The hunt was unbelievable.
I have been hunting these birds for 3 years. Each spring I have noticed I would have the first 2 days of the season before the flock really splits up, and most would leave the valley. The first year I got skunked. Last year I got 2 birds but after weeks of effort. About a month ago I put out one of my homemade round hay bale blinds. Really too close to where some of the birds were roosting and near the fly down area. Almost right under the roost tree's, but it had to be because of last year, when I had set my blind up in the pasture about 100yds out. That turned out to be a mistake because the cows ate my blind!! I was forced to put my blind out of the pasture and directly under some of the tree's that the birds roost in. It was my only choice.
As I left my truck at early early pink light I heard gobbling. I was devastated. The birds were already awake. I almost left.. But the Mojo must have been with me because I decided since I had on all black and all the cows are black maybe I could make it to the blind without spooking them. I decided to give it a try. I hunched over and headed out, about 1/4 mile. As I got closer I couldn't believe I was almost there. The last 50 yards would be the biggest challenge so I walked very slowly, like a cow feeding. 1 hen putted as I opened the blind door but was drowned out by all the gobbles. I had made it. In the blind I started to realize I had hit the motherload. There were no other birds gobbling anywhere in the valley. Every bird was almost right above me. It was surreal. As they flew down around me I was in awe. There were at least 40 gobblers strutting all around. I have never and maybe never will again experience something like this.
You'll be able to see it on video if you like in my first DVD called "Lettin Loose" a year with a longbow. In it I video all my hunts this last year, about 25 harvests.
Anyway, the bird in the picture on top of the dead bird stayed on that bird for over an hour. He did unmentionable things. I waited in the blind and took pictures for almost 2 hrs until all the birds but the one on my bird had left. I planned on coming back. And I hate educating wildlife to my sneaky tactics.
I missed my first shot and had to slowly open a hole on the backside of the hay for the final bird. Sometimes they were a couple feet away. Fights, Mating, and lots of strutting. Unbelievable hunt.
Thank you God, for letting me experience this hunt.
Topic: 2 Merriams and a Hill Country bow (Read 651 times)
