I just got back yesterday from a marathon trip to Florida with my wife and kids. It was a spring break vacation kind of thing where you hang out in overpriced theme parks and just hold on...it is a terrible place for a bowhunter. My wife knew it was time to go when I started sizing up the flamingos at Sea World and "picking a spot" on the polar bear while drawing my imaginary longbow.
I did however get to hunt for 2 whole wonderful days. I hunted with Tarponut at True South Adventures (sponsor here) near St Augustine. That was my portion of the vacation, and it was too short. I have to apologize to Jim (tarponut) for not taking good photos as I love to tell stories through pics. However, I had so much going on trying to video a hunt and oh by the way, kill my first turkey with a longbow, that my still camera got left behind. I had the pleasure of hunting with fellow Tradganger Rod Schaefer (sp?) who had booked with Jim and we were into birds every day. Jim was a great host and I feel like I missed something in camp by leaving every night to go back to the hotel. NEXT year I am camping and putting the family up in a nice hotel sans dad and husband
It was a great 2 days and I had my chance: right after a thunderstorm that got my goat out steps a big gobbler EXCEPT I was fooling with my camera and did not have my feces coagulated. So, story is, no bird, no great pics, but a new friend was made and I am goin' back to hunt those demon birds from hades AGAIN next year baby!
I learned that Osceolas don't talk much, show up when you aren't ready, and 9 year old boys who hang in a blind with you 8 hours have some serious food and digestion issues
If you are into torture and want to have your head messed with by tiny dinosaurs that call themselves Meleagris osceola, then give Tarponut a yell. He has one less spot for next year...I already booked!
*He sleeps, he eats, he makes vile noises with his rear-end but he is my son and true-blue best bud.
*The grey ghost of Talltines got the call and would have closed the show if it's owner would have had his head out of his arse.
Good luck this spring the rest of the way. I hope to have an eastern bird story with better pics next time!