Post by: Guru on May 01, 2005, 06:44:00 PM
No gobbling for a while(overcast,and misty).Then a bird gobbles,but not way up on the hillside,but about 100yds away just above the vineyard.Oh baby!!!
As it's getting lighter,I can see a hen in a tree,and he is gobbling every one in while.Finally she starts calling in the tree,fires him up,and he flys down about 6:10.My first impression is that he looks like he got hit by a train!! The most beat up looking gobbler I've ever seen.Matted fron the overnight rain,but his tail was just a mess!! 4-5 completely broken tailfeathers,and a couple bent and hanging....But I wanted him!!He hits the ground,and just strutts right next to her,waiting for her to fly down. Finally she does,she sails down into the vineyard off to my rightabout100yds away and he starts down the hill.He's heading toward her,to the right,then all of a sudden he turns and heads right for me.I figured my sweet talking was doing the trick,but....all of a sudden,into my shooting window comes an unseen hen.10yds heading for the dekes,and he's coming too.She gets real agressive with the one hen deke,and he's within 5yds of the blind.But I can't see him,he's too close to see out of the horizontal viewing windows........ Gotta take my son outside to play....I'll be back later with the rest and pics..................
Post by: manyletters on May 01, 2005, 06:47:00 PM
Post by: AZStickman on May 01, 2005, 06:49:00 PM
Post by: Meathook on May 01, 2005, 07:07:00 PM
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 01, 2005, 07:49:00 PM
SHAWN
Post by: manyletters on May 01, 2005, 07:56:00 PM
Post by: SuperKodiak38 on May 01, 2005, 08:06:00 PM
I aint reading no more threads until there at least 3 days old so I can get the whole thing in one sitting. :readit:
Post by: frankb on May 01, 2005, 08:09:00 PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzz.... hzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
zzzzzzzzzzzzz....
...
...
...
sleep apnea pause
...
...
...
ZZZZZZZZZZzzz.... hzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
zzzzzzzzzzzzz.... hzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Post by: James Young on May 01, 2005, 08:25:00 PM
!["[laffsmyl]"]("graemlins/laffsmyl.gif" "\"\"")
Man now I know what the other side is like when I don't know the ending..
Come quit teasing us will ya? Tell us more...
James Young
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 01, 2005, 08:51:00 PM
Post by: joe skipp on May 01, 2005, 09:03:00 PM
Post by: Killdeer on May 01, 2005, 09:08:00 PM
!["[moon]"]("graemlins/sleeping.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: JasonV on May 01, 2005, 09:11:00 PM
C'mon.......
Post by: Sparky on May 01, 2005, 09:19:00 PM
!["[dead]"]("graemlins/dead.gif" "\"\"")
Ya know he kilt sumpin....LOL
Sparky
Post by: Shaun on May 01, 2005, 09:38:00 PM
OK, we'll just have to make up the rest of the story... as I recall, the tom was too close to see through the windows...
From the sound of his footsteps, I (Guru) picked a spot and shot right through the fabric of my doubble bull. The razor sharp Snuffer tickled his wattles and he turned red with anger. Right through the little oval window he hops and starts to spur me and whop me with his wings. I grabbed my new neck knife and threw my body on him like a grenade in a foxhole...
Post by: Luke Vander Vennen on May 01, 2005, 09:45:00 PM
Post by: nick_the_tinkerer on May 01, 2005, 09:51:00 PM
Cant wait for the pics.....
Post by: frankb on May 01, 2005, 09:52:00 PM
Post by: Jeff U on May 01, 2005, 09:57:00 PM
As the offending arrow flew past, the turkey realized that was fletched with a wild turkey feather. Furthermore, its unique pattern appeared to be feathers from his Uncle Tom, who had been missing from the roost since last fall.
Appalled at the thought of his uncle at Thanksgiving, he flew into a rage. The hunter becomes the hunted.
