opposite side I scoop him up and the hunt is over. Ol' Tom is in custody.
Here is the hole the Shockwave left!
Thsi bird had a 10 1/4 inch beard and 1 inch spurs.
