Had a great first hunt with my new Tolke Kestrel II. I can't say enough good things about this little bow. I started out working a bird that was roosted close to my set up in the woods. Of course he did not use the open landing spot and alley way I expected him to, but came in from the side with 7 jakes. For some reason he did not like my hen and DSD Jake and slunk off with his entourage. I use a little half round blind from LL Bean and thought he might have seen me. I know the two jakes that snuck up from behind did as they alarm putted for quite a while. That didn't deter the tom and two of his original 8 from coming back and still spooking at the decoy after I did a bunch of calling. Another tom was closing in but circled out of sight and continued on.
With no active birds around I packed up, returned to the truck and traded the jake decoy for another hen. climbing back up the hill I proceeded to check and move a game camera (it was a dual purpose trip). When I got close to a field I gave some yelps on my box call and got an immediate response. I found a wide spot in an old skidder trail leading to the field and set up. The opening was only about 7 yards in diameter. I did some calling and the birds would respond every time, but seemed stuck in place.
After about 15 minutes I decided to pack up, swing around them and get to power line at the upper end of the field. I figured they would move that way better. Just as I had the blind all disassembled and rolled up they cut loose with a gobble half way to my location. I quickly reset the blind and sat back down. Instead of coming down the field and up the skidder trail they were coming straight through the thick popple regrowth. I caught a glimpse as they got close and then there was a longbeard followed by a second in strut. When the strutter stepped into my shooting window I drew and when he lifted his head into a half strut I released. The arrow hit about two inches higher than I was aiming. It whistled through his head and he just sat down. The second tom didn't know what happened and I could have gotten a shot at him if I wasn't already tagged out taking my first allotted bird with a shotgun earlier in the week. The Treeshark did an amazing job. I have found out I get 1/4 rotation every 8 yards on my arrows.
Here is a view from the turkey's angle
And of the blind and packseat
Topic: The new Kestrel II strikes, turkey down (Read 430 times)
