Wow, is about all i can say! We had a VERY cool hunt this morning!

A few days ago when Dan was in town we were running all over the place trying to get him a bird. In the process we stopped and talked to one of our landowners who said that the birds have been all over his farm. In fact, when Dan and i pulled in back by the barn and walked around the corner we could see them in his back field!

Yesterday, I decided that i would stop by there in the late morning and see if there were any bird out. I was excited to see a big tom strutting with 4 hens in his back pasture. I then decided that i would come out later in the afternoon and get a blind built up for the morning. When Shawn and I showed up yesterday afternoon, there were two groups of birds STILL out there! A tom and four two hens, and another tom with a couple hens. We did our best not to spook them and got the blind set up for this morning.

Shawn had to work this morning so Jeff offered to run the camera for me. We headed out a little later than we would like to, but i figured we would be alright since the birds don't roost super close to the area we were hunting. When we got there we were disapointed that the cattle had trampled through our blind. We quickly built it back up a little and got settled in. The birds were gobbling like crazy in the roost a few hundred yards away. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the birds flew down. After they were on the ground, we didnt hear a single peep out of them. Jeff and i just sat there wonder which way the might have gone.

About that time he told me to make sure the POV (point of view) camera was set up correctly and ready to go. We had he set up behind me, over my shoulder at the decoys so it would catch me draw, as well as get the second camera angle for the shot. I was looking at the screen making sure the camera was pointed correctly when i saw something walk into the screen! It took me a second to realize what was happening. I was watching the big gobbler strut into the decoys through the camera. I slowly lifted my head and glanced toward the decoys to see a big strutter 30 yards and closing. He came right into the decoy and i quickly drew. This morning we forgot the stake for the decoy so we had him on a stick and i didnt want the tom to hit the decoy, knock it off the stick and spook. When i drew, he caught a little movement and came out of strut and slowly walked away. I put my 20 pin high on his back and released. The arrow sail with the green lumenock andthump him in the opposite wing joint and he went straight down and started flopping! It was a very thrilling, yet very quick hunt! Those birds sure snuck up on us, but i cant think of a better way to end my sesason in MO than with a flopping tom!!

Thanks for running the camera this morning Jeff!

Congrats! Awesome Hunt and story. Way to go!! Can't wait to see the vid!!

Nice!!!

What part of the state? Thinking of heading up to the Kirksville area this weekend, but a buddy hunted up there all last week until sat and said it was miserable hunting. He never got a bird to respond to calls that entire week!

Are you trying to pick up women or what.....every angle possible of you!at the end of the story I expected to read you like long walks on the beach and singing in the rain.....Congrats on the bird!

We were hunting in West Central MO in Eastern Jackson Co.

Hey now, you can never have too many pictures. Just wanted to makes sure one turned out good!

....and i dont have to TRY to pick up women! They flock! [:-]

LOL He's the only guy that can make holding a dead bird sexy

Another great year I really hate you[8D]

Congrats Mike, that's quite an accomplishment...I can't seem to get a bird here close enough, and I'm still using the
12 gauge!!!

congrats -looks like another great season under way

Have some spots north of there in Davies county. Smaller properties though. May even end up there. We have 5 bowkills on video so far this year...I seem to be the snakebit one this year, LOL. Come in to 40 yards, look at the decoys, turn around and leave. The other guys have them run in and stand on top of the decoys and peck the crap out of their heads for a while before taking a broadhead thru them...

Congrats again...hope the footage came out great.

I hear ya on that. Seemed like Ty and Larry were having that same problem this year, birds getting hung up...that is until yesterday when Larry doubled in KS!

Thanks man. Footage was awesome.