I (Guru) was accidentally shot once and now it appeared I was in for a serious bout of whup a$$ from a bird...
Post by: the Ferret on May 01, 2005, 10:11:00 PM
Post by: frankb on May 01, 2005, 10:16:00 PM
Frank B
Post by: JasonV on May 01, 2005, 10:19:00 PM
An I'm NOT gonna check back!
(until tomorrow)
Post by: Guru on May 01, 2005, 10:45:00 PM
.....So as this hen is getting more agressive with the deke,I'm expecting him to show up any second and push the hen away from the decoys so he can deal with the jake.I just keep saying to myself "just pick a spot and break him down". But,next thing I know "trainwreck" comes back into veiw in the same spot he came in from,walking away.I'm half tempted to shoot him through the netting of the veiwing window,but she is so close,and I figured he'd circle back.As he's walking away I can hear my decoy getting pecked.Next thing I know this hen,has the decoy on the ground pecking it.Then she picks it up and walkes off with it about 20yds.With this she unleashes an hour long assault on my poor decoy....pics......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff120.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff117.jpg)
then the rain came....The hen continued her assault,she'd carry it off,then come back with it in her beak.This honestly went on for over an hour.....gobbler stayed within 100yds.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff125.jpg)
Blind got wet,but I was dry as a bone.At about 10:30 the landownwers son in law came driving up to the vineyard to do some work.He stopped about 15yds away.I know him,when I looked out he had a real puzzled look on his face.He saw the decoy,but hadn't seen the blind.I had it tucked into an old farm truck they leave out there.Gotta use what cover is availible right??
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff127.jpg)
Anyway he said he'd come back after 12:00,but the damage was done.The turkey were moving off.Then they appeared about 150yds away in another field..
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff126.jpg).Then after awhile moved off into the woods.He would gobble once in a while,but he never came back.He just wasn't leaving the hen he was with.Around quitting time,I went to look for my decoy.The last time she walked off with it,she came back without it.Here's where she finally "left it for dead"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff128.jpg)
I thought for sure it was trashed after all that.But all she managed to do was peck all the paint off the head.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff129.jpg)
So I'm sorry if I lead you guys to believe that I killed something.Wasn't my intention,just wanted to share my morning.
Ol' Trainwreck has been "targeted for termination". He has no idea how close he was to dying today!!
Post by: Shaun on May 01, 2005, 11:00:00 PM
Is that a Featherflex? They are real light. Hard to imagine a hen hauling a decoy around. Maybe you should tie a fishing line to the thing and battle the hen like a bass. Good luck with Trainwreck in the coming days.
Post by: nick_the_tinkerer on May 01, 2005, 11:01:00 PM
Goodnight
Nick
Post by: Pat B on May 01, 2005, 11:29:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 01, 2005, 11:31:00 PM
I actually took some video of her beatin up my deke..but.....like a numbskull,took it verticle,without thinking(ya know,how you can take a vert pic and rotate it later on the computer) :knothead:
If you want to see them you'll have to turn your head sideways.But I don't know how to post a video.
Post by: frankb on May 01, 2005, 11:37:00 PM
Thanks for getting back to us... and man... I love that set up! Perfect!
Frank B
"Targeted for Termination" ...still smiling over that one.
