May first was the start of spring Turkey season here in Maine. Since I got my first trad bow at the end of March I have been shooting a lot so that I could hopefully harvest a Turkey this spring.
I have been out a few times and had a lot of close encounters. After spooking a few Jakes and a nice Tom because they saw the movement of me drawing my bow I got a shot off this morning and hit at Jake at about 9 yards.
I feel I got a good shot on him just behind the wing butt and got a complete pass through. The bird flopped around with a broken wing and it seemed like I injured the far hip. Some other Turkeys were heading my way so I let the bird climb up a brush pile and watched it swan dive off the back side where I thought it would be waiting for me to pick it up.
After the other birds hung up and cleared out I went to collect my bird. To my dismay it was not to be found. I followed a trail of feathers for a while and looked for about 4 hours and nothing. I even took my dog out to see if he could sniff it out and still nothing.
Needless to say it was exhilarating to be able to call the Turkey in and be stealthy enough to shoot it. But man is it a bummer to not harvest the animal and wonder how long it had to suffer before passing away. Not a very uplifting feeling.
Anyone else have a story to share like this one? Feel free, I'd like to read them.
Here are some pictures of the trail of feathers and stuff.
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2848/34274063062_c5d8399c9f_z.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4189/34274016172_8686feb96c_z.jpg)
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(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4170/34433533905_6d3b0bccb1_z.jpg)
These are the only Turkeys that I took home.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4188/33623481173_a655bf2266_z.jpg)
I have all next week off from work so I will be out hitting it hard and hopefully I can bring home my first harvest with my new trad bow.
Jeremy
Unbelievable that a bird hit like that and leaving such a trail would not have quickly died. I guess that's why people run up a grab them as quickly as possible after the shot. Hope you get another chance.
Mine was the season I missed seven deer in a single season. One was the largest deer I've ever seen while hunting at less than 15 yards. I was on the ground and kept telling myself pick a spot and I did, right up to point I was about to release and I went wholedeer! I almost gave up on traditional archery completely.
They are tough to kill. They also when wounded will seek out a hiding spot under a log or something as well. I have seen that several times.
I searched for one for 3 hours once, then had to whip out my knife and take it's head off to stop it. They are amazing critters.
Yeah, if you don't see them fall on their face they can be tough to find! You should check out the String Trackers from Drifter Trad Archery, they are sponsors on here.
I echo what others said. You are getting close and even got off a shot so you are doing something right.
I read a story about one of our more experienced turkey hunters here where one of his birds was able to jump off a ledge and soar quite a ways. Like Tom mentioned, they can and will hide if given the chance.
String trackers are the way to go because with their feathers and the ability to take flight, often you will have little to no blood trail. Good luck next week.
I would say it wasn't as good a shot as it seems based on the type of feathers and the fact that you got a pass through,even with a two blade. That is an exception rather than the rule for me. Very small vitals. I would consider using a string tracker in the future. Chin up. You were very close. Good luck next time.
Lots of feathers... any blood on that arrow ? String trackers seem to be a real asset for turkeys.
I hate you lost him. I have had good luck with dogs but you tried that. I'm a little surprised by the pass through also.
Dang, this makes me think If I get to hit a bird this season I need to chase him down right away.
Thanks guys. I agree that it obviously wasn't as good of a hit. But man he looked like he was done. It took him a while before he even stood up.
Are pass throughs not common? Would a string tracker work on a pass through? Next time I am going to cut a club/throwing stick and forget about the other birds.
Jeremy
(borrow a bird dog)
Many years ago i Had the same thing happened to me. After watching the Big Tom crash in a blowdown tree top, I picked up the feather trail to find a coyote with my bird
Letting them recover and get going is not a good idea. It's like jumping a gut shot deer. They can go a long ways.
We blood trailed a gobbler I shot with my bow about 600 yds through a bunch of crap one year.
Got lucky that he flapped a bunch when he finally gave it up and we found him.
Mike
I was brought up that if it ain't dead, get on it right away or shoot it again-even if it costs you a shot at another game animal.
My first turkey jumped up in the air after hit, flipping and turning in the air and then landed with a loud thud and didn't budge. I thought wow this was great. Then the turkey got up and ran off. Never found him.
After a hit you have to get him right away.
Gilbert
I went on a rare (for me) guided Merriam's hunt in Colorado last year.
I shot a Jake that was about 9-10 yards in front of the blind. I hit the feather I was aiming for (broadside). When the arrow struck, the bird started somersaulting. Feathers flying everywhere and the bird just flipping in place.
The guide and I looked at each after the shot, grinned and high-fived...inside the blind. Then that bird jumped up and took off running. He went in a river bottom area after a run of about 80 yards. Trailing little feathers all the way but no blood. To be fair, had we opened the blind, jumped out, and headed for the bird immediately, he would still have recovered and run off and left us.
We searched for that bird for nearly 4 hours. Never found it. We figured I was looking too high and merely shocked the spine?
Later that evening another shot at 11 yards. I shot this one about an inch above the beard (head on). He took off running but did a T-Rex beak plant after about 20 yards. Arrow went clear through.
