"Trainwreck"........and a bully hen..update-oh yeah!!!

[Shaun]

Good sounding plan to set up right where they want to be. Go get em.

[Guru]

Meathook is working on the gobbling video from yesterday morning...........I think???

I'll be out tomorrow again to watch the birds before work.....I can't wait till Saturday,gonna rain,but I hope it's still good!!

[Guru]

Decided to take some practice out of the blind this evening.Set up the blind(about 20yds),took arrow#1,put the tracker on it and took a shot at a brand new foam target I cut out.First is the most important right??

 
 
 


Hope I can do it on the real thing!!

[Shawn Leonard]

Curt, roosted 4 birds at lances tonight. He says one looks like what you describe as Trainwreck. Real beat up, missig half his fan. I set up the blind on a hill behind the house, now I feel like Mickey and Diane huntin' in the backyard!! I will be up and in by 5 tomorrow morning. Shawn

[Guru]

Good Luck bro,I'll call this weekend. Whats the best way to get a hold of ya?? Hang in there bro  

[Shawn Leonard]

Call me at home, I am still there for now. Please call me tomorrow night after 8. Thanks!! Shawn

[Huntrdfk]

Good luck guys!!  Curt, I did the same thing on my jake decoy this morning at the end of my hunt, course it being plastic I center punched it!!  Now for the real thing.

David

[Missouri CK]

Curt,

Great story. Thanks for taking us along with you. Even with just a few pictures your descriptions have created a very clear picture of all the characters in this drama!  

I find it to be an interesting paradox that stories like yours take a hold of my imagination greater than many of those where the kill is made.
 
I'm guessing that this typifies the traditional experience that many of us enjoy so much. Less success, but a much higher level of appreciation, regardless of the outcome.

And when we do connect it gives us a satisfaction that comes when a journey isn't easy and it makes us earn it.

Keep the details coming and good luck

Christopher

[Guru]

Thanks Chris...you have a way with words my friend.Glad you're enjoying it,I sure am.

 Just got back from putting 3 gobblers to bed.Saw 2, heard another.It'll be fun in the morning!!!Hope to have more pics(with a big ol dead gobbler!!) and stories.

 This morning went up and didn't hear a single gobble....fickle birds  

[Guru]

Hunted yesterday,gobblers ended up right next to where I park my truck in the orchard.Never saw them go there before.But then it hit me    ,it's windy and it's the best place to get out of the wind!! I park my truck down there because it is a low spot and good to hide the truck.But the turkeys seem to like it for another reason.They stayed in that low spot for a couple hours,I moved on them a couple times,but couldn't get them to do nothing.

So this morning the plan was to set the blind up,get eveything ready.Then go up to the spot that I usually go to watch the birds on the days I don't hunt and watch to see if my hunch is right.....It's even more windy today.Maybe they'll head for the low spot again????

Get up to my spot to watch,real windy,but heard the birds gobbling between gusts.Then as it gets lighter I see a hen in the vineyard,and she is heading right for me....hmmm..maybe I guessed right?? Another hen joins her and they are coming right to me,I believe heading for the low spot where my blind is.I'm getting ready to retreat and see Splittail and Prettyboy coming down the hill heading for the hens...who are headed for me.Time to retreat!!!!  Get in the blind and now the wait begins.Did I guess right???  Won't know until I see something or I hear them gobble.About I half hour later I see a hen cross a row about 50yds to the north of me. Yesterday they just wandered around this flat,so today my plan was to just wait them out.No calling,no dekes.Then I see one hen behind me(the one direction I couldn't shoot),then the other hen and the 2 gobblers.They are just feeding and moving south,looks like they are just going to come around and I might get a shot.But....the hens cross the stonewall and head for a little patch of woods on the other side....DAMMIT!!! as I am jockying around inside the blind,closing windows,opening others....Prettyboy sees something and gets curious........gotta feed my daughter...I'll be back...........................

[SuperKodiak38]

Trust me Curt the average child can go days with out food now get your a$$ back here and finish the story!  

[Guru]

.....so now he's actually getting closer.I get my windows right and now they're both clucking curiously,but inching closer!!!  I just know at any moment they're gonna turn around and go after the hens.Prettyboy is really geeking now,at about 20yds it looks like he is getting as close as he's gonna get,I have a tiny,and I mean tiny spot to shoot thru(this was supposed to be the side a wasn't gonna get a shot)
 
{dead center of this pic is where Prettyboy stood}

.I'm not one to say..."Man I shoulda just shot".....now or never....draw and SHOOT RIGHT OVER HIS BACK!!!!! DAMMIT!!!!!!!!  having no clue what just happened,but more nervous,off they go just walking away clucking.

 I know..."it happens"...but man I wanted that bird!!!  

I did learn something about turkeys and there habits in the wind.I'm also glad to know that it's good to follow your "gut feelings" sometimes.

[Huntrdfk]

Aaahhh!!   Curt, I feel for you.  Great hunt and decisions, but I know how you feel.  Not a lot of consolation, and words don't make you feel a lot better, but that's part of why we hunt like we do.  Back at 'em, you'll get another chance and make good on it.

Take care,
David

[wingnut]

Dang it!!  What are you doing in here typing?  Get out there and kill that bird before church.

Move it!!

Mike

[Timo]

Good hunt Curt!

I've been quitely following along on your hunts. Sounds like ya got yourself a nice place there?

The infamous words....."Next time" will ring in your head until you go back!

[Guru]

David, Thanks.....don't feel too bad about my miss.It happens....just helps me for the next encounter      :mad:

[Black Arrow]

Great stuff Curt man I am sitting on the edge of my chair you will get him next time. Curt I am getting a new blind what kind of blind is yours? my teepee blind isn't fit for the birds, it looks like you have a good one. Hope you don't mind my asking I need all the help I can get. Thanks Curt____Black Arrow__Norm  

[Shawn Leonard]

Curt, I missed yesterday as well. Shot right over his back. My shot was a gimme though, not tough like yours. We will get'em next time!!! Shawn

[Guru]

Norm, those TP blinds aren't made to shoot out of,at least what I've seen of them.My blind is a Double Bull Pro Staffer 500.It's awesome,but for next year I'll have updated to the new Matrix by DB.They're worth every penny!!!

  Shawn,Sounds like things have been well for ya the last couple days.Good to hear it bud.How about Saturday????

[Black Arrow]

Thanks Curt I will take a look at the Matrix. Good luck on Your hunt.