This morning my alarm went off at 3am and I sprung from my bed. Today was the opener of the spring turkey season in New Hampshire. I gathered up all of my gear and grabbed my new BBO bow I had completed in March for this very day. I hopped into my truck and headed for the field...after a stop at DD first.
I got to my spot and it was a half mile walk or so to the cornfield that I was going to hunt. This area is not hunted a bunch because of the long walk in. I popped my blind up at the edge of the cornfield, set my decoys a whopping 9 yards from my blind. Before I could make my way back into the blind a gobble up the ridge.... here we go. I sat there for about fourty five minutes listening to the entire ridge echo with gobbles.
As darkness changed to light I was getting excited thinking that I may get a shot today with my own bow from my two hands. I gave a few clucks with my slate call and then used my hat to immitate a bird flying off the roost. A gobbler sounded off and about ten minutes later I started to see the birds pitch off one by one into the field. First a hen, then another hen, then another hen. Finally a lone tom pitched in and before his feet touched the ground he was in full strut. I new that I would have to be patient if I wanted to lure these guys in. All in all three toms, 4 jakes, and about 6 hens ended up in the field about 150 yards to my right. I let out some soft calling and I did not get a responds. I sat there for quite sometime and did not make any sort of all and watched as the turkeys looped out in front of me the entire edge of the cornfield ever coming with in 150 yards of my set up. They were all fixed on a lone hen... I kinda felt bad for her becaues they wouldn't leave her alone.
Now as I watched the three toms one was missing a couple tail feathers and I named him Warlock... He looked old and ugly and I thought that would be a cool bird to shoot. Once they made it to the left side of the field they got to within 100 yards and I could hear a hen and would copy her ever note. For some reason Warlock and two other jakes started my way. I threw in a mouth call and picked up my bow. I said a little prayer and begged "Please God let me get a shot." Now this is where I tell you I missed three times last year with another BBO bow I had made.
Anyways the three birds made their way to my strutting jake decoy and lone hen only a mear 9 yards away. I slowly lifted my bow and came to full draw. Warlock was next to my strutting decoy and must have seen me move because he broke strut and turned facing away from me. He paused for a moment and I burried my focus right between his wings to the middle of his back. I don't even remember letting the arrow go but I watched as my arrow hit right between the wings and Warlock flapped his wings but couldn't go anywhere... YESS!!! I lipped and watched as the jakes started to run circles around him. Now the beautiful three year old came charging in from 100 yards away and started putting a hurting to my bird. I watched for what seemed like 5 minutes as they jumped and spurred my bird gobbling their heads off.
This is my first ever longbeard and with my own BBO bow from my two hands. I had done it!! I ran out of my blind and put my hands on Warlock. After making a phone call to my girlfriend who is coming up tonight to scout and go for her first bird tomorrow I was so pumped I accomplished my own goal! This season only lasted about two hours from going into the woods to coming out.
Anyways here is a few pictures...
Bunch of them 100 yards away
Warlock and my 45# 60 inch ttt BBO bow and broken cedar arrow
The money shot...
Warlock stats.... 18.5#, 8.75 inch beard, 1 inch spurs.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story. It was a blast!!!
Respectfully, Justin
Topic: First Longbeard and with my own BBO to boot! (Read 4503 times)
