Team Knock on Wood

[DonBo]

7:30 opening morning, we are on the board!

[monstermoose78]

I headed to work early today and checked  a public land spot and there was 9 trucks in the area 

[ANYFISH2]

Nice work Donbo!

Will be waiting on the story.

[PFUNK]

22 minutes ago, DonBo said:

7:30 opening morning, we are on the board!

Atta boy DonBo! Looking forward to story.

[monstermoose78]

Way to go donbo 

[DonBo]

24 1/2 lbs.  My biggest yet.

[bobbymalone]

that's a big boy.  good work.

[paintbrush]

Great Bird!!  Looking forward to reading the particulars about him and the hunt. Congrats!

[Scoot]

WTG DonBo!

[Borch]

Congrats Don!

[pumper317]

Way to go Don!  Nice bird!  Now you can relax until WI

 

[Illini Walli]

very nice tom and a bowkill to boot

wheres that thumbs up smiley?

HSO hunters puttin the hammer to em

[123fish]

Congrats Don. That is a dandy bird for sure.

[rkhinrichs]

Nice!!!!!

[DrJ]

Congrats on a Great bird!!!!!!!

[DonBo]

My bird's specs have been posted on the submission thread.  I'll get the story up ASAP.

[DonBo]

Okay, here's my story.  I gained permission to this piece of property two years ago.  Owner does not allow guns.  Bow only.  No problem.

First time I hunted it, I shot a gobbler 10 minutes after setting up.  I was out in the evening getting set for the morning's hunt and things happened quick. Two days later, I put a young lady on her her 2nd bird.  Lots of action in this area.

Last Saturday morning I stopped by to see what was around.  Saw three strutters, a jake and a couple hens. Tuesday evening I stopped again to set up for next morning's hunt.  There were 20 birds in the field.  20!

I hate scaring birds at any time, but I did on this night so I could get set up. I just casually walked across the field till all birds were out of sight.

Opening morning dawned clear and mild. A beautiful start to the day.  First gobble was about 5:45, then lots of gobbling.  Lots of gobbling.  

First birds hit the ground about 50 yards away.  Two toms about 6:15. They never came any closer and eventually drifted back into the woods.  Didn't see another bird till about 7:00, then all those 20 hens I saw last night came out. Many right in the middle of my decoys.  It took a while, but two big toms came out after them, then one more from across the field came to join the fun. Although I had many hens well within range, the toms never got any closer than about 40 yards.

Finally I hit my box call with some very aggressive cutting, and GOBBLE GOBBLE!  Right behind me. Close. It took a long while before he showed himself, but when he did it was beautiful!  Full strut the whole time in the bright sunshine.  You know what I mean.  Heart stopping.

He came right into my set up, full strut.  7 paces away.  The shot was rather anti climactic after all the action of the last 1/2 hour.  The arrow went in right at the base of the neck and exited near his rear end.  Even with this seemingly perfect hit, he ran about 75 yards before I was able to attach my tag.  7:30 opening morning.

This is where I found him, hiding next to this log.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PFUNK]

Awesome! Just awesome. Nothing like those toms glowing in the sunlight and changing colors like a chameleon as they move around. Way to go.

[monstermoose78]

I have been dreaming of turkeys all night and now cannot sleep anymore. Everything is sitting by the door waiting for my alarm to go off at 440 am. I know I will be up before the alarm anyways, so I do not wake the wife.

It takes a whole 10 minutes to get to my dads and 5 minutes to get the spot to set up my blind. My goal is to be fully set up by 520 with decoys out. I will eat my breakfast burritos and drink my chocolate milk waiting for Tom to wake up!  I will be posting from the blind and taking photos.

[ANYFISH2]

I am looking forward to your live action reports.  Good luck!

[monstermoose78]

Well lots of roost talk they are in the corn field 

 

[monstermoose78]

So far one hen and I can hear some other hens cutting and yelping. Gobbles have slowed down but they should be with the hens or close. 

[monstermoose78]

Two toms with 3 hens and another Tom following them they just are not coming out of the corn

[DonBo]

Stick with it.  The toms will eventually lose interest in those stuck up hens and come looking something easier.

[monstermoose78]

Had take pee break and got busted by long break. Had to be home to the wife shoppin by 10 I just made it. Then off to a wedding. I moved the blind so I can sneak out and pee without being spotted. I did see the group of jakes as I was leaving.