Traditional longbeard

[wapiti1997]

It's not primitive yet, I'm working on a yellar bow now that's shaping up... 

So for now I have to post in the campfire...
I had baby duty this morning, I really had the itch, I heard 7 gobblers from my deck this morning on the roost.  After hanging around the house all morning, my wife and daughter went to the baby shower at 2:00, I headed to the woods!  I had a blind already set.  I took my mounted hen decoy "Ugly Betty" and my Herway XRTD longbow, my camera and tripod.  I got in the blind hwich is in a small clearing in the woods, maybe an acre in size on the top of a ridge.  It has been typically a great midday spot over the years.

I gave a few soft yelps with the diagphragm, nothing,  again 5 minutes later, nothing..  I switched t0 a slate and purred and clucked and got a gobble!  It was pretty far off, but usually a gobble at 2:15 in response to a call means business!   I hit the slate agin, nothing...  Switched to a high pitched box call, nothing...  waited abit, then got the rasy box, he gobled, hadn't moved any though..  T

This routine went on for what seemed like forever, then I though I heard a jake yelp...  Well I have a box that is notorious for bringing in jakes, I gave a few slow jake yelps with it,..... Gobble!!  Now I hen yelped and jake yelped roght after it.., double gobble!!

I shut up, he gobbled on his own closer... I yelped and he was committed, a closer gobble...  I shut up and turned the camera on, record...  I could hear him spitting and drumming, but couldnt see him yet..  then here is the jake, he yelps, and I could see the fan behind a tree!  The gobbler strutted right to Betty, and I drew and released the Bullhead, concentrating on his caruncles... The top limb of my longbow hit the roof of the blind, sounding like a rifelshot.. the arrow struck it's mark but to my surprise it bounced off instead of decapitating him.  He jumped ot the right, I purred and grabbed a second arrow..

He was walking wierd back the way he came and my second arrow missed by an inch or so to the left..  He was now out of sight..  I sat patiently listening, knowing to pursue him would end badly..  In less than 10 seconds he was flopping, just out of sight, I'd cut his throat after all...

It took over 2 hours to entice this old bird to the 10 yard shot..

1.5 inch spurs, 24 pounds, 10 inch beard...

[seabass]

nice job buddy.that is one big gobbler.what happened to that black locust bow you was working on?

[blackhawk]

Awesome job Joe        congrats

[Don]

Good for you. Congrats.

[osage outlaw]

Nice bird.  Way to go.

[TRACY]

Congratulations Joe! Bow kill is a bow kill to me and what a challenge/feat!


Tracy

[Adam]

Great job!  I love good turkey hunting stories.  That is quite an accomplishment.

[wapiti1997]

nice job buddy.that is one big gobbler.what happened to that black locust bow you was working on?

It took some set when I started bending it, so it wasn't dry enough I assume?  I set it aside to dry.
I roughed out a maple stave, and set it aside, then I started working on the skinny stave I traded blackhawk for...it's looking like a bow.

Of all the woods I've put the drawknife on, osage works easiest for me.  It's harder, but works better.  I see why so many consider it the "King".

Thanks for the congrats folks.  I've missed 3-4 gobblers just about every year since I started trad hunting them.  I only shoot for the head/neck  this one cooperated, and I like the outcome!

[Trapper Rob]

Good job.

[Roy]

Congrats..

[lesken2011]

Congratulations and good play by play account of the hunt!! That grin says it all!!

[Badly Bent]

Doesn't get much better than that. Good hunting and an impressive bird Wapiti, congrats man.

[lowell]

Congrats....good hunt!!

[Danzn Bar]

Nice bird .......... Way to go Joe

[Gsulfridge]

Nice job joe! I saw 4 or 5 other hunters cutting me off from the bird I was calling this morning. The bird was in range but outta site. The hunters were outta range.