Trad Gang

Trad Gang Highlights => Highlights 2008 => Topic started by: Ken Sorg on April 24, 2008, 01:46:00 PM

Title: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Ken Sorg on April 24, 2008, 01:46:00 PM
I took this bird this morning with my 50# Kodiak magnum. The first shot sailed over his back but the 2nd shot found it's mark and it was a 50yrd recovery. This is my first archery turkey and my first traditional kill EVER. The bird weighed 24#s, 1.25 spurs a pretty thick 9" beard and a pencil thin 6" beard. Very proud of myself on this one.
 (http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/flinger1/DSCF6659.jpg)
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Bob L. on April 24, 2008, 02:22:00 PM
Congrats
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Doug S on April 24, 2008, 04:27:00 PM
You should be proud! Congratulations!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Ric O'Shay on April 24, 2008, 06:41:00 PM
Way to go Ken! Congratulations on a fine bird!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Tom Phillips on April 24, 2008, 06:43:00 PM
Way to go Great Accomplishment !!!!!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: BigRonHuntAlot on April 24, 2008, 09:07:00 PM
WELL DONE !!!  :thumbsup:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: rnharris on April 25, 2008, 05:42:00 AM
nice bird and great shot congrats  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: AnointedArcher on April 25, 2008, 02:40:00 PM
Way to go Ken   :thumbsup:    :clapper:    :clapper:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Ybuck on April 25, 2008, 11:17:00 PM
That rocks! I'm happy for ya!
Congratulations!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: GRAYBEARD on April 26, 2008, 09:49:00 AM
GO AHEAD, KEN!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: d. ward on April 26, 2008, 10:33:00 AM
I saw a smile on Fred's face......nice job...bowdoc
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Flatstick on April 26, 2008, 01:12:00 PM
Congrats ! That's a good bird and quite an accomplishment.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: LEOPARD on April 27, 2008, 02:24:00 PM
Well done and congratulations! That's a beauty for sure!  :D
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Ken Sorg on April 27, 2008, 04:55:00 PM
I guess I could have typed out a story about it,,,,,,,Here it goes......
Opening morning, I had great expectations for success. The prior three evenings I had glassed 10 to 12 birds in the field with 5 of them being long beards. I pulled in early grabbed my vest and Kodiak Magnum and was headed out. I made it about 2 steps when another hunter pulled in a started giving me the third degree. After the dust settled he invited me to sit with him in his blind as he was archery hunting also, but his bow still had the training wheels attached  ;)  The birds where hammering right from the start, but they had flown down on the opposite side of the narrow tree line. He informed me where were hunting the blind until 8:30am and then calling it quits,,,,,,,,,hmmmmmm.
Mid-afternoon was un-eventful on a different property, but I was counting the hours for my own pop-up blind set-up at the early morning spot. Within 5 minutes of setting up, 4 birds when gobbling like mad and making there way to me, about the same time they hit the woodline, A car horn started blasting away, everytime it blasted the birds gobbled. a minute or so later, I hear Hey you, Hey. My first thought was anti-hunters. I exited the blind and was confronted by the landowners daughter and smoothed things over, my birds were gone, but I figured the interruptions were over and I was right. I moved my blind and decoys to the other side of the tree line and within 20 minutes of setting up, the 4 gobblers were coming back in. One of the birds ran to my decoys, turned with his rearend facing me and I let an arrow fly taking out the center-most tail feather and sending the bird on his way. At the same time a hen had entered the field with 4 more in tow and I had to sit for 2 hours watching 4 gobblers posing and showing of for the lady's at 70 plus yards. A fifth gobbler joined them eventually and I was completely entertained and amazed for the evening. They made their way to the woods and were all tucked in before I left. The following morning I was really excited for the hunt, knowing where the birds were and how into it the night before had me pumped. I set-up, hit the slate a few times and the hammering started. The closest bird too me was really going to town, I could tell when he hit the ground and could also tell he was coming in. Once he hit the field and seen my decoys, it was instant strut, 35 minutes of it before he was sitting in my lap. I let the first arrow go and sailed it over his tail feathers. He lowered his tail feathers and as quick as that happened, he was back to strutting. I remember saying to myself on the second shot, "Don't screw this up", I concentrated hard on his beard and let it go,,,,Thump,,,, and he was off. He never flew and had a half hearted attempt at running. I actually watched him run in to complete tight circles and I thought he was just going to fall over, but he made it to the edge of the woods and fell over stone dead, not even a flap, or flopping, or whatever. I will not be ashamed to admit on the recovery of the bird I had tears of absolute joy in my eyes. After selling off my compounds and starting a little collection of Grayling Bear Archery bows, Everyone doubted me for doing so, they are not now!!!!! The legacy of this Eastern wild turkey will be forever remembered and the mount will be my greatest accomplishment to date in my short time of hunting. Thanks for the kind words guys and I hope you are still awake after reading this story  :)
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Guru on April 27, 2008, 08:39:00 PM
That's a great looking bird! Should make an excellent mount.....CONGRATS!!!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Fletcher on April 27, 2008, 10:23:00 PM
Great story, Flinger!  Thanks for sharing it.  NICE Bird, too!     :archer:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Kevin Bahr on April 29, 2008, 09:27:00 AM
Way Cool, Man!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: straitera on April 29, 2008, 10:10:00 AM
Turkey with a trad bow is not easy. Nice job bowman.
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: archenemy on April 29, 2008, 10:51:00 AM
Nice job man.
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: smokin joe on April 29, 2008, 04:59:00 PM
A great bird with a great bow. Those old Bear recurves are full of history and you have added a great chapter to the history of your K-mag. Congratulations.
Joe
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: RIVERWOLF on April 29, 2008, 05:55:00 PM
Great story ! Glad that 2nd arrow found its mark ....As for the old Bear Bow , keep them hunting till they can hunt no more !  Congrats .
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: swampjoe on April 30, 2008, 08:51:00 AM
Nice one Ken and good story too!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: BANNOCK-.PT on April 30, 2008, 09:23:00 PM
Awesome job, and what a great bird. That is one hunt you will not forget. Congrats!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: MJB on May 01, 2008, 05:02:00 PM
CONGRATS   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: BowHuntingFool on May 11, 2008, 10:41:00 PM
Great story, well done! Congrats on a great bird!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on May 13, 2008, 04:57:00 PM
Yep, well done! Many happy returns of the day to ya!
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: frassettor on June 07, 2008, 12:22:00 PM
nice job  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Papa Bear is smiling today!!!!
Post by: RUSS GRIMES on June 22, 2008, 08:51:00 AM
You the man,great kill and great shot on that awesome turkey gobbler!!!!zipperman