Mr. Longbeard....meet my Stealth Hunter...Story/Pics One last Pic...

[joe skipp]

Well...it all came together on a beatfiul, cool, crisp morning. My first turkey with a bow and I was just as excited when I took my first whitetail.

I usually hunt these birds for 2 weeks and handicap myself by not using a blind or decoy. I really like the challenge....while others call it foolishness.

I decided this morning to change my luck. I mounted my Snuffers on my Barrel tapered ash arrows, was using Cedar. Slapped them in my backquiver, covered the bright feathers with a Kelly Fletch Cover. Strung up my Kempf Steatlth Hunter and was in the woods at 6:30 am. I had picked a spot in a valley that had 2 logs that fell and split around a larger tree. Some cover in the front and back.

I decided to spend the morning here and not move. I knew Turkeys were in the area cause every morning at 5:30 am when I leave for work I can hear the gobbles. At 7:15 a tom gobbled to my cackle, still way off. Then another tom gobbled and another! Off in the distance I could see 2 hens moving away....some purrs and another cackle brought loud gobbles and they were coming closer. What saved me here, I had 6 to 8 trees in front that I was hoping the birds would walk around giving me time to draw without being seen.

Ever so slowly the toms made their way in...50...40...30 yds...Strutting...Looking....Then it happened...

[bohuntr]

Congrats Joe!!!! I see you have studied at the TradGang Delayed Story Telling school, lol!! Patiently (ok impatiently) waiting for the rest of the story and the pictures!!!  Dan

[joe skipp]

Sorry guys...

Right behind me this Tom let out a thunderous gobble! I mean LOUD....Now frozen in a kneeling position I can hear the tom walking towards me. To my right out of the corner of my eye I can see him walking...no more than 7 or 8 yds away. He stops behind a tree and starts to display, now my adrenalin starts kicking in. I'm now focused on him, and planning when to draw back without the other toms seeing me.

Here's where luck comes in...As he steps out, I draw and anchor...he just stands there as the 160 gr Snuffer puts him down. He didn't make it far, I was up and on him like a linebacker chasing down a running back. I couldn't believe it...I was shaking. Pull out the digital camera..dead batteries. The pics I took with my 35mm will have to wait, these are 3 from the digital. The bird tipped my grain scale a hair over 21 lbs, had 1" spurs and his beard...10".

[Patience]

congrats!!

[Tim Kosteczko]

congrats thats awesome!!

[Steelhead]

Incredable moment.Especially from a natural blind.beautiful bird.Congrats

[TexMex]

Congratulations!!

[jonesy]

Good story telling, and congrats! meat on the table. Jonesy

[Golden Hawk]

Glad it finally came together for you Joe! Congrats! I know you were pretty bummed out the other night when I talked to you. nice bird Bud,and the hard way!

[4runr]

Congrats on a nice bird, Joe!!

Good pics and story too!!!


Kenny

[Ray Hammond]

great, Joe!!!

[ishiwannabe]

     Way to go Joe!!! Fine looking bird!

[Huntrdfk]

Originally posted by joe skipp:


I couldn't believe it...I was shaking.  

Great feeling ain't it Joe?  Way to go buddy, it's amazing how a bird can make you have the shakes........congrats on a job well done.


David

[JC]

Dang if those Kemp bows aren't turkey kryptonite!

Congrats Joe, fine trophy.

[korn stalker]

Nice bird, done the hard way, Congrats Joe....

[HARL]

GREAT STUFF JOE !!!

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Good job Joe    
Nice looking bird and bow.

Tracy

[Talondale]

Way to go!  Congrats.

[the Ferret]

Now THAT'S the way to do it! Congrats Joe. Awesome bird, awesome accomplishment. Proud of ya and happy for ya.

     

[woodchucker]

Hmmmmm.....Maybe I should grab my old Bear Grizzly.....

Slap my "Joe Skipp Specials" in my backguiver.....

Cover the bright fletching with my Kelly Fletch Cover.....

CONGRATULATION JOE!!!!!!!!!!