Hard pill to swallow

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May 11th, 2020, 02:32 PM
tom gobble

Hard pill to swallow

Got out this morning for a hunt in this crazy weather and wasn't expecting much. To my surprise there was at least 2
gobblers gobbling like crazy. They would gobble like they were getting closer, then 15 min later would sound like there on another planet. So I figured they must be henned up still. I was going to pack it in around 10 so started to clean up my stuff and a hen comes out, behind her two gobblers follow. I was so surprised because I never see anything in bad weather. Long story short these two Toms leave the hen and come my way. I was so happy because Im going to have a chance at a snow bird LOL well I got my chance and missed clean at ten yards with the crossbow. I couldn't believe it and I'm still trying to figure out how I missed. I had the red dot on him and tested it out yesterday so its not a scope problem. Can snow and water effect the arrow at a target that close? Well something went wrong? me or the bow regardless it sucks. Its not the first time but hopefully its the last. Can't win them all. Thanks for listening but I have to cry myself to sleep for a bit LOL
May 11th, 2020, 02:39 PM
JMatthews

That close you probably shot over it. Welcome to the club. Too many misses this year.
May 11th, 2020, 02:54 PM
Turkeyjohn

Like John says, Welcome to the club, I've missed so many birds, and with a shotgun, even the Wesley whiffed on a gimme bird on opening morning...Good on you for braving this crap and getting out, hoping to get Wes out of bed tomorrow morning, weather should be better....

Stay at it Dan, I'm sure you'll get another crack at them....

TurkeyJohn
May 11th, 2020, 03:22 PM
fratri

Ya, dont think the snow or wetness affected much from that range........ I am guessing........ turkey fever.... happens to us all and some of us are using shotguns and miss...
Ya crazy weather.... Let us know if you find a flaw in the equipment
Best of luck
May 11th, 2020, 03:39 PM
MikePal

What were you aiming at Tom.....I've missed more than a few trying for the mid-neck shot...doesn't take much to be off an 1".

After a few misses I started to aim at the base of the neck, the wishbone area.
May 11th, 2020, 03:44 PM
tom gobble

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikePal

What were you aiming at Tom.....I've missed more than a few trying for the mid-neck shot...doesn't take much to be off an 1".

After a few misses I started to aim at the base of the neck, the wishbone area.

Broadside side shot shoulder bone, thats why I'm wondering what happened. I could of tossed the crossbow at it LOL
May 11th, 2020, 03:45 PM
tom gobble

Thanks for the support guys
May 11th, 2020, 04:02 PM
dilly

Aww crap. Sorry about that. Most of us have been there.
May 11th, 2020, 04:06 PM
GW11

Sometimes when things go that way all of the basics go out the window. Bad shots happen to everyone at some point. Sounds like a bit of a hurried moment and the bird was close so you might have just yanked the trigger and forgot to aim and squeeze.

You'll get him next time.

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk
May 11th, 2020, 04:55 PM
tom gobble

Quote:

Originally Posted by fratri

Ya, dont think the snow or wetness affected much from that range........ I am guessing........ turkey fever.... happens to us all and some of us are using shotguns and miss...
Ya crazy weather.... Let us know if you find a flaw in the equipment
Best of luck

Tested out the crossbow in the basement and replicated the angle i was shooting on. Seems like nothing is wrong with the crossbow red dot. Im thinking maybe my head wasn't positioned tight to the stock or maybe I jerked it pulling the trigger i don't know? Oh well on a positive note I didn't injure the bird because that would of been worse.
May 11th, 2020, 05:02 PM
Deer Hunter

That hurts. Been there done that. Good luck on next one
May 11th, 2020, 07:30 PM
fratri

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom gobble

Tested out the crossbow in the basement and replicated the angle i was shooting on. Seems like nothing is wrong with the crossbow red dot. Im thinking maybe my head wasn't positioned tight to the stock or maybe I jerked it pulling the trigger i don't know? Oh well on a positive note I didn't injure the bird because that would of been worse.

Thanks for sharing the results..... Hope you get another chance. Good luck
May 11th, 2020, 07:46 PM
Sprite

Happens to us all!

I missed a longbeard right off the limb last Friday morning with the shotgun. Luckily I was able to catch up with another around 1:30pm the same day and tagged out for the year.

Anyone who says they haven’t missed a turkey is either lying or hasn’t turkey hunted very long!

-Nick
May 11th, 2020, 07:55 PM
SongDog

Was he is full strut when you shot? Did you atleast get a few feathers? I would think you shot high but hard to say. Sucks, We've all flubbed gimmie shots lol

The real question, How long did he strut in front of your decoys with you not be able to reload? Lol

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
May 11th, 2020, 09:46 PM
tom gobble

Quote:

Originally Posted by SongDog

Was he is full strut when you shot? Did you atleast get a few feathers? I would think you shot high but hard to say. Sucks, We've all flubbed gimmie shots lol

The real question, How long did he strut in front of your decoys with you not be able to reload? Lol

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

He was on the way to the decoys but not in strut coming towards my right side. Being a right handed shooter I didn't want him to go more right because I wouldn't be able to shoot. No feathers clean miss. Maybe I should of took the chance and waited to see if he would of came in front of me for a easier shooting position now that it keeps on replying in my head lol
May 12th, 2020, 06:39 AM
Lenny

It happens, at least it was a complete miss. My Dad missed a nice gobbler in a similar situation last year. He was hunkered down behind a log, Tom came in to the decoys, he slowly raised the bow, shot and missed. Turns out he just grazed the top of the log with the bolt. Bird stuck around, and came back in. I didn’t have the cocking rope, so tried to pull back the Micro by hand, no luck. Tried again, almost, switched into Incredible Hulk mode and ripped it back, reloaded, and got the bird! In the year since I have lost countless hours of sleep and done lots of physio thanks to the torn rotator cuff this Tom left me with....I think about that Tom a lot!

Go back out and get that bird!
May 12th, 2020, 06:42 AM
marky.mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenny

It happens, at least it was a complete miss. My Dad missed a nice gobbler in a similar situation last year. He was hunkered down behind a log, Tom came in to the decoys, he slowly raised the bow, shot and missed. Turns out he just grazed the top of the log with the bolt. Bird stuck around, and came back in. I didn’t have the cocking rope, so tried to pull back the Micro by hand, no luck. Tried again, almost, switched into Incredible Hulk mode and ripped it back, reloaded, and got the bird! In the year since I have lost countless hours of sleep and done lots of physio thanks to the torn rotator cuff this Tom left me with....I think about that Tom a lot!

Go back out and get that bird!

Worth it! Clearly lol
May 12th, 2020, 06:55 AM
410001661

There are two kinds of turkey hunters. Those who have missed a shot and liars!
May 12th, 2020, 07:38 AM
sabmgb

No shame in missing. I had a bad year a few years ago. I missed several over the season with shotgun. Turns out my sights were out, a lot. Re-adjusted and never saw another bird.