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 02, 2005, 06:36:00 AM
David
Post by: Meathook on May 02, 2005, 09:51:00 AM
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 02, 2005, 03:22:00 PM
Post by: joe skipp on May 02, 2005, 07:02:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 03, 2005, 04:42:00 AM
Maybe that's why he looks like he does :smileystooges: .More birds gobbling coming down the mountain from where they usually roost.Getting to be 6:00 and i've got to go.....then the 2 longbeards that I've seen there before show up,splittail,and pretty boy(he's the only one without something wrong).Jakes see them coming,run right to them,longbeards see this and run toward them....jakes back down a bit,but not much....good time for me to leave.......I'm going to watch the vineyard again now,hopefully hunt a while tomorrow(going to work late :cool: )
Post by: the Ferret on May 03, 2005, 07:20:00 AM
Post by: Shaun on May 03, 2005, 07:46:00 AM
Post by: LAR43 on May 03, 2005, 05:27:00 PM
Get some turkey fat on that knife!!!! :bigsmyl:
Larry
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 03, 2005, 07:00:00 PM
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 03, 2005, 08:15:00 PM
:thumbsup:
David
Post by: Guru on May 03, 2005, 09:44:00 PM
Scouted again this morning.Hens roosted right on the edge of the field again.Birds gobbling up on the mountain where they usually are.Sure enough after a little bit Splittail and Prettyboy showed up a little before 6:00TO join the hens in the vineyard.Looks like Splittail lost another feather in his tail yesterday.Probably in the scrape with the jakes,It's there but bent over hanging.Now he's got a bigger split,but still nothing like Trainwreck.Left at 6:00,more gobbling WAY up on the hill.Maybe trainwreck,maybe the jakes.
Going out tomorrow,took a couple hours off in the morning to hunt.Hopefully all the boys will show up.Gotta set up on the opposite side of the vineyard they usually come down,It'll be easier for me to sneak out with minimal spooking if I have to leave before I kill one.If I don't kill one tomorrow,this weekend I'm going to set up right in the middle of the vineyard where the hens spend most of the time.
Thanks David...........Shawn,I think you have one coming bud,go get um!!!
Post by: Guru on May 04, 2005, 09:27:00 PM
Got some cool daybreak gobbling video...I'll send it to hook.Maybe he'll get it in hear for me.How can I do it myself????
Post by: Shaun on May 04, 2005, 11:12:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 05, 2005, 05:31:00 PM
I'll be out tomorrow again to watch the birds before work.....I can't wait till Saturday,gonna rain,but I hope it's still good!!
Post by: Guru on May 05, 2005, 09:30:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff138.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff139.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff140.jpg)
Hope I can do it on the real thing!!
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 05, 2005, 09:31:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 05, 2005, 09:35:00 PM
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 05, 2005, 09:38:00 PM
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 05, 2005, 10:09:00 PM
David
Post by: Missouri CK on May 05, 2005, 10:42:00 PM
Great story. Thanks for taking us along with you. Even with just a few pictures your descriptions have created a very clear picture of all the characters in this drama!
I find it to be an interesting paradox that stories like yours take a hold of my imagination greater than many of those where the kill is made.
I'm guessing that this typifies the traditional experience that many of us enjoy so much. Less success, but a much higher level of appreciation, regardless of the outcome.
And when we do connect it gives us a satisfaction that comes when a journey isn't easy and it makes us earn it.
Keep the details coming and good luck
Christopher
Post by: Guru on May 06, 2005, 08:30:00 PM
Just got back from putting 3 gobblers to bed.Saw 2, heard another.It'll be fun in the morning!!!Hope to have more pics(with a big ol dead gobbler!!) and stories.
This morning went up and didn't hear a single gobble....fickle birds :knothead:
Post by: Guru on May 08, 2005, 08:17:00 AM
So this morning the plan was to set the blind up,get eveything ready.Then go up to the spot that I usually go to watch the birds on the days I don't hunt and watch to see if my hunch is right.....It's even more windy today.Maybe they'll head for the low spot again????
