1st Spring Gobbler

[WindedBowhunter]

Got my first spring gobbler this am!

Set the decoys on the hillside facing me
Now we wait, as the 1-3 gobbles that I hear aren't until 8-8:30am
20 mins goes by
I hear a gobble on the roost around 6:30a
I do a few yelps, I hear a gobble again, this time its much further away...
So, I snap a photo of the decoys for Facebook
I think it was 4-6 minutes later, I look up and see "3" decoys in front of me and one of them is strutting!
Wait...what? I set 2 decoys, a standing Jake, breeder hen no strutter
Holy smokes, I need to get my bow!
He didn't even make a sound!
Drew the bow back as the tom was pecking and scratching the Jake, waited for him to provide a nice shot...
The Gold Tip Velocity hit its mark!

My first Spring Gobbler ever, with a bow to boot!

[ElkNut1]

Hey Rudy, way to go dude, very nice!!!

ElkNut1

[POk3s]

Awesome job! I think I've killed 8 now and still haven't been able to get one with a bow! Great accomplishment!

[WindedBowhunter]

Paul and POK3s Thank you!

We did real good, as we put 3 down in 3 days.

I took my 5yr old son out, let hit the call of his choice. He liked the pot call better than the box call

He called in 3 jakes and 3 hens 20 minutes in the blind and from the neighbors property, which I had never seen them travel from!

He thought it was cool, while we are waiting, a doe came by at 11 yds. He started complaining the the turkeys were taking too long. This was probably due to the fact that they could not see the decoys through the scrub. As the dekes were set for the turkeys coming from the direction 180* opposite where they did come from.

I asked my son, are you sure you want to me shoot a turkey with my bow, he said "YES"!

We did here is is my son's 1st turkey hunt. Funny thing was he started shaking and saying he was cold! Good to see that his adrenaline was pumping, cause it was between 50-55*

[elkmtngear]

Great pics Rudy.

Congrats on those birds, looks like you and your boy had a ton of fun

[Solitude]

Very nice and great eats to boot!

[WindedBowhunter]

elkmtngear - thank you! We did have a blast, my son's patience were tested for sure! The birds came from a direction that they couldn't see the decoys from a distance, so they took their time feeding our way. He stated several times, "they're taking too long!"

Great fun, especially time spent with the next generation of hunters!


Solitude - You're right about the eats! I usually shoot a bird with my bow annually during deer season, just around turkey day! But, my son couldn't wait to eat the turkey we shot! He loved it!

[Indian Summer]

Just saw this thread. Nice Job Rudy! Sorry about the fact that now you're HOOKED! lol

I've killed a tom every year since the mid 80s. It's the ultimate cure for cabin fever in the spring.

Now time for bears..........

[WindedBowhunter]

Indian Summer Thank you!

I have taken several birds with the bow, it was just during whitetail season and they just happened to be at the right place at the right time for me! But, not as exciting as calling them in and using decoys.

Good luck for bear!

We don't have a spring bear here....