Shot one this year (eastern on my property)) in the wing butt (quartering toward). He went straight down, flopped about 3-4 yards and stopped moving. He was done moving by the time I rapidly exited the blind. Broke my FMJ in half.
I'm so sorry to hear of your emotional roller coaster with this hunt. I can empathize with your elation on making a hit and then the frustration and sinking feeling of not finding your bird.
My first turkey I killed was with my recurve. I was shooting alluminum arrows with Wensel Woodsmens upfront.
I shot my bird at 15 yards. I was literally caught out in the open and he was broadside foowing two hens. How they didn't spook is beyond me.
Regardless, I shot my turkey just behind the wing butt. My arrow buried to the fletching, the turkey jumped and ran for the coulie. He launched off the edge and I saw him take flight with my arrow sticking thru him. Fletching on one side and broadhead on the other. He sailed out of sight before I could make it to the edge to watch where he went.
I went from total euphoria to total disbelief in a matter of seconds.
My hunting buddy and I looked for about a half an hour. No sign. I was head back to the spot I shot from to retrace steps more carefully while my friend kept looking in the canyon.
My friend found the bird, still alive, trying to get up into some cedar trees. I was able to go over and put the finishing arrow in him.
If it hadn't been for my friend and the bird flopping I'm not sure if the story would have turned out the way it did.
Those birds are tough, nothin' but tough. Keep your head up and get back after it.
Hind sight, a string tracker would've led me right to this bird. Before I hunt them again with my bow I'll be picking one up.
-Jeremy :coffee:
My grandad and hunting mentor said he never counted a turkey dead until he shut the stove door. I have found that to be true on many occasions.
Would believe that any worthwhile journey would be filled with many obstacles and challenges that cause us to fall many times and likely never provide us immunity. The objective is to continuously get up time and time again and find joy in the learning experience. We are always beginning again,
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
They are tough to kill. They also when wounded will seek out a hiding spot under a log or something as well. I have seen that several times.
X2!
I've lost them with compound as well. Don't let it get you down. I shot one once during fall gun season (deer) with my bow. My cousin and I was in a blind we watched the bird wobble up the hill and pile up on a rock... so he and I sat there talked about the "perfect" shot I had made and we was content to let the bird lay there while we waited on a deer for him. 20 minutes later and I mean 20 minutes! He got a weird look on his face and said your bird just got back up
The answer? A Chad Orde string tracker...
I have one of Chad's string trackers. Very well made. I've never put it on my hunting bows. Our last day is Sunday. That will be my last chance to hunt this spring. I'll put that string tracker on my Blacktail Sitka (I've already shot it a few times for practice).
2 seasons ago I had 3 Toms come by my blind with couple Jake's and bunch of hens. Put a similar shot on one of the Toms at about 15 yards, in the moment I felt good about it though I knew I didn't smoke em I figured he'd be toast quick. At the shot however turkeys exploded and ran in every direction into the thick river bottom I was hunting and during the few seconds I was falling out of my blind (next time I'm going through the side like a linebacker haha) I mixed up what which of the turkeys was the one I shot, they literally went in every direction and I was left guessing which way to run. Needless to say I spent forever trying to find him and was sure he was dead right in there somewhere but it was hopeless without some basic direction. Like always though that's how you learn so don't be discouraged to much, sounds like you are a good hunter and didn't make a bad shot, turkeys are a small difficult target.
I leaned to keep my eye on the bird when hunting from a blind long enough to confirm direction no matter how bad I want to run after em.
See my post titled, "The toughness of turkeys."
This pity party is not short on invitees.
String trackers can be a big help but birds can still be lost, experience talking.
I would like to take one with a bow but my conscience makes me use the 12 gauge. Turkeys are tough to kill with a bow sometimes. I'm the type that beats myself up badly if I wound something. I need to sleep well at night lol. Well at least the carnivores got a free meal.
someone may have said it already , but invest in a string tracker, I never hunt turkey any more with out one.
Around here a 'yote may get your bird before you do if it gets out of sight............... We chase em quick once they're hit.
That may have been the case. We have trail camera video of coyote, red and gray fox, and bobcats within 50 yards of where I shot this turkey.
I have out several times since and only seen hens, all the males have moved on.
Jeremy
My first turkey, a jake I shot a bit back and after a chase, and some tracking that was way above my pay grade, I found where he had back tracked on himself and had to put another arrow in it. I had another I hit perfect (I thought,) slight quartering to, sitting on my jake decoy he had just defiled, entered right at front of elbow into chest, out other side cutting secondary feather. Hopped up, walked off. Great blood trail when I picked it up a half hour later. Led to a pool of blood and no turkey. Brought my shorthair back and covered the area thoroughly. Nothing. I got a string tracker, but I hate having to tie on the string, and then untie and to move. so I decided only head and neck shots. Either a miss or a kill.
By the way, this weekend is the Maine Traditional Archers Black Fly shoot at the Durham Rod and Gun Club. Registration starts at 8.