Get up to my spot to watch,real windy,but heard the birds gobbling between gusts.Then as it gets lighter I see a hen in the vineyard,and she is heading right for me....hmmm..maybe I guessed right?? Another hen joins her and they are coming right to me,I believe heading for the low spot where my blind is.I'm getting ready to retreat and see Splittail and Prettyboy coming down the hill heading for the hens...who are headed for me.Time to retreat!!!! Get in the blind and now the wait begins.Did I guess right??? Won't know until I see something or I hear them gobble.About I half hour later I see a hen cross a row about 50yds to the north of me. Yesterday they just wandered around this flat,so today my plan was to just wait them out.No calling,no dekes.Then I see one hen behind me(the one direction I couldn't shoot),then the other hen and the 2 gobblers.They are just feeding and moving south,looks like they are just going to come around and I might get a shot.But....the hens cross the stonewall and head for a little patch of woods on the other side....DAMMIT!!! as I am jockying around inside the blind,closing windows,opening others....Prettyboy sees something and gets curious........gotta feed my daughter...I'll be back...........................
Post by: SuperKodiak38 on May 08, 2005, 08:57:00 AM
!["[heman]"]("graemlins/heman.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Guru on May 08, 2005, 09:20:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/theshot.jpg)
{dead center of this pic is where Prettyboy stood}
.I'm not one to say..."Man I shoulda just shot".....now or never....draw and SHOOT RIGHT OVER HIS BACK!!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!!!! having no clue what just happened,but more nervous,off they go just walking away clucking.
I know..."it happens"...but man I wanted that bird!!!
I did learn something about turkeys and there habits in the wind.I'm also glad to know that it's good to follow your "gut feelings" sometimes.
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 08, 2005, 09:29:00 AM
Take care,
David
Post by: wingnut on May 08, 2005, 09:33:00 AM
Move it!!
Mike
Post by: Timo on May 08, 2005, 09:35:00 AM
I've been quitely following along on your hunts. Sounds like ya got yourself a nice place there?
The infamous words....."Next time" will ring in your head until you go back!
Post by: Guru on May 08, 2005, 04:38:00 PM
Post by: Black Arrow on May 08, 2005, 05:01:00 PM
Post by: Shawn Leonard on May 08, 2005, 06:38:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 08, 2005, 09:54:00 PM
Shawn,Sounds like things have been well for ya the last couple days.Good to hear it bud.How about Saturday????
Post by: Black Arrow on May 09, 2005, 01:16:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 10, 2005, 07:50:00 PM
Oh yeah,I forgot to mention that at 5:37 I heard a single shot from the direction Trainwreck came from.Hopefully not Splittail or Prettyboy :confused:
Post by: Guru on May 11, 2005, 09:39:00 PM
Went to the north side of the orchard this morning/Lots of gobbling,3 birds at least.Would have been a perfect time for a spot I have picked for when the birds are over there.
Then headed south to the vineyard to see what was going on over there.I had faintly heard some gobbling from where I was.Snuck up to my observation spot just in time to see Trainwreck doing a "solo act" for 2 hens.Then I just backed out and went to work.
Might take a couple hours Fri morning.If not I'll be out Sat and Sun. Man I can't wait to get back in the woods!!!
Also out shooting b heads today.It's Time!!!!
Post by: the Ferret on May 11, 2005, 10:09:00 PM
Post by: Wapiti Chaser on May 12, 2005, 08:29:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 12, 2005, 09:46:00 PM
Watched Splittail and Prettyboy this morning in a spot I killed my first longbeard w/a bow a few yrs back.They flew right to the same spot the birds did that yr. Roosted them tonight in the same spot,I'll be ready for them in the morning.Also saw another "hunter" parked 100yds from where the birds were roosted.No wonder he didn't hear anything :knothead: !! Made it clear to him that I'd been hunting that spot for yrs and I WILL BE HERE IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!
Wish me luck :thumbsup:
Post by: Luke Vander Vennen on May 12, 2005, 09:55:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 14, 2005, 12:38:00 PM
Yesterday I killed Prettyboy(check out-"Prettyboy is no more").
Bringing this one TTT so some of you can read about the "history" I had with these birds before I killed him.
Had a hell of a hunt this morning too.I'll be back with that one later.
Post by: Guru on May 14, 2005, 08:12:00 PM
I set the blind right next to the truck,just like opening day.More gobbling,then 2 birds gobbling...cool!
