So I get all set up at about 5:15 this evening and start to call. 15 minutes later I hear 2 gobblers sound off on their own. I call to them and no answer. Following the 1 hour rule, I sit tight and wait. About 30 minutes later, they gobble again much closer. I get my bow ready and continue to wait. A while later, I see a huge red head coming up into my clearing. Then I see his beard.
10" easy. This has got to be the monster I saw a couple weeks ago. After getting an eye full of my dekes, he starts to approach. He gets to about 20 yds and I draw. I let him get closer. At 15 yds, just as he's about to start strutting, I pick a spot and let the arrow fly. I see a few feathers fly. I'm thinking "SCORE!!!". Well, he kinda popped his head up and starting walking...slowly. Putt....putt putt. I'm in shock. I finally get my wits about me and nock another arrow. Too late, he's downhill where I can only see his head and neck. All I can do is watch for any sign of a hit as he walks around my blind and up the hill. I give him a while to clear the area and go over to check where I shot him. All that's there is exactly 6 freshly sheared breast feathers. I find my arrow stuck in the dirt. No blood and no feathers stuck to it. I figure that there should be some feathers after a hit due to some fluid on the arrow. I trace where he walked to where I lost sight of him. I then head up the hill, cris-crossing looking in the gnarliest brush I can find. Nothing. I looked until I had to head back. I'm confident that I missed but I had to make sure. So I pack up and head out, tail between my legs. Adding insult to injury, 4 toms are gobbling just before roosting.
I will be back tomorrow.
