Swamp Rooster down!!

[RC]

Well now....they can`t win everytime.
  I`m not that good a shot and I am a terrible Turkey caller but I am very persistent.Sometimes thats enough. I`ve been wrestling with turkeys since the season came in several weeks ago. Missed two...killed a jake and purty much have had the most"Gobbling" year I`ve ever had.Called in 7 Gobblers the first time out and just last week called in 5. Missed one each time.
  Yesterday evening I grabbed my blind in hopes of roosting one for this Morning. I wanted to go ahead and set up the blind where I could slip in quiet this morning.I`m, hunting a big Sand Ridge in the edge of a swamp and it is fairly thick but the birds sometimes roost very close and quiet is key.
  Right before dark a bird started Gobbling to my Left maybe 150 yards away. He Gobbled maybe 20 times on his on.Another Gobbler sounded off maybe 100 yards to my right only one time. Good enough I thought and set the blind up and slipped out with high hopes for the Morning....

[RC]

Here is an "after" pic of my Blind. I tied some of the cheap blind material in spots around it to "ghillie" it up some. I still folds up tight with this stuff on it...

 
  A look in front....

 

[ScottL]

Can't leave us hanging...  

[Shinken]

This is sounding very interesting....

Bring it Brother RC!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[tarponnut]

That's a cool set-up RC!

[RC]

I had fixed my Jake up for hopefully a butt whipping and wanted to see how it worked. I used him once and had gobblers around that would not come on in. I am a bit tight and could not see spending 50 bucks on the B Mobile deek so I bought the cheap 15 dollar one and cut a slot in his back and put one of my Turkey fans in it....

 

Let me tell ya from my very limited experience with jake decoys the fan makes a whale of a difference....

[Hummer3T]

I had to look at the picture for some time before I figured out what it was, awesome setup.

[RC]

Well, I was in the blind before daylight and the Gobbling Bird from the evening before got Happy right away. He Gobbled probably 25 times from the Roost. I let out a couple of soft yelps and he hammered down. I called back a bit louder and slapped the blind with my hat...all was quiet for about 5 minutes. I`m thinking I ran him off with the hat slapping even though I thought is sounded purty good for a fly down. I yelp a couple of soft times and gobbles back still in the tree.....
  I then give him the fifteen minute quiet treatment and get ready to call again then I hear a coarse yelp from the other side of the blind. The bird that only Gobbled yesterday one time had already came in quietly. I got the bow ready and as if in a dream he slid on in to 20 yards then unfolded and walked straight to where the Deek was at... side stepped up to it and at 8 yards I hit anchor and hesitated while locking on hard and the Douglas Fir Surewood hit with a whack. He spun and was around the palmettos in a flash.

  It was a bit confusing next because I thought or actually knew I heard the "death" beat of the wings but also heard some running on past toward the swamp. I decided to wait and keep after the talking Tom......

[Shinken]

Sounds like a fresh turkey dinner!

   

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[RC]

After about 30 minutes or so of calling curiosity got the best of me and I left a Gobbling Bird to go look...
  I did hear the wing flap and a fine Gobbler was laying dead.
 

 

[Tater]

Persistence pays off..!...Nice shooting.!

[Tique]

Nice shot; nice bird!!      

[snakebit40]

Great shot! Congrats!    

[RC]

He was a fine Bird with a 10" beard and 7/8 spurs. A 2 year old I think.When I dressed him he had wounds in his breast from fighting I guess. Maybe why he did`nt do a lot of Gobbling.
  I was shooting my Mohawk Longbow and a Wilderness Custom arrow Brother Snag made for me.Also gotta throw in a plug for Ryan Steadman of Hardcore Archery. He builds a heck of a string that picked up the performance of my Mohawk a good bit. Don`t want to sound like a Commercial but heck you gotta give credit where it is due. But all to God for the health and Freedom to do this stuff.RC


 

[huntingarcher]

Wow RC congrats.Nice!!

[2treks]

Congrats RC,
Love your threads,pics and hunting locations.

CTT

[steadman]

Good job Buddy! I knew it wouldn't be long  

[jonsimoneau]

Way to go RC!  Beautifull bird!

[JV Rooster]

[jcar315]

Awesome RC!! Congrats and always appreciate your story telling and pictures.

Just what I needed over lunch. Thanks again for sharing.