Finally got a turkey!! ...kinda

[BRONZ]

I have killed 4 birds with training wheels, but sold everything modern 5 yrs ago and went back to my recurves.  Since then, I have yet to take a turkey and it has been very frustrating.  That changed Sunday...kinda.
   

[T-Bowhunter]

Hang in there!  

[BRONZ]

I'm set up near the crest of a pasture.  Behind me is a large woodlot that transitions from hardwoods to a cedar thicket where whitetail love to bed.  The turkey will travel through this area throughout miday, so I come here if my "roost set up" doesn't pan out in the morning.  I have my Avian X's, Lilly and Lola putting out the vibe out in front of me.

   

[BRONZ]

Occasionally, I'll yelp on the box call hoping to find a lonely tom in the area.  After a few hours, I can see bodies emerging at the base of this field coming from the the woodlot.

It's two hens followed by a trio of jakes.

[BRONZ]

I slip a mouth call in and purr on the slate strapped to my right leg; grab the handle of my Fox anticipating an encounter.  The birds are following the script and angling toward my decoys.  One of the jakes seems interested and cautiously strolls my way.

[magnus]

       

[BRONZ]

At 17 yds, the bird keeps lifting his head like a submarine periscope and I'm concerned he sees something he doesn't like.  My though is verified when he lets out a soft putt--not good.  I lift my bow and draw, hidden behind the mess window.  Whispering mentally to myself to aim at the top of this back, I send the Woodsman to it's mark.  The bird flaps around momentarily at impact and then takes off on his legs in the direction he just came from.

[BRONZ]

Finding my arrow dampens my spirits a little; not much blood.  I head off into the hardwoods and begin the search...
An hour passes and sweat is beading under the band of my caddy-cap.  I continually ask God to let me find this bird; it has been 8 years since I successfully arrowed and recovered a male turkey.
In a way my prayer was answered.  Deep within the canopy of some tightly growing, tall cedars were the remains of my trophy.  A coyote had beaten me to him and it took no time at all to shred him apart.  This dog must have been extra brave given I was in the area?  His confidence may have been the nasty tangle he drug him into.

[BRONZ]

It took breaking and bending branches to even get to him and divine intervention was the only reason I even saw him.  I gathered the tail fan for my wall, but can't help but feel like I can only take partial credit.  Despite the disappointment, I was able to find matching sheds during my search and had, in all, taken my first traditional turkey.
   

[BRONZ]

Couple other photos...

Birds Saturday morning.
 

 

Turkey lov'n!!  "Brown chicken, brown cow!"

 

[Wannabe1]

Way to stick to it, yet, sorry for the outcome! Dang yotes ruin everything don't they! Now a justice would be to harvest that yote and make a cool skin cap!   :D

Glad you got one with the stick, Manolito!

Sorry the yotes got to him before you did. I shot a doe in 2011 that from the time of shot to the time of recovery was just over an hour. The yotes had already got her and ate a big chunk of her rib cage and ALL the vitals inside the chest.

Congrats again, my friend!

Bisch

[Knawbone]

Congrats on the bird, not finding him right away happens to all of us. You had a successful hunt, that you can be proud of.          

[Bernie B.]

Congratulations on your first trad turkey!  Even though you didn't get a whole bird to recover, that dang coyote can't take the memories of your special hunt.    

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[JJB]

Good job on your bird, you took some great photos also.
-Jay

[RC]

Good job on the Turkey. God always has a plan and today maybe the Coyote was a bit more in need than you as far as dinner goes...RC

[Day Dreamer]

Well put RC, Great job on the turkey Bronz and way to perservere.

[ksbowman]

Way to go Bronz! Hope we meet one of these days.

[BDann]

Great job on the turkey!

[Big Lefty]

Congrats!