A few firsts for me yesterday
Decided to give the fall hunt a try this year for the first time as I am now in a WMU that offers one and knew of a few large rafters that are in a couple of my haunts year round. A good friend that I share a stand with at one property tipped me off (Thanks FISH'N DAD) to some fly ups that he heard while deer hunting one night and I decided to set up in that general area with both my deer and turkey tag in pocket.
I found a spot with lots of droppings and feathers and backed up against a tree and waited (about 4:30pm). This particular spot is an old stand of row planted softwoods that allow for long viewing/shooting lanes. It is bordered by a cut grain field and standing bean and corn fields presently. I made the assumption that the birds were entering the woods from the grain field and proved myself right when I saw a single turkey cross between 2 rows of pines, followed by another, and another, and then 10 more for a total of 13. 10 hens, 3 toms.
They headed to an open area in the stand of pines that was on the other side of my location with some very thick brambles between us. As soon as the last bird was out of sight I made my move in their general location to within 50 yards and started some light kee keeing on a push/pull type call. A few hens responded right away and headed in my direction but not from the anticipated spot. 3 or 4 hens got within 5 yards of me while I pushed on the call behind my back but due to the brambles I had no responsible flight plan for my crossbow's bolt. The turkeys kept staring in my direction as I called hoping to lure them to a better vantage point but eventually they gave up trying to spot the 'new flock member' and retreated from the way they came. While sitting and contemplating my next move, something spooked the group and they were putt-putting like crazy which moved them to a field edge straight across from me. I got kee-keeing to bring the group back together and after about another 30 mins it started to work. The hens moved towards me in a semi-circle while the toms hung back. I decided then that I would take the first bird that presented a shot as I was still in some thick brambles and visibility was fading (just after 6pm). I shifted my eyes to my right and a bird had snuck into an opening about 25 yards out, with a clear lane, and right where my bow was pointing. All I had to do was drop my head to get the crosshairs, aim (right at top of head to compensate for drop), and let the 150 grain slick trick fly (my deer broadheads). In the explosion of flapping and feathers, I knew I had connected but wasn't sure how well. The bird rolled to the right so I began looking there as the rest of the flock jumped up into the roost and cackled away. A few feathers, but no bolt or blood to be found and losing light fast...uh oh.
I scoured the area for 40 mins and nothing, so against my better judgement I decided to look in the opposite direction that I last saw the bird rolling and sure enough within 40 yards of the shot, there it was piled up. It was a perfect neck shot.
Hen approx. 12-15 lbs
A few firsts for me with this bird:
First fall bird
first hen
First afternoon bird
The fall season is certainly challenging and to those that think there isn't that much excitement, try sitting in statue mode for nearly 60 minutes with 26 eyes looking for you!
Good luck to all this fall whatever you pursue.
