Post by: joe skipp on April 30, 2010, 12:23:00 PM
I just finished up some Sitka Spruce arrows that were sent to me by Kent Tinney out of Darby MT. Great shafts....I found some old Trueflight Feathers in Purple Barr and Red and I used Rit dye and 4 coats of laquer to seal. Hope I break one tomorrow....and...the Snuffers are razor sharp!
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/sf1oak/PC030004.jpg)
Post by: ron w on April 30, 2010, 12:40:00 PM
Post by: woodchucker on April 30, 2010, 01:03:00 PM
(and I thought you weren't making "woodies" anymore) ;)
Also, Good Luck My Friends!!!!! Unfortunatly,I'll be working.....
Post by: drewsbow on April 30, 2010, 01:03:00 PM
Post by: Skipmaster1 on April 30, 2010, 01:25:00 PM
Post by: 2Blade on April 30, 2010, 01:36:00 PM
Post by: Recurve50 LBS on April 30, 2010, 01:37:00 PM
Post by: Mint on April 30, 2010, 04:22:00 PM
Post by: 3Feathers on April 30, 2010, 04:37:00 PM
Post by: vermonster13 on April 30, 2010, 05:40:00 PM
Post by: bentpole on April 30, 2010, 05:59:00 PM
Post by: crotch horn on April 30, 2010, 08:42:00 PM
Post by: southpawshooter on April 30, 2010, 09:34:00 PM
Post by: Stone Knife on May 01, 2010, 04:16:00 AM
Post by: vtmtnman on May 01, 2010, 04:34:00 AM
Post by: jimmerc on May 01, 2010, 08:13:00 AM
(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn339/JDCOWLES69/turkeys5110003.jpg) These two jakes crossed the road to tease me this am while i was out scouting birds!
Also had these 4 toms and 4 hens in another area this am! sorry about the crappy pics,taken with cell phone!
(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn339/JDCOWLES69/turkeys5110004.jpg)
Post by: glenbo on May 01, 2010, 09:27:00 AM
Post by: joe skipp on May 01, 2010, 12:31:00 PM
hung up at 30 yds...displaying....then gobblin... :p
All he had to do was walk by and he would have passed behind 3 different trees giving me the opportunity for a shot. That would have brought him in to about 20 yds. ;)
However...since he didn't see any hens..he figured they left....and so did he! I did stop him once but he kept on moving. Really started warming up around 11am...work calls...will have to wait until Tues or Wed to get out again...
Post by: mcgroundstalker on May 01, 2010, 12:33:00 PM
... mike ...
Post by: Izzy on May 01, 2010, 12:42:00 PM
Post by: 2Blade on May 01, 2010, 12:59:00 PM
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 01, 2010, 05:06:00 PM
I'm slipping a little! This year it took me 30 minutes to arrow a Tom with my longbow without a blind. Last year only took 10 minutes. I don't know why, but I've always been very lucky with turkeys. This is my 6th opening day longbow or recurve bow turkey in a row. All without a blind. I did feel like I was cheating a little this year as I was wearing my new leafy camo.
It was a great morning. It was like Izzy described and I had a whole river bottom full of birds going off. My spot is in the corner of a very large field and they planted it yesterday and drove all the birds to the other side of the river. I knew I would have a tough time pulling them across the river. They were gobbling non-stop and I hit them pretty hard with hen yelps early. They would gobble almost non-stop. Finally some hens started yelping and you could tell I had one old girl pretty mad at me. She was getting loud and raspy and I just matched her call and volume. There were 3 big birds and two flew down and went with the old girl that talked nasty to me. The last big bird didn't like such a nasty girlfriend and decided to come check me out. He flew down about 100 yards into a different field and I fired him up with 3 different calls. A Cherokee Slim call, a diaphram call and a box call. He got so worked up he literally ran into my single hen decoy. He finally strutted with his tail fan hiding his head and at 8 yards the shot was true. Legal light was 5:23 AM and he was down at 5:53 AM. Lots more birds to try for in a couple days. I was then on the Hudson fishing for stripers by 7 AM. Had a nice time catching some good fish with my largest at 35".
I'm getting to really like the New York spring time.
Good luck to everyone!
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 01, 2010, 05:08:00 PM
Better to be lucky than good!
