long story short, i overestimated the range on a boss hen this morning. her and her yearlings came through just like they did earlier in the season...only this time, its turkey season. 3-4 young of the year were 5-8yds behind me to the left...all starting to get suspicious. turkeys ALWAYS peg me...i think i just stand out to their superior eyesight...i can see them coming a long way off and not even BLINK and they usually still nail me..

anyway, i knew i had to stand up and draw if i was going to get a shot...no way i could let the whole group pass by in the open woods and get away with it(theres like 7 or 8 of them total never did count them just "know" them...so when they werent looking i stood and drew in one motion...sure enough they spooked and started to head out...i wanted mom. them boss hens kill me in the spring...fall i like to take 1 when i can...this was my first bow opp.

i quickly found mom standing on my trail waiting for her young to catch up...bad move as i was already at full draw and shes the only one not waddleing around...broadside at what i guessed to be 26-27yds...floated the top(20yd) pin at the top of her back..30 was under her wing butt..."perfect" i thought...and i sent it...really unfolded quick...i got on her and felt good and had my anchors and sent it...

arrow flew perfect....and hit right where i was aiming......with my 20yd pin [:'(] yep...shes missing a few feathers, but shes fine. arrow was clean...and i sat there in the evening...someone else scattered her from her young i guess...she was calling to them, and they gathered just outta range and in brush....but they were all there and healthy...i know i didnt HIT...ive never fired my bow and NOT heard a hit on a target or animal...so i knew instantly i missed. very ODD sound of just a bow firing and no HIT of anything...the soft forest dirt made no noise lol....just the "thummmm" of the bow was all i heard lol..


anyways.....what are the chances next saturday they are on the same pattern theyve been on all season?? theyve busted me before...just never been shot at...and mom wasnt HURT...i dont think i broke skin...just a few feathers missing. and i heard them roost right where they always do...what do you guys think??

(yes i know i need a range finder!) ive found that in a stand with differing terrain, im horrible. up hill, down hill, side hill, thick brush surrounding the target etc...dont matter it throws me off lol....i usually sit there and figure my 22 or so yards i'll shoot at a deer...but never planned on a shot behind me so i had no guess...it turned out to be a hair over 20 paces..its probably right about 20yds....when i have a range finder i borrow from a buddy once in a blue moon, i find with some practice with it, i can be deadly good...i just never got around to buying one...i was saving for a super long range one with the angle compensator so i can also use it for my groundhog hunting...but looking at them now, im probably best to buy a compact shorter range one for bowhunting thats nice and compact..and buy the bigger one later...they are larger...i need 1000-1500yds for groundhogs...ive found with the buddies that you can expect about HALF distances from what they say...so i gotta go big to get my 500+yd targets ranged..