Tom down!!!

[SpokaneSlayer]

Met up with a friend of mine at 0415 this morning for my first day out this season.  We got all settled in the ground blind around 0445.  I was packing my bow and my buddy had his 12 guage as back up or in case 2 birds showed up.  After a short wait, we had our first gobbles of the morning.  They were about 200 yds away and uphill.  Then we heard 2 more about the same distance but downhill from the previous.  They continued to go back and forth for a bit, when a tom fired off straight up hill from us.  This got us excited.  As it got a bit lighter, I figured it was time to let this tom know there was a "lady" near by.  So I let out a few soft tree yelp on a crystal pot call.  Immediate gobble.  Game on!  As fly down time got closer, all the gobblers were fired up.  A few hens even joined in.  We're sitting there trying to pick out the tom in front of us when I catch movement.  The tom pitched down almost directly to our right at about 50 yds and straight into full strut.  Gobbling, spitting, drumming.  The whole bit.  My buddy can't see him, but I have a clear view.  I whisper "He's coming!  Get ready.  You may have to shoot."  I give him my rangefinder and clip on my release.  Suddenly, a hen pitches down and nearly lands on the tom.  They start milling around each other.  I was thinking "Screwed again!"  Turns out it was a blessing.  The hen starts to side hill right across our field of fire, tom in tow.  The hen passes us and when the tom passes behind a tree, I draw, get anchored, and wait.  As the tom passes directly in front, I whisper "Range him."  

36 yds which is 6 yds beyond my comfort zone on a turkey.  I settle the tom between my 30 and 40 yd pin.  I think "This is not a good shot".  A bit to far and some sparse brush in the way.  Still at full draw, I tell my buddy "Shoot."  The 12 guage barks, sending 2 ounces of #4 shot into the bird, knocking it down immediately.  As we sit there, silently celebrating, the hen comes back with 3 more hens behind her.  They start feeding and yelping away.  Hoping another tom might come in, we sit tight.  After a while, we decide to go ahead and retrieve the downed tom.  We admire the beard and spurs, which measured out at 9" for the beard and 1" hooks.  Then my buddy, says get down.  He spotted white heads and a tail feathers coming up the trail.  I had left my bow in the blind so he hands me the shot gun.  I crouch and wait.  Here they come.  At 10 yds 4 heads pop up.  I sit motionless and my buddy is flat on his back.  They walk a little further and I take aim.  Then I notice they are all jakes.  I lower the gun and let them pass.  With a bow, I would not have hesitated.  But with the gun, it would have to be a tom.  Plus, that's not how I wanted to fill my tag.  After the jakes passed and were out of sight, we pack up and head back to the truck for some pics and to put together a plan for the rest of the day.  We came close later on at a different area, but got busted.  That's ok.  There's always tomorrow.  

[Wayne1]

Awesome...  Sounds like a great hunt....  Thanks for the pic

[Wea300mag]

Well done slayer, you didn't waste much time scoring this year.

[carpsniperg2]

congrats

[nw_bowhunter]

Congrats...sounds like an exciting hunt

[Michelle_Nelson]

That is a real nice looking bird!

[tlbradford]

Nice work.  I'm going to try to fill my second tag with a bow, or with my daughter.

[robb92]

Good read!! Thanks for posting the story!!!!

[CoryTDF]

Good story i think you had some cut a paste issues though. Nice turkey keep it up.