DOR
Life Member
I have been watching a group of 5 Toms and 3 hens for about a month and Sat was finally the day I got to make the scouting pay!
Met up with my brother Corey and gave him a brief run down of the situation at 4:30 am. We decided to situate ourselves right on the outskirts of these old boys main strutting area. At 600 the birds were in tow behind the 3 hens and making a half moon towards us.
I had set 2 decoys up (1 jake and 1 hen). We decided that since these birds had not been hunted much, if at all, in the last month we would not even call and just rely on the decoys to bring them in once they were spotted. The plan paid off and around 7:30 we had all 8 birds at 20 yards. I had the only shot, and I pretty much center punched one of the big Toms busting a wing and leaving a massive hole, he didn't go anywhere and just flopped for the moment.
The remaining Toms stuck around and my brother rushed a shot missing badly, I told him to settle down and take his time as the birds didnt even notice the arrow missing them. He fired again striking the bird in the rear leg.
Upon impact, Corey's bird took of across the field. Being the good brother that I am (and the faster one), I immedietly took after his bird and eventually caught up to him at about 200 yards and made a quick snap.
When I got back I couldn't believe it. My bird was gone!
Got on the blood trail which took us through a swamp and jumped the bird about 30 minutes later and took off after him. Just about caught up to him, but he made it into some thick swamp brush just in time.
Then the rain came!!! Lost the blood trail and spent the next 4 hours on hands in knees to no avail.
Still can't believe I lost this bird as he is definetly dead somewhere in that hell hole of a swamp!
Despite my frustration, I was happy for my brother! Here is a pic!
A side note: neither one of our shots passed through as I was expecting and we were both shooting 74Lbs razertec's tipped with 1 3/4 " jakhammers!
Met up with my brother Corey and gave him a brief run down of the situation at 4:30 am. We decided to situate ourselves right on the outskirts of these old boys main strutting area. At 600 the birds were in tow behind the 3 hens and making a half moon towards us.
I had set 2 decoys up (1 jake and 1 hen). We decided that since these birds had not been hunted much, if at all, in the last month we would not even call and just rely on the decoys to bring them in once they were spotted. The plan paid off and around 7:30 we had all 8 birds at 20 yards. I had the only shot, and I pretty much center punched one of the big Toms busting a wing and leaving a massive hole, he didn't go anywhere and just flopped for the moment.
The remaining Toms stuck around and my brother rushed a shot missing badly, I told him to settle down and take his time as the birds didnt even notice the arrow missing them. He fired again striking the bird in the rear leg.
Upon impact, Corey's bird took of across the field. Being the good brother that I am (and the faster one), I immedietly took after his bird and eventually caught up to him at about 200 yards and made a quick snap.
When I got back I couldn't believe it. My bird was gone!
Got on the blood trail which took us through a swamp and jumped the bird about 30 minutes later and took off after him. Just about caught up to him, but he made it into some thick swamp brush just in time.
Then the rain came!!! Lost the blood trail and spent the next 4 hours on hands in knees to no avail.
Still can't believe I lost this bird as he is definetly dead somewhere in that hell hole of a swamp!
Despite my frustration, I was happy for my brother! Here is a pic!
A side note: neither one of our shots passed through as I was expecting and we were both shooting 74Lbs razertec's tipped with 1 3/4 " jakhammers!
