Finally called one in

[SpokaneSlayer]

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.

[BLKBEARKLR]

Goodluck to you tomorrow Spokane

[rasbo]

you will nail one tommarow

[MuleyontheWall]

good luck buddy! we are in the truck right now heading for colville. about 6 hours to go till we roll into town..just getting on i90 in bellevue...haha

[SpokaneSlayer]

good luck buddy! we are in the truck right now heading for colville. about 6 hours to go till we roll into town..just getting on i90 in bellevue...haha

Thanks bro!  You too!

[bowhunterforever]

Dam that sucks! You should have shot again at his head or neck, when he was going away.

[hornhunter]

shoulda woulda coulda........ we've all been there. 

[huntnphool]

good luck

[turkeydancer]

    Sorry you missed with the sticks, but you at least had another great experience. Next time ....

Please note that I do not have a 1 hour rule ... my rule is two hours minimum and then wait another 15 minutes ... patience will kill more birds than anything else.   

[SpokaneSlayer]

Called in another one today, but he came in behind me so I had no shot.  I never got a look at him, but he acted like he was the boss.  Gobbled his head off and it was possibly the loudest gobbles I have ever heard.  No playing shy with this guy.  I yelped and cut at him like a mad man, or hen.  He was so close that I could hear him drum.  Unfortunately he took a different trail than I hoped and never saw my deke.  Judging from his attitude, I think if he saw the hen, he would have came right up to say hi.  Didn't hear as many hens this morning.  Matter of fact I beat one out for the attention of this gobbler.  Still hearing just as much gobbling in the roost and more gobbling on the ground.

[turkey slayer]

That suck slayer, keep trying