Since I killed my bird on day one and needed to save $ for next year, I decided to try and get some footage of a new prototype decoy some buddies of mine from Virginia had sent me. I was really surprised when Joey asked me to tag along with him. Not nearly as surprised as Marty. He said " Man , Joey's never asked me along on one of his Blindless hunts". We headed out to the spot that he wanted to set up. It took him just a few min. to figure out where we would be able to see them way before they were in range. I sat up the decoy while he pruned a cedar tree and drug some dead limbs up in front of his perch. I got up under another cedar about 10 yards up the hill from him. With the trap set, all we had to do was wait. When he set the dsd hen , he realized he had forgot the decoy stake. I knew he was a REAL turkey hunter when He took a grizzly sitk out of his quiver, with a silver flame broadhead on the end and broke it off about 18" long and staked the hen down. Pricey stake. I learned more in the next 3 + hrs about turkey hunting than I have since I been turkey hunting. Birds were gobbln here and there. He just did some soft clucks and yelps just to let them know where we were. Then every now and then another set of Kee/yelps. What i'm sayin is he did'nt call much at all, but when he did I thought it was a turkey. The man can sound like a turkey. I couln't see out in front of us or to the right, but had a great view to the right. While he was calling, I saw a gobbler waaaay off on a hill. I'm talking 800yds at least. I can't hear good ,but I can see a long ways. He was in full strut and coming down the hill heading our way. I said, " Big bird coming our way" . He couldn't see him from where he was. When the bird dropped off the hill and crossed the road, 3 hens came out to join him. I think Joey could see them by now. they were still a good 350 yds away. He did'nt call at all as I remember. They kept comming and the hens finally left him. Joey hit the button and made the decoy circle the track. The gobbler was interested . He came right on to us. At about 50 yds, I was trying not to cough and be still. The bird went behind a tree and I figured when he stepped out, I'd hit the record button. After about 3 min of waiting for him to step out, I saw Joey come to full draw. The bird had circled out in front of us and didn't come into my view until right before he shot. I did hit the record button right before the shot, but since I had the cam aimed at the decoy, got no footage of the gobbler. Just as well I guess. He shot over or under him. The turkey then ran back to the left and stopped 20 yds from me. Then headed up a little draw. I called it a sucessfull hunt. Turkey came to our set up . two guys, one with swine flu, no blind , and managed to get of a 19 yd shot at an unsuspecting bird. When Joey found out I didn't get any footage, he fired me and made me hunt with Marty that afternoon. At least we got good footage of Martys double, which I know pleased Joey more than getting his miss on film. It was an exciting morning none the less.
I did take this pic from my spot. Joey is down there between me and the decoy.
This is the new hen decoy stake.
Topic: Turkey Road Trip with Band of Characters! (Read 4366 times)
