Herwaybow Longbeard

[wapiti1997]

I had baby duty this morning, I really had the itch, I heard 7 gobblers from my deck this morning on the roost.  After hanging around the house all morning, my wife and daughter went to the baby shower at 2:00, I headed to the woods!  I had a blind already set.  I took my mounted hen decoy "Ugly Betty" and my Herway XRTD longbow, my camera and tripod.  I got in the blind hwich is in a small clearing in the woods, maybe an acre in size on the top of a ridge.  It has been typically a great midday spot over the years.

I gave a few soft yelps with the diagphragm, nothing,  again 5 minutes later, nothing..  I switched t0 a slate and purred and clucked and got a gobble!  It was pretty far off, but usually a gobble at 2:15 in response to a call means business!   I hit the slate agin, nothing...  Switched to a high pitched box call, nothing...  waited abit, then got the rasy box, he gobled, hadn't moved any though..  T

This routine went on for what seemed like forever, then I though I heard a jake yelp...  Well I have a box that is notorious for bringing in jakes, I gave a few slow jake yelps with it,..... Gobble!!  Now I hen yelped and jake yelped roght after it.., double gobble!!

I shut up, he gobbled on his own closer... I yelped and he was committed, a closer gobble...  I shut up and turned the camera on, record...  I could hear him spitting and drumming, but couldnt see him yet..  then here is the jake, he yelps, and I could see the fan behind a tree!  The gobbler strutted right to Betty, and I drew and released the Bullhead, concentrating on his caruncles... The top limb of my longbow hit the roof of the blind, sounding like a rifelshot.. the arrow struck it's mark but to my surprise it bounced off instead of decapitating him.  He jumped ot the right, I purred and grabbed a second arrow..

He was walking wierd back the way he came and my second arrow missed by an inch or so to the left..  He was now out of sight..  I sat patiently listening, knowing to pursue him would end badly..  In less than 10 seconds he was flopping, just out of sight, I'd cut his throat after all...

It took over 2 hours to entice this old bird to the 10 yard shot..

1.5 inch spurs, 24 pounds, 10 inch beard...

[Shinken]

     

"Ugly Betty" scores again!  Way to be patient!

Enjoy the feast!

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

[e alexander]

Good job, Joe!

Awesome!

Congrats!

Bisch

[T-Bowhunter]

Great Job!, thanks for sharing.

[Big Ed]

Very nice, congrats!!

[rwbowman]

Great hunt and a nice bird!

[BRONZ]

Can you link the video?  I'd love to see it!  Congrats brother!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats, That is a fine bird.  I would also love to see the video.

[bansheewins]

Great job.

[wapiti1997]

Thanks folks!  I haven't downsized the video and posted it yet.. still busy hunting a second bird! I will...

[bansheewins]

I just noticed the decoy you have.  Did you take a real hide/feathers and wrap a decoy with it?  Looks pretty cool.

[Anointed Archer]

Excellent!

[NIGEL01]

Nice pics, what brand camera do ya got?

[Wannabe1]

Great story and bird! Thanks for sharing.  

[wapiti1997]

Originally posted by bansheewins:
I just noticed the decoy you have.  Did you take a real hide/feathers and wrap a decoy with it?  Looks pretty cool.

It is a fall hen I harvested a few years ago with my Centaur.  I skinned her and treated with borax, injected the head and feet with formalin. Then put it on a turkey form.  It's quite ugly, "Ugly Betty" is what we call her!

My camera is a Nikon D7000

[OBXarcher]

That's a hog of a bird, if that makes any sense.

Congrats

[Josh Perdue]

nice job

[59Alaskan]

Congrats!  Great bird!

[monsterbuck]

Great turkey. Thanks for sharing. God bless.