Post by: ron w on May 01, 2010, 05:10:00 PM
Post by: LAR43 on May 01, 2010, 05:18:00 PM
I'm sittin' here with my truck in the dealership waiting for a new differential . .
What timing!!!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Larry
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 01, 2010, 05:28:00 PM
Post by: Wapiti Chaser on May 01, 2010, 06:02:00 PM
Post by: Izzy on May 01, 2010, 09:10:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 01, 2010, 09:21:00 PM
Post by: Shinken on May 01, 2010, 09:30:00 PM
You gotta like those NASTY-talkin' birds.
:eek:
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 01, 2010, 09:45:00 PM
Shinken she was just plain mad at me!
Izzy, you ain't foolin' nobody! You're a hunting machine. Loved the hog hunt. Tyler and Jen both got a nice hog in Florida. I'll send you a photo.
Post by: ron w on May 01, 2010, 10:05:00 PM
Post by: adkmountainken on May 01, 2010, 10:07:00 PM
Post by: Izzy on May 02, 2010, 10:46:00 AM
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on May 02, 2010, 10:54:00 AM
Then at noon is was off to clean the bird. Hooked up the boat for a night of striper action.
I Boated four fish all in the 15-20lb range (about 30-35 inches) and 2 cats. I missed the first 4 hits being a little rusty with circle hooks.
Since I started yesterday at 3:15 am and finished it at 1:18am I slept n this morning. Then it was rise and shine clean the boat and see how everyone else did in the woods.
Post by: woodchucker on May 02, 2010, 11:13:00 AM
I've killed 8 over the years,all without a blind or decoys.
I have a great "strutt zone" up to my Dad's on the edge of a field. I call untill I see them come to the edge of the field,then I "shut-up" and don't call again no matter what!!! As soon as he doesn't see any hens he will usually make a "bee-line" for the strutt zone. When he's all puffed up in "full-strutt" I wait untill his back is turned and his fan is covering his head, Then I put an arrow right through his fan about 4-5" above the root of his tail. Usualy breaks the spine right between the legs and takes out the vitals. They might flap alittle,but I've never had one get any "air" and I have never had one run off. Haven't lost a bird either!!! (knock on wood!!!) :pray:
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 13, 2010, 09:42:00 AM
Had a bit of bad luck and my boat sheared off a couple of bolts in the lower unit Jet drive. Had to have the neighbor tap out the broken bolts and he didn't have it ready so I could go striper fishing this morning. Forced me to go turkey hunting instead. Knowing I would be trying for them this morning I headed out last night to roost a few. Everything worked out perfect as there were birds everywhere. I had a group of 6 Jakes and a mature Tom that must've been a 2 1/2 year old that I decided not to bother with as I wasn't interested in a Jake. I then located 3 mature Toms and 10 hens. Right at last light the hens and 2 Toms headed up a ridge on the lower field and the remaining Tom headed to a corner that necks down between two fields. I pretty much knew what tree he was going to roost in and knew he'd be the one to meet my TimberHawk longbow in the morning. Arrived early this morning and it was 32 degrees with a heavy frost and what wasn't frozen was a heavy dew. I knew the Tom wouldn't go into the grass field as they just don't do it early when it is wet and frosty. I also didn't think he'd go to the recently plowed field as they don't like to get clumped up mud on their feet. That left a nicely trimmed tractor trail coming down off the ridge to the 2 lower fields. I placed "Loose Lucy" right in the middle of the trail about 75 yards from where "Horny Hal" was roosted up. Sure enough before good light a goose honked on the creek and Hal lit it up. He was ready for some action. After it got a bit lighter out and after he gobbled at a goose again I gave him a little sweet talking just to let him know Lucy was happy to see him. At about 5:38 AM he hit the road and was strutting to Lucy. I normally wait and give them the "ole Frank Zappa" but at 6 yards he stuck his neck out and behind a little Tulip tree allowing me to draw and shoot. Amazingly the shot went right into the base of the wing butt and kept right on going. I normally don't shoot through turkeys but this time I did. I changed my broadhead from my normal wide Snuffer to a narrow Woodsman. Seemed to make a difference. Anyway a few flops later and a diving grab that Ishi would've been proud of and I had my 2nd bird of the season. This one was even faster than the 1st bird. I love it when a plan comes together. Nice bird with a 10" beard, 7/8" spurs, and about 20#s. The photo shows the shot placement. Good luck everyone! I know I'm happy to have some luck!