Getting lighter,hear some hen talk.within minutes,next thing I hear is wing beats,CLOSE!! Hen lands less than 10yds from me and heads for my solo hen decoy.Oh no,not again! Before she gets to the decoy anther hen soars by within feet of the blind and lands right behind me.She turns around and they tag team my poor decoy.Knocked it flat,and pecked it a few times.Then just settled down and stayed right with me.Awesome,the boys will just come following them,this might work.
Gobblers are on the ground now,first to come into view...Splittail!! With binos I comfirm it's him.Yeah, I missed that bird 2 miles north of the vineyard yesterday.But there he was,gobbling hard and getting closer!!
Then on the other side of the creek is Trainwreck,and he's coming too!!
Well they had other travel plans.Splittail,heads for the middle of the vineyard and the hens go up to join him.But Trainwreck is still coming,but cuts accross the creek and into the vineyard about 30yds away....Dangit!!! I thought for sure it would be a point blank shot.Not to be.
Birds stay in the vineyard,I call very little.From all my obsevation of these birds I know they will work around the vineyard and maybe come back close.
Within and hour I have hens at spitting distance again,and here come the boys......
Post by: Big Ed on May 14, 2005, 08:44:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 14, 2005, 09:30:00 PM
... so now I figure one of these boys has gotta come close this time.I have my bow in my hand and I'm ready.....
Wouln't ya know it,both Splittail and Trainwreck cross the creek about 30yds in fron of me ,out of sight.Come back in sight at about 25yds.I start to tighten the string...a little closer...But just not close enough!!!! go into the rasberry bushes and disappear.Within a few minutes,Splittail comes out.Again at about 20 plus,again tighten the string,ready to draw.but it just wasn't right.He goes into the vineyard,and just keeps walking across into the orchard and disappears.Where all the other birds went,I have no idea.I sneak out,to cook some pancakes for my wife and son.
So close man!!! Tomorrow!!!!!!!!
Post by: swampbuck on May 15, 2005, 09:22:00 AM
Post by: Littlefeather on May 15, 2005, 09:27:00 AM
All he misses and close calls just make the whole thing all the more special. Keep at em Boy! CK
Post by: Guru on May 15, 2005, 07:12:00 PM
CK, Lovin' every minute of it!!!
Slow morning on the roost,didn't hear anything close,but about an hour after fly down,saw a hen in another part of the vineyard.I was set up in the same spot as yesterday.Figured my patience would be rewarded.Soon she was joined by more hens and then Trainwreck!!!! Where they roosted I have no idea.Never heard a gobble from that direction.Then as I watch them,another tom starts gobbling to the north in the orchard.Start doing some calling,bird in the orchard is gobbling hard and often.Thought foe sure he would come.but eventually I heard his gobbles fading.Trainwreck was just following the hens heading north to the orchard.With nothing to lose,I just settle back and wait to see what develops.
Hadn't heard anything for at least 40 minutes.Just sitting daydreaming.I can remember just thinking to myself,"this stinks".All of a sudden here comes the bully hen running at my hen deke!! Oh no,not again!! Sure enough,while I'm getting turned around in the blind,she starts pecking.Then I hear a gobble from the orchard...OH YEA!!!!! Game on!! Well she slams the deke flat,and just wanders off.I look with my leicas and see a hen coming over the stonewall with Trainwreck in tow.I thought for sure,this was it.But,it was not his day to die.He came about 40yds,following the hen and turned to go up the hill.I called to him as sweet as I could,he gobbled at everything,strutted,but just kept going.His gobbles faded,I waited a while then closed up shop.But cleared a little spot closer to where the hub of all the travel is.Only about 15yds from where I was,but should be better.We'll find out next time I get to hunt.
Post by: Guru on May 18, 2005, 08:01:00 PM
Here's a couple pics of the vineyard
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff176.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff171.jpg)
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 18, 2005, 08:09:00 PM
David