No birds were injured in the making of this hunt!

[magnus]

I was invited to go turkey hunting with Ceme24 last weekend. He had gained permission for me in a hot area for birds so I gladly excepted his offer and was up at 3am on saturday morning and at his house at 4am. We got to the property plenty early and got set up. It was a beautiful morning for a change as this past April was the wettest ever recorded for NE Ohio. Clear sky's and no wind. It was 10 minutes till 6 when we heard the first gobble of the morning. Colin did his homework and had us close enough to the roost but not too close.

Legal hunting time started at 6:59 so I waited to start calling. One if was time I let out a few clucks and had instant responses from the roost. We guessed there had to be at least 6 gobblers and a mess of hens in this group. The were fired up and making quite a racket. It was instantly a great hunt right then and there! The only bird I could get to come in was a hen though. As we were eating a quick bite at the truck I looked up and there was a bird crossing the road not a hundred yards away. This property is loaded with them.

Colin wanted to show me the property boundaries so we drove around and was able to get they lay of the land. We went up o. Top of the property to get a good view of the clearcut and we heard a gobbler across the road so we decided to set up and see if we could draw him in. After about 10 minutes he didn't come but 4 jakes did and split right between us gobbling there heads off. Colin almost got a shot but they were a little too far out and he couldn't see the vitals so he wisely let them pass without spooking them.

We hooked back up and was deciding where we were going to set up next and Colin decided he was going back to where we were in the morning. The gobbler across the road gobbled again and I said I can't leave a bird ghats gobbling so I stayed up top. I got set up and made a quick call and had a hen off to my right respond and a gobble to my left a little ways off. Then about a hundred yards off I see 5 birds cross a clearing heading for the road. Now this is a steep hill I'm on than I'm about 20 yards from the top. There are 3 main game trails running parallel on the hill side. I make a few calls trying to entice them tomcome my way when I see a hen working up the hill. She ends up taking the top trail that bring her right by me at 15 yards. Gotta love my Bush in a Bag that I got from Big Jim.

Suddenly I see more birds down in the bottom where the the hen came from and they are working there way up the hill as well. Another hen, a gobbler with about an 8" beard 4 jakes another hen and then Mr. Big comes into view. He's one of those birds that he minute you see him you know he's the one. I'm getting real excited as they are working the same direction the first hen went and I'm thinking (hoping and praying) they take the same trail. Well they didn't. Hey took the middle trail with the hen in the lead. She must of been ready to bread because Mr. Big who had about a 12" beard kept pushing her along every time the smaller Tom would get close. They work their way across the trail and Mr. Big steps into my shooting lane about 23 yards away broadside and stops. Oh my this is going to happen I think to myself. Bow is up and next thing I know I'm at full draw. Everything feels right. I reach anchor and the arrow is on it's way. Looks perfect! Good right to left and up and down. This is all going in slow motion. As the arrow is approaching it's target I watch as it sails about an inch and a half over the bird and sticks in some wood behind the bird. my heart sinks and then I realize they didn't spook. They just look down hill and start walking off. I quickly cluck a few times but to no avail. I can see a small patch of the road and watch as Mr. Big and the hot hen cross. Out of the corner of my eye I see movement. I slowly turn my head and hear comes the other ben and 3 of the jakes in tow. Commng back down the trail the others have just went by on. Well I am not in position for a shot as the came up toward me then got on the trail. I have o shift for the new shooting angle and there is q tree in my way. I slowly start to stand and moved to quick as they saw me and bee lined for the clear cut. Way to go I think to myself. Just then here comes the fourth Jake. Same trail same angle that I am set up for. This time I'm already standing and he is clueless that I am there. He gets into my lane and with a soft cluck from my mouth call he stops. I hit full draw and release. Thwack and my arrow hits the dirt half way between me and the bird. My string caught one or the buttons on my arm guard that some how had slightly rolled up on my forearm. I watched as the bird took flight to join the others in the thicket.

I was a little dishearted for about a second but quickly passed as this was one of the greatest hunt I've ever had in my entire life. You see all this took place in about 10-15 minutes!

What a hunt that I will never forget! The best part is I get to do it all over again as our season is still in. Even if I end up eating tag soup this will go down as a great turkey season. Great action and a new great friend! Thank you Colin for sharing your spot but most of all for sharing you time with me. Can't wait to hunt with you again!

[Mudd]

Sounds like you had about all the fun you could stand buddy...lol

I wish it had gone differently but I am super pumped that you had a good time.

God bless,Mudd

[magnus]

Thanks Mudd. Colin said he wants to go back Saturday so who knows. Might get another chance. I sure hope so!

[crotch horn]

Keep at it. Turkeys with trad gear are trophies. Getting shots like that is priceless.

[Green]

Can't wait to hear this weekend's version of....the rest of the story!  Way to go amigo....glad you had a great hunt.....well, 'cept for that "missing" part...lol.

[pitbull]

Some of the most memorable hunts result in no harvest, and are the most enjoyable. Congrats  on a great experience.  

[59Alaskan]

Thanks for sharing the hunt with me Matt, and the story.

I am real new to turkey hunting and had only been out a handful of times before this.  Thought it would be good to share the hunt and learn from someone more experienced.  Plus, I like to increase the odds of at least being around when a bird goes down to a trad bow!

I had never turkey hunted that property until the day we dropped in there.  I had seen them and heard them deer hunting.  I had been careful to note where I saw them roost, where I've seen them feed, and where I have heard them.  On that property you can hear fall gobbles on a frequent basis up where Matt got his shots.  

Pretty interesting that where we saw all those birds and Matt had his shots is an area between a road and a house that's kind of tight and I am sure most gun hunters just ignore it.

We had a blast, but like Matt says, it's not over yet!

[Bernie B.]

Great hunt Magnus!  It's always nice to get game on the ground, but when you take up this sport, we know that's not going to always happen!  Thanks for sharing your exciting hunt!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[PA stickbow boy]

There's always next Saturday to make another memory

[DannyBows]

Great story Matt! If it wasn't for the title of the thread I'd have been holding my breath when you got your shots. Gotta be a blast to see all those birds on one hunt. Thanks for taking us along, and Good Luck next outing. I won't be surprised to see Hero pics next time.  

[tradbower]

Sounds like you had a great hunt, and what a story.  

[maineac]

Sounds great!! Thanks for sharing.

[uglyjake]

Sounds like you had a wonderful and safe hunt and learned a couple things too.  It is all about having fun.

Arthur

[magnus]

Heading back out in the morning. I hope to  redeam myself!

[Green]

Good luck Matt.....shoot straight!