So there's this hole in the roof of my blind

[Rusty Snuffers]

Thanks to the bow limb when taking a shot at my first Tom. Argh!  Shot pulled high and right and he hopped on outta here.

Exciting but not the outcome I was hoping for.  :(

Should I move to another blind or stick it out in hopes that he or a buddy will return?  Help a noob please!

Rusty

[ron w]

Let that spot cool a bit , but I would return and try again. They can hear well, they can see well, but they are really not all that smart. Give it a couple of days and you'll kill one from the same spot!!!!.....I'd bet on it! Best of luck    

[Converml]

X2 what Ron said

[MOFISH]

Now all you have to do is make sure your top limb lines up with existing hole. No problem.  

[threeunder]

Unfortunately, despite all the excuses I come up with year after year, Ron is right.  Go back a little later.

And don't forget the duct tape......

[LittleBen]

tent repair kits at walmart. .... they're sheap and they'll fix that blind. everything you need, thread needle, patches etc.

[Rusty Snuffers]

Thanks for the input guys. (Especially Mofish    :D   ) Unfortunately I head home in the morning. I guess Thomas will have to get him for me.  

[Dave Bowers]

Originally posted by huntryx:
And don't forget the duct tape......

Or periscope  

[Roadkill]

Periscope, great idea for one the Iraqi army gave from the first gulf war.  They did not need it, and now I have a use for it 20 years later!

[Rusty Snuffers]

So how long until I stop replaying the event through my head?  I need to get some work done here at the office and can't seem to concentrate.    

I mean, the beard was only dragging the grass while he was feeding and he only stood about as tall as my 3 yr old (who's tall for his age) ...   No big deal, right?    

[Mudd]

Originally posted by Rusty Snuffers:
So how long until I stop replaying the event through my head?  I need to get some work done here at the office and can't seem to concentrate.        

I mean, the beard was only dragging the grass while he was feeding and he only stood about as tall as my 3 yr old (who's tall for his age) ...   No big deal, right?      

When you draw your last breath..... How cool is that?... way!!!  I'm saying...

God bless,Mudd

[akaboomer]

I doubt you will stop replaying the events of the hunt, the pain will fade and make it just a great memory. Keep after them Rusty and tell us the tail.

Chris

[Rusty Snuffers]

It really was as good a hunt as you could want with the only missing part is taking the game.  I managed to not scare anything with my slate and even had a couple gobbly answers a few times.  My mistake was not resetting myself when he changed direction.  He was coming from my left to the front-center window of my blind, so I checked my bow before drawing back.  Right as I was about to go to full draw, he did a 180 but was walking very slowly so was presenting me with a still-good shot.  I was so focused on the spot that I didn't notice that when I switched to the corner window that my bow no longer had clearance.  Being at full draw by that time, it didn't touch the roof... until I released.

The rest, as they say, is history.  BTW, I don't recommend trying to use a slate call after having just missed the prettiest longbeard you've seen outside a magazine or hunting calendar.  It won't sound very good.   :D

Thanks again guys.  The trip is over and I'm back in the office with nothing to show but a picture of the hole in the blind and a good story of the one that got away.

There's always next year!

Rusty

[Kip]

Rusty tell Thomas Kip said             for me.Hope you get him next time.Kip

[magnus]

I relive my first miss on a giant Tom 2 years ago all the time. It even happened in slow motion. Nothing like seeing yourself miss in slow mo. Lol! I cherish that hunt now as if I connected. It gets easier I promise.

[Rusty Snuffers]

Will do, Kip!

I think the hardest part of the trip was seeing all the turkeys strutting along Hwy 6 on the way home.   :D

Thanks again for the encouragement guys.  I intend to make this trip at least once a year, if my in-laws can handle it.     Last year we saw only hens and a few jakes.  This year I got to loose an arrow.  Next year, I'll get one!

Rusty