Osceola turkey down! PIC

[Dick Langer]

Excellent,Kent !!!!!!  Let's hear the story now.

[Limbhanger]

Wow!! You guys are on top of it! Thank you for all the interest, way cool      This hunt could be described as " Nothing like waiting until the last possible moment", or, "What I lack in skill, I make up for in tenacity".  I don't know about fate, but check it out     Unlike last year, which was over almost before it began ( not complaining one bit!), this year was all about being stubborn enough to spend hour after hour after hour in the blinds.  I will say that Irv and Jim were more than accommodating and let me hunt from the day I arrived until my 85mph race to Orlando International Airport.

[wissler]

That's my Bro! Fortunately, I got to see some cell phone pics right away. Unfortunately, I do not have a "smart" phone, so I can't post them.
Sorry guys.....

[Steve Jr]

[Limbhanger]

The evening I arrived I tried putting them to bed, but only had one lonely hen fly up.  This was to be the norm for the next three days w/ only three hens spotted.  Even more frustrating was the fact that they reliably pitched down right onto the "neighbor's" property where they would spend the day, then right back over my head to the roost.  The toms had completely vanished despite me throwing everything in the book at them.  In fact, I never heard a single gobble until my "last" evening!

[Limbhanger]

A pretty nasty looking thunderstorm had worked in w/possible 50mph winds expected.  I reluctantly crawled out of the blind and was headed back in when the thunder clapped and not one, but two toms shock gobbled! I stopped in my tracks.  They were close, but, of course, south of our hunting lease. I pulled out a slate and got one call off before it was water logged..they jumped rt on top of it.  Finally, some excitement!  I low crawled to the edge of the canal to try to get a look, but they were nowhere to be seen.  I eventually walked out soaking wet, but excited about the potential.  Maybe they would fly up over to our side??  I was determined to give it one more morning despite the fact that I should have been packing for the trip home.  Irv and Jim graciously told me to go for it.  One last try.

[Limbhanger]

Morning found me back in the blind w/renewed optimism.  It was a beautiful morning, clear and not too windy.  I was careful to not overcall and let my desperation ruin my final opportunity.  I tried barely audible tree yelps, an occasional cluck, very discreet.  Nothing!  Are you kidding me?? Try as I may, I could not find a bird if my life had depended on it:(  I decided I could hold out until noon, then I really needed to get packed and to the airport.

[Limbhanger]

It's noon.  Other than a visit from our local horse, nothing was happening.  I half heartedly put my calls away, pulled myself together and proceeded to slide my stuff and myself through the front window.  I'm half out and I glance up the lane to the north and it's a hen!! I sneak back in w/my BW bow, but my catquiver and pack are in the hen's line of sight.  I managed to slowly drag my quiver under the blind.  I peeked out the back and she was working in towards my hen and skinny jake dekes.  She gave a couple of alarm putts when she was standing next to my pack (couldn't get that one inside), but she quickly relaxed and fed off into the grove, straight away from me.  Cool!  Maybe, just maybe?? I look out the window to the south and another hen is working in!  She flirts w/my deke and feeds off in the same direction as the previous.  I was trying really hard to grow a beard on either of those hens    Okay, I text Irv, "I think I will give it one more hour and still make my flight, Irv".  I get a thumbs up and I'm still in the game.

[Limbhanger]

I frequently check the time as the hour quickly vanishes.  Finally, with minutes left to hunt, I decide to get aggressive w/my calling.  What have I got to lose, right?  I begin to yelp and cut and purr like a flock of crazy birds.  "No Osceola in it's right mind will buy this", I thought, but what the hell.  Within minutes, I look up just in time to see a huge red head working through the overgrown grove not 10 feet from my dekes!!!  Holy Crap!! This is gonna happen!!

[Limbhanger]

He's big, mature and coming in aggressively.  I scramble for my bow, get an arrow on the string, and I wait for my opportunity.  When he's up nose to nose with the skinny jake, his body language changes and he starts to slowly move away, at a quartering angle.  Omg, he's nervous and he's going to bust out of here! I put tension on the string and prepare for the quick shot.  Then, he stops, and turns facing me head on.

[Limbhanger]

I don't like these shots, way too much room for error, but it's now or never.  The string comes back, I hold for just a few seconds concentrating on the base of his neck.  The arrows gone and to my astonishment watch as it buries to the fletching exactly where I needed to be.  He doesn't go five yards and he's down!!  UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!  I try to text Irv, but I'm shaking so badly I keep screwing it up.  I finally get the text off and the rest is history:)  Gorgeous Osceola.. 10" beard, 1 3/8" spur, amazing.  I dont want to ever cut it that close again, but what a rush!!  Thanks for hanging in there Irv and Jim and thanks to all the TG's for reading my tale.  I'll try to get my brother-in-law to post some pics asap.

[Florida lime]

You just put in that last one as I was waiting.

Congrats.

[CRS]

Way to go Kent!  Great bird, Jim sent me pic on my phone.  Simply outstanding.

[monsterbuck]

Congrats. God bless.

[bill langer]

Congrats Kent and great story!

[reddogge]

What, no pictures?

[maineac]

Congrats!!!  Now for a couple of pictures.

[drewsbow]

nice congrats  

[T-Bowhunter]

Congrats!

[tarponnut]