Curt, you are about 50 times the hunter I am. I know you must have a 2nd turkey story to tell. Don't be holding out on us. At least give us an update.
(http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/TJReceveur/Spring2010Bird2ArrowBow.jpg)
Post by: 2Blade on May 13, 2010, 02:30:00 PM
Post by: ishiwannabe on May 13, 2010, 03:51:00 PM
Post by: J.Williams on May 13, 2010, 07:26:00 PM
Post by: Tdog on May 13, 2010, 09:19:00 PM
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 14, 2010, 09:23:00 AM
Can't wait to try a new recipe! I have it marinating right now and it should be fantastic cooked over an open fire on a father and son campout tonight!
Good luck everyone and send photos and stories.
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 14, 2010, 09:24:00 AM
Post by: Sean B on May 14, 2010, 09:50:00 AM
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on May 14, 2010, 10:06:00 AM
Terry, Over acheiver :thumbsup:
Let me kniow how your recipe turns out! :campfire:
Post by: Guru on May 14, 2010, 05:08:00 PM
As far as an update.....haven't had much woods time at all buddy. Ball games, parties, ya know all the good stuff!
When I have gotten to hunt....my best 2 opportunities where both ruined by other "hunters" :mad:
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
I have still been scouting every day though, things do seem to be slowing down a bit around here.....
Tomorrow's another day!!
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 14, 2010, 07:43:00 PM
David
Post by: No-sage on May 16, 2010, 09:40:00 AM
The Tom was calling from his roost in the spot that I wanted to set up so I had to cut around him and set up in my tree seat on a big pine. Once he flew down, he was pretty close. I only called a couple of times..... soft.
A hen appears from the direction I expected the Tom to come from. She pays little attenton to my lone hen decoy. Her calling keeps the Tom gobbling. He's close now... I can hear him drumming costantly. I see him to my left in full strut, still drumming. The hen is coming past me to my left as he does a side shuffle right to my deke, never leaving full strut.
He starts to turn away from me giving me a chance to draw. The hen is just past me now, but she catches me and the Tom starts to come out of strut just as I released. The arrow hits him well in the middle of his back, still facing away at 12 yds. He doesn't go anywhere and I'm on him as fast as a fat man can move. 5:55 on a beautiful Sunday morning.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/kdeters/Bow%20Turkey/5f6dddb8.jpg)
19 lbs, 8 1/2" beard and 1 1/8" spurs. Homemade bow and 160gr ribtek.
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/kdeters/Bow%20Turkey/2acaead9.jpg)
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab28/kdeters/Bow%20Turkey/f0e34973.jpg)
Post by: ishiwannabe on May 16, 2010, 10:47:00 AM
Post by: Izzy on May 16, 2010, 11:59:00 AM
Post by: Stone Knife on May 16, 2010, 12:10:00 PM
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 16, 2010, 12:48:00 PM
David
Post by: No-sage on May 19, 2010, 09:59:00 AM
I've got another tag and two more weekends and whatever mornings I can get out before work. There was another bird gobbling while I was filling out my tag, so.....
Post by: crotch horn on May 19, 2010, 11:11:00 AM
I have had no luck as far as a kill but have had many birds around and have enjoyed every minute in the woods. Sunday I had two very nice Toms strutting and gobbling their heads off one one finally broke and was coming in. He was about 50 yards out when he sticks his head up and takes off. 4 Jakes came rushing in and ran after him & chased him way out of the picture. The other tTom eventually came as close as 46 yards the some hens showed up and off he went. Another day with the NAT in the woods but no blood for her yet. Good luck to all who are still at it.
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on May 19, 2010, 11:31:00 AM
Funny, I dont remember you being fat. I guess 2 months a lot can change.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Post by: ron w on May 19, 2010, 12:30:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 19, 2010, 04:02:00 PM
Post by: J.Williams on May 19, 2010, 04:24:00 PM
Post by: IndianaBowman on May 19, 2010, 06:29:00 PM