Heard these birds at daylight, (after a 2 mile hike)took my time setting up. I don't go this spot very often, because of the hike. But I knew there'd be birds, as I was there one day last week. But the birds were with hens and I couldn't wait them out.
I figured they'd come to the orchard sooner or later, so after I set-up I walked to a drop off in the orchard and called just so they knew a hen(me) was out there waiting for them. Half hour later they weren't any closer,so I got out and walked closer again and called.
Another half hour and still no closer, but still gobbling. So I figured I'll get out, get closer, and call again, then call again as I retreated to the blind to make them think I was walking away from them.
Well it must have worked...the next time I heard them, they had made a significant move, but not really at me. But I was hopeful they were on the way. I call one more time and 5 minutes later, they gobble and they are without a doubt coming, in fact they had arrived! I peeked out to see a red head coming over the rise, but about 60yds north of me. Grab my bow and peek again and see 2 nice gobblers!
I purr softly to let them know where I was and they turn and head toward me. Then they saw my jake deke "Slick Rick"(not a strutter) and it was a race to see who would make it first! What a sight!!!
I slid my hand up and settle the Dark Archer into the web of my hand...
They pull up and both strut right up to Slick Rick and one quarters away at about 10yds....
I pick my spot and watch my arrow disappear exactly where I was looking!
Both birds turn and run off, but the one I shot is making the familiar not-quite-right, off-balance run of a hard hit bird with the arrow hanging out the off side......they go out of sight over the rise....
The string stops for a split second, then I see a bird jump up and the string starts going again....
Next thing I know it's flying and my string is going out like I have a bonefish on the end! Then it stops but the gobbler keeps flying off....how can that be?
Now I question what I saw, I know I hammered that bird! But the string was going out as the bird flew away!
But only one bird flew off....
I settle down for a minute....only thing I can figure(hope)is that it had to be the second gobbler that got tangled in the string and spooked and flew off taking it for a while......I had to see what sign was waiting for me......
I got out after only about a minute and went to the spot of the hit and saw what you guys have already followed in pix....
But when I snuck up to, and peeked over the little rise they'd run over, I didn't see anything but my string going up into the trees about 50yds away....
I scan with my bino's down into the orchard, but can't see anything in the tall grass.....
I'm still thinking "there's no way this bird flew off with the hit I put on it and the sign I was finding, there's just no way!" But I'm getting a sinking feeling.....
Just then I look to my right and see this,just ten yards from me!
You wanna talk about fired-up!! I knew I wasn't seeing things!!
The bird that took my string was in fact the other bird that had temporarily got into it...
He was indeed hit perfectly and hadn't gone over twenty yards. When I searched over the hill, I was looking too far ahead......
Where he lay with Chris Surtees' (made by Don and Skyler Wilson)"Cutter" about to do what it was made for......
Entrance....thru the wing and into the body....
It came out right behind the wing-butt.....
Gobblers view as they came in...as you can see the grass is real high...I purposely set "Slick Rick" in the tractor tracks for good visbility....there's two hen deke's in front of him if you look close...
Topic: Another Fine Morning.....NY Gobbler #2 (Read 2345 times)
