2017 spring gobbler

[ntvbowyer1969]

This is my best turkey to date with my self bow. I had a great set up next to a fresh uprooted tree in a area i scouted prior to season opener here in Pennsylvania. I sat in the dark in a heavy rain with flashes of lightning all around. By the time the sun started to appear the rain slowed to a fine mist. As the songbirds awoke and started their morning songs i heard the first gobble from a close roosted tree. I made a soft call with just my mouth and he thundered a gobble in response. I did two more calls in the direction of the gobble and i heard him fly down to the ground close to the flat ridge top i was on. I pushed back into the fallen tree and took a viburnum shoot arrow fletched with last seasons turkey feathers. I made a razor sharp spoon trade point that was secured with sinew from a doe i shot that season. I did another call and i heard no response. It seemed like a eternity waiting to hear or see the bird. I tried one more call and started to shake as i saw the red white and blue head now trotting towards my location. when he was about 30yrds out he seen my two decoys and closed the distance fast. He fanned out and started his love dance around the decoys. He let out a gobble and i could feel it in my chest and it echoed down through the valley. I readied my osage bow as he spun and was now in between me and the decoys. AS  he turned to the right i drew, anchored,and released the arrow in one smooth motion. the turkey exploded in flapping of wings and leaves flying into the air. As noisy as it was for that moment in time it was now silent. It was so quiet now i could hear the drops of water from the mornings rain falling through the tree canopies. I waited another 15 min. or so until i decided to go see the outcome of this encounter. I was still shaking when i approached the spot where the turkey was standing. as my eyes gazed the landscape i could see the bird laying about 40yrds away down the ridge. My hunt was over as fast as it started and my hunt was over in the first hour of the opening day. I even made it back in time to find my coffee still hot in the pot. It was a great day.[im

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[osage outlaw]

Great shot and nice bird!

[ksnow]

Nice story, love it when it works out like that.  Great shooting, nice bird, beautiful bow. 

Kyle

[PEARL DRUMS]

Great accomplishment! Congrats to you sir.

[ntvbowyer1969]

Thank you guys... Gonna try and replicate it this spring.

[Hawkdancer]

Great recount of the hunt and very nice bird!  Hope  to have similar luck, without the heavy rain!  May have to take along my "wimp" stool, since it is harder to get up off the ground at my age!  Here, turkey, here, turkey - Thwap?!, I hope.  Some practice wouldn't hurt, either
Hawkdancer

[JW_Halverson]

Thanks for firing me up! 

I have had a few of those bittersweet hunts where I was back home for the still warm coffee, too.  And even more of the days where I left in the dark and came home when it was dark again, cold-hurting-dejected-willing to do it all again!

[bradsmith2010]

wow congrats on a agreat hunt,, seems easy when it happens like that,, but we all know the skill and hard work that went into making it an easy hunt

[bjrogg]

 Congratulations NTV. I'm hoping you have a repeat to. Great hunting.
Bjrogg

[Redhand]

That a great accomplishment! Those birds get mighty tough to hunt especially with primitive gear.  Congrats