I've killed my fair share of Turkeys over the last 25 years with a shotgun,... and in the last few years I've given up with the firearms to pursue only with a bow,... I suppose the next challenge naturally needs to be a tomahawk?-- but for now, the compound does the trick! That's not to say a shotgun or other firearms aren't challenging but lets face it,... hiding behind a blind or in full camo hidden against a big old tree trunk with decoys out front to entice the little rascals just didn't cut it for me,... so this year I decided I was gonna grab my bow, dress in camo and "stalk" me a gobbler! That's right, the decoys stayed behind, the collection of calls stayed behind, it was just me , my Matthews compound, Muzzys' and attitude that I hiked into my favorite "urban" turkey grounds today. It wasn't difficult to find them, they were "everywhere". Urban birds aren't really as spooky as their country cousins, because they see people, cars, homes, etc. quite often, although they always seem to "know" your intentions. To give them the benefit of the of the fair chase I decide to go after them,... that's right,.. no blind, no calls, no decoys, just me , and my "attitude",... "I'm gonna stalk me a gobbler! "
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Here's the action,... "gobble,.... gobble,,... clucking and gobbling,... up the hill,...there, ahead in the trees, through the undergrowth, stripped of leaves by winters fury, and gray with shades of a snowy past, the woods seem barren except for the motion up ahead,...-let's go - I think to myself,... how hard can this be,... you've snuck up on bucks bedded down, ducks on a pond, pheasants in cornfields, bass on a bed, even a fox chasing mice,... it's just a bunch of turkeys,.... and we've got confidence on our side!
There they are ,... 35-40 yards! A nice size Tom,.. no wait, another, heads are bobbing, blues, grays, red , another Gobbler there, above the first two,... they're exchanging their strutting, trying to catch the attention of some feeding hens ahead of them,....Do I chase them, do I go around, which way are they going,... think,... wait, no go,.. wait,... watch! They seem to vanish in the under cover,... there's a head,... where's the others,... "move"---I go,... lightly stepping ,... step, ... a drawn out step, ...step, step, careful, walking cautiously, good they didn't see me,... 25 yds. This is "awesome",... (I should've worked harder to convince my sweetie to join me after work,... I know she'd enjoy this, where's my witnesses, who will believe me? Gosh, I should've brought video,)... focus,... back to the turkeys! OK,... the closest one fans, and blocks the vision line to the others,... move again, stop... get down, I'm squatting,.... wait,... watch,... think,... they aren't moving quickly,... lets wait a minute, think,... this is too cool! Let's not blow it! Watch, think, Wait,... they're turning,... what are they doing? The closest Tom boldly gobbles and turns my way coming down hill,... fanning,... circling, he gobbles, another right behind,... why are they coming? Who cares, what do I do? They're coming right to me?... They don't know I'm here!... Oh - my gosh,... what if they get too close,... I won't be able to draw,... quick, think,.. no time,... they're coming,... 20yds,... 15... 10yds.!!!... What to do,... He stops,... did he see me?... No,... he fans,... the others are behind,... where's the hens, can I draw?...gotta draw,... too close, ...he turns away fanning...quick, I slowly stand, drawing as I do,... wow!... I made it,... "he's still there",... and I'm at full draw,...This is really exciting! ...He's looking straight at me, 10 yds max.! ...He didn't "see" me,...he continues turning in a prideful fashion, ("pride" comes before the fall!)... focus - aim - breathe - aim - release - follow through,... "thump",... a clean pass through,... he jumps, but stays there,... the others scramble for cover, he stays, shakes slightly,... walks away crossing right, a slight limp,... did I get him good?... Should I run, ...wait, watch, he's not running,...what if he runs?... wait,... no "run",... no wait,...if he does run,... possibly no blood trail, and I might lose him,... let's go for it,... run,... there he goes,... "I'm keeping up",... he's hurting,... (he'd be long gone with a poor shot),... he's mine,.... get him,... he's staggering,... slow down, he's hurting,.. he's mine,... drop,... he stumbles down ,... yes! ...He looks down for the count,... 10...9...8...7 - (I'm thinking as I approach),...he's bigger in body than I thought, alot of width and mass in his head and neck,... he's mine,... eye to eye,... ground level with no cover,... success !... A sweet satisfaction and only 20 minutes into the spring season!...
Maybe I should've used the tomahawk,... maybe for my late season tag?...
See my "stalking" Gobbler picture, At
MyHuntingPage.com "Show'em watcha got!" - Home - Hunter's Trophy Pictures, Click on Turkey - Wisconsin - Waukesha county page!
Thanks,... "Bigshot"
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