An old Hope goes solo...and scores!

[wapiti792]

Hey a fella comes up with a hanger title every once in a while    

So this tale begins with the first custom, made for me longbow I bought. A lovely Stalker Scout from South Cox a few years back. Like alot of bows I have owned, they come, they do work, they get traded to a friend in a weak moment or a fellow Tradganger when I am bow rich and money poor.



Ever since I let that one go to a fine young fella in bear camp a year ago I have wished for another. I even stalked South's stock page but couldn't find the "right" one. Enter stage left tracker1 (Burton) who had a very special kind of Stalker. He had wanted to move last year's HOPE bow to someone who would hunt with it. I jumped all over the chance to not only own one of South's bows, but the mojo engraved in that bow was priceless to me! I can't think Burton enough for the chance to own her. You see last year as I read all about Hope and her exploits with the guys while I was laid up...Bisch, RC and the guys have some classice hunts here:  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=166;t=000183

I had fell outa a deerstand when a ratchet broke before I could hook up to my harness. So here I was with 2 open fractures of my hands, a broken tailbone, fractured ribs, a bruised lung, and a rupured bowel to which I get ANOTHER surgery in December. My surgeon understands the delay...I gotta hunt till the end of the year  


I didn't get to hunt till after the first of the year but had a fine turkey season killing my first two birds with a longbow in April. I finally had the turkey jinx broken. Today proved that further...more to come.

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Im in for the ride...

,,Sam,,

[Over&Under]

Ya me too...love that coyote pic!

[wapiti792]

I have a little girl that is eat-up with the outdoors. She especially likes to go when we have a pop-up blind. She gets to nap, look at her books, and ask tons of questions when she's there and kinda nows she doesn't have to be quite as still.



Personally I don't like as much as they get a little tight for my wandering soul. I have gone to a ghilli and had some success this spring on an old tom. But when I am with her she gets to call the shots    Saturday it was her turn to go, and we popped up a blind between some bedding cover and an open field. I figured it could work as a dual pupose spot: Some morning deer hunting as well as a great place for birds to come to. We are blessed with a healthy turkey population as well as whitetails!

So the boss lady helped me brush in our blind. She was pulling huge chunks of moss up and throwing them on top to "make it purty". I did my best to encourage her, too. After about an hour sit she wanted to bail so I walked her back to the house (a 1/2 mile for me is short. For a little blonde, curious girl it is  FOREVER). After getting her ordered bowl of soup and passing the baton to mom, I headed back to our spot. Here's our setup:



So before I got back to the blind I heard birds. Sounded like they were sorting out the flock something fierce. Fighting purrs, gobbles and squawks of all sorts were lighting up the woods. I barely made it to the blind before I could see birds out in the field. Looked to be about 50 hens and 10 jakes/toms. Soon as my butt hit the stool I let out a few cackles and kee-kee calls. Instantly I had answers and bunch of birds walked right into the blind window.

I had trouble picking one out. It was a fluid movement of birds jumping on one another and calling. Finally one of the small hens paused and I let out a little purr from my mouth. Sight picture, draw, thump! The 700 grain Wilderness Custom doug fir hit her perfect. She flopped 2 more times and that was it. I had other targets and another tag but let them go. I had dinner and for a lucky man like me, that was enough on this day.



It is amazing what this great 'ol Ace Super Express did. This is my third turkey with this same head. As we speak it is sharp again ready to find a whitetail. After thanking God for the time to do this and the recovery from my little ordeal a year ago I flung the bird over my shoulder and headed for home. I knew my kids would be pumped and my wife happy 'cause I was cooking. There was still plenty of daylight left for a deer hunt but when you are blessed you are blessed. Took my bird and soaked up the experience with my clan.



Thanks for reading and good luck this fall. I am back in trees again but wear a lifeline 100% of the time. I could have missed this hunt and many more to come as well as setting up my blind with my future huntress.    

*One more for the road.

[goldflinger]

Sweet!! Congrats and glad to hear the recovery is going so well.

[bornagainbowhunter]

Awesome, no other words, just awesome.  I am not talking about the bird, bow or head.  I am talking about your attitude and that you know where the blessing comes from.

God Bless,
Nathan

[kbetts]

No such thing as luck when you carry an attitude like that.  Just plain ole' good karma.  Congrats.

[maineac]

Fantastic!!!  Good luck on the continued recovery.  You certainly have a lot to get better for!

[Joeabowhunter]

Good shootin Mike!!!

[Big Ed]

Way to go, My seven year old Daughter is also ate up with the outdoors.

[tarponnut]

Great job Mike!

[rastaman]

Way to go sir!        You have the best kind of hunting buddy!

[Tater]

Very Cool... thanks for sharing your hunt...and congratulations on the great hunting partner..!

[Shedrock]

Very good, congrats  

[Gen273]

       

[H-MANEOD]

Great hunting!  Also, noticed your t-shirt...GO CARDS!  I was raised in southern Illinois but since I joined the military (1989) and retired (2009) here in Florida I've missed St. Louis sports, hunting southern Illinois and everything about the area.

Hunting with that bow last December had me the closest I have been in a LOOOOONG time to buying  non-Sarrels bow. I had a blast with her and she is a fine shooter for sure. I'm still kicking myself for not buying her in the auction!

Glad you are doing better and recovering well!

Congrats on the thunder chicken too!

Bisch

[steadman]

Way to go brutha! You're making sure that bird jinx never raises its ugly head again  

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Good stuff Mike.

[americanhunter7]

Great story Mike and glad you're doing well. Thanks for the pics, post, and reminder to be safe and wear your safety harness. Have a great and safe season. Congrats on a fine bird!