Yesterday morning woke up exceptionally early, 3:45AM, with no intentions of going hunting due to me getting anhydrous applied on my fields. But after receiving a text at 5AM saying he wouldn't be able to make it until 10 or 11 I decided to go to a blind up in my upper pasture that I haven't hunted since the first week of the season here. Checked my weather station, got dressed, grabbed my pack and Martin Mamba and headed out. I will say this, this season has been truly frustrating weather wise, the wind has been relentless here in southern Iowa.
After reaching my blind, I decided to set out two hen decoys, one upright the other feeding. I done this because I have noticed the gobblers was shying away from my strutter and jake decoys when I used them. At dawn I was greeted with several close by gobbling from the trees behind me as well as from the timbered ridge about 200 yards out in front of my blind. After about a half hour of shooting light and the gobbling calmed down a extremely loud gobble out of nowhere came from directly behind my blind, maybe 30 yards at the most. I sat quietly without responding because I figured that he already seen my decoys. After 3 loud gobbles the bird went completely quiet but I could hear him walking or scratching around. After about 15 minutes I seen a turkey come into view to my right at about 20 yards. At first I thought it might be a hen until I noticed was a young bird with a small beard on him. Twenty yards is out of my comfort zone for turkeys and he seemed to know that because he continued to walk back and forth at 20 yards consistently glancing at my two hen decoys. I can feel my frustration building due unwillingness to breach the 20 yard. Then I noticed he took a couple steps closer and that's when I made my move. He was moving left to the right, I made a slight squeaking noise with my mouth to stop him as I came to full draw. I released my arrow and here is where I am still baffled to what happened?? I lost sight of my arrow as soon as it left the blind. But the bird just stands there motionless for what seemed like 5 or 6 seconds then he took off running towards the open pasture. I was sitting there asking myself, did I even hit him? Then all of a sudden I watched him topple over after about a 30 yard sprint!! Now I understand this is the first animal I shot with my Martin Mamba but WOW this bow is fast. After exiting the blind I examined the bird and noticed that I hit exactly where I was aiming but still no arrow in sight. I have never had a complete pass through on a turkey until now. I shoot a 28 1/8" inch Goldtip 400 shaft, 50 grain brass inserts, 100 grain steel broadhead adapter, tipped with a 135 grain Zwickey 2 blade Delta. My bow is Martin Mamba 55#@28".







 

Congrats.

Small beard. Big bird.  Great trophy!

Way to go!

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Congratz .... I hav had two pass thrus on gobblers, first one was 64# 1967 super kodiak with 600 grain 150 heritage classic with snuffer. Second was a 50# 1958 kodiak  with gold tip and snuffer 600 grains , and last turkey a few yrs ago was not a pass thru , but did the job from a 61# bow river longbow with port oxford cedar and snuffer 600 grains . Last two seasons didn't get my gobbler . Still enjoyed myself .

Congrats!

Awesome congratulations

That's nice! Congrats!

Nice shot. Congrats!

Way to go, John!

Congrats!

Well done congrats

 

Thanks everyone. I will say this about this 2019 spring gobbler season, the wind on most days worked against me and when the wind was calm, the deer worked against me. I had deer come in and stomping at my decoys and snorting. I had one gobbler working his way directly to me to only have a big doe run him off the field. Then another day, I watched a guy from my blind approach my fence line with what I believe was a swimming ladder. He set the ladder over my fence and proceeded over. When I confronted him, he asked what was I doing here? I explained to him how he crossed over to my property. The gentleman returned to where he came from without saying a word. And yes, he took his ladder. The meeting left me shaking my head. I never had such a odd meeting in the field. When I spoke with my neighbor about the individual, he didn't have a clue to who the guy was? Oh well. The season definitely had it's moments but all is forgotten when I put tension on the string. It's all worth it.

Attaboy zwickey!
Tim B

Very Very good...Congrats!!!

Congrats!

Congrats John! 

Congrats! Nice bird.

Congrats. Nice story.  Just curious, did you ever find your arrow?