Finally Got a Gobbler - Lessons Learned
05-25-2007 | 12:15 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,127
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From: Colorado
Finally Got a Gobbler - Lessons Learned
Well, with only 48 hours left in the Colorado turkey season, I finally got one this morning at about 6:30 AM. I roosted this group of five gobblers last night on an adjacent ridge. Earlier, based on fresh tracks, it appeared they were coming off the roost and watering in a small meadow with a little pond in the middle. Set up the ASAT blind where the trail opened up into the meadow this morning at first light. Put out one decoy. They came right down the trail gobbling and I got a 25 yard broadside shot. Bird weighed 18 lbs. 3 oz. and had a 7 7/8" beard.
This has been a long season. Shot at five previous birds. Missed two - both at 35 yards plus. Had one dodge the arrow at 22 yards. And hit two solid - one of these was on video. Both got away - I'm sure mortally wounded. Up until today, I was using the NAP Spitfire expandables.
One of my buddies suggested I try an adder point in conjunction with a fixed broadhead. I found some olderAllen Javelin heads, which appear to be a similar design to a Muzzy only not as tough. $8 for a three pack on a closeout. These three blade fixed heads weigh 85 grains - so with the adder "washers" they are a little over 100 grains. Shoot well out to about 25 yards, but beyond 30 yards seem prone to unexplained flyers. Maybe the 75 grain Muzzy's would work even better in this respect.
Anyway, as a concept, this turned out to work very well. The adder caused the broadhead to penetrate a little more than 1/2 way through the bird. As he thrashed and attempted to both fly and run, the arrow stayed with him - hanging up in the oak brush several times. He was only able to go about 20 feet and expired. The arrow wasvery difficult to pull out of the bird.Almost had to just unscrew it and leave it in the bird. I don't think the shot placement was anybetter than either of the two previous birds that got away - but the internal damage caused by the head staying in the thashing bird was significant.
This may be a better alternative to the Gobbler Guillotine.
This has been a long season. Shot at five previous birds. Missed two - both at 35 yards plus. Had one dodge the arrow at 22 yards. And hit two solid - one of these was on video. Both got away - I'm sure mortally wounded. Up until today, I was using the NAP Spitfire expandables.
One of my buddies suggested I try an adder point in conjunction with a fixed broadhead. I found some olderAllen Javelin heads, which appear to be a similar design to a Muzzy only not as tough. $8 for a three pack on a closeout. These three blade fixed heads weigh 85 grains - so with the adder "washers" they are a little over 100 grains. Shoot well out to about 25 yards, but beyond 30 yards seem prone to unexplained flyers. Maybe the 75 grain Muzzy's would work even better in this respect.
Anyway, as a concept, this turned out to work very well. The adder caused the broadhead to penetrate a little more than 1/2 way through the bird. As he thrashed and attempted to both fly and run, the arrow stayed with him - hanging up in the oak brush several times. He was only able to go about 20 feet and expired. The arrow wasvery difficult to pull out of the bird.Almost had to just unscrew it and leave it in the bird. I don't think the shot placement was anybetter than either of the two previous birds that got away - but the internal damage caused by the head staying in the thashing bird was significant.
This may be a better alternative to the Gobbler Guillotine.
05-25-2007 | 07:57 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,271
Likes: 0
From: Fulton county IL USA
RE: Finally Got a Gobbler - Lessons Learned
CONGRATS on the bird! Nothing like bowhuntin' Gobblers although it sounds like you had an incredible bout with bad luck before you finally scored!
