Yesterday afternoon found me in a small strip of woods along my food plot for two reasons. One, yesterday morning I watched a nice 6 point chase 4 does around the field, and I was hoping to catch him trailing them back in again this evening. Two, I knew a flock of turkeys were frequenting this plot from hunting it throughout the season, and our turkey season finally opened yesterday.

I got all settled in around 4pm. Around 5pm, I hear a four wheeler and dirtbike come flying up right across our property line, turn around, and tear back out. I was just a bit angry to say the least. They weren't trespassing on us, but they were trespassing on our neighbors, adn they were tearing up the ground as they did it. That's also the direction many of the deer bed, and I expect to enter the field, so the idea that the hunt was over, and ruined was running through my head. I stuck it out, though, and around 5:45, here comes the flock of turkeys. This time, however, they cam out in a little different location. If I would have been in my ladder stand I would have had a 10yd shot pick at any one of them including a real nice gobbler. However, a few stray hens worked their way away from the flock down toward me, and I decided to take one if they got in range. Well, one stepped into my 20yd window, I drew back (not one of the birds saw this, which had me even more pumped), put my 20yd pin on the base of the neck, and let it go. I hit her with a solid whack, she flopped a bit, and then stopped. I was pumped! I texted Ben that I had one down, and I sat there for a while contemplating whether or not I should wait out the evening hunt, but I decided to get down since I had plans for the evening, and getting a jump on the cleaning would be nice.

Well, don't you know I lower my bow to the ground, and just as I'm getting ready to come down, that bird gets up as if nothing is wrong and walks right back into the woods toward me! I couldn't believe it. I was looking at her, and I must have hit a back a bit and up, hitting the wingbone removing her ability to fly. So I quickly lift the bow back up, and nock another arrow, waiting for another shot. She finally does as she's walking away, but I was at a weird angle, and I punched the trigger sailing the arrow over her head. I'm thinking how terrible I feel about this, and how sloppy I'm becoming, and I was angry. Angry at myself for not getting the right shot the first time, and angry at not being able to make a follow up shot. Well, I watched her walk into the woods a little further and lay down. I knew she was hit, but not how badly. I COULDN'T leave her like this. I climbed down, and she saw me climb down so she ran a little ways. I got my bow, and walked around the long way (basically circling her), and crept up on her. Each time I would get near her, she would run a bit, and hide in these pines for cover. I would circle her, then when I got close, she would get up, run and then hide again. I kept circling this pine thicket back and forth for honestly 25-30 minutes with this cat and mouse game going on. It was getting dark and I was losing visibility fast, but I knew I couldn't leave her like this. I was feeling pretty crushed at this point. Sort of at a loss as to what to do, because, honestly I turn to a huge softy when we're talking about an injured animal. They certainly don't deserve it, and more so don't deserve being left to die due to injury because I gave up looking. So anyways, I finally snuck within 10yds into a pine, found her sitting there, but she didn't think I saw her, I crouched, drew back, shot, and hit, and it was over.

So, now that it's over, I have mixed feelings. I'm really pumped about taking my first bird with a bow (it's actually only my second turkey, I shot my first gobbler this past spring). However, I'm so angry at myself for the shot, and making the bird go through that. I'm disappointed in myself, and I felt terrible the whole time the even was occuring when it should have been a fun time. I don't know, just a bit of mixed emotion here, but I have her, she's cleaned, and she will be some good eating.

Sorry, no pics (sack punch away), but no one was home, and I was in a hurry to get her cleaned. Nice hen, not anything huge, but decent sized.

Congrats buddy!

All i can say is thats hunting bro....keep your head up. Congrats on the turkey!

Matt, you did everything right and it's commendable. You couldn't have known differently so congratulations. I've taken plenty of turkeys and with KS I now have taken them with my bow but I've never taken one out of a stand yet. I have however missed one and been busted by many from the tree. You did good.

Oh and I saw the text and couldn't have been happier for you. We heard some bud didn't see them. I'm going to do a little turkey hunting this week with my bow as well. I'm tagged out other than my southern PA doe tag. I should run down there with Tim again too.

Tim, thanks!

Siman, yeah I know it has it's ups and downs, and I can't beat myself up forever, but I was certainly bummed a bit. However, I'm glad I was able to recover her. It was a rush though waiting for them to come in to my shooting lane.

Thanks, Rob. They're a bit trickier to hit than I thought. On a deer, it would have been dead and done for sure, but those little buggers are tough. Nice picture message by the way, lol.

Here is the afore mentioned pic. Matt sent one of himself stating that it was "go time." This was our response.



An hour later.

Oh and congrats buddy. Bird with a bow is a feat.

congrats!! you did a fine job!!! except the whole no pic thing!!![:@][:'(] lol.


turkeys are tricky animals to bring down with a bow, and even when hit hard, they arent likely to leave a good blood trail..and are masters of hiding...

i shot one in the spring 2 years...i pulled the shot and blew a load of hevishot 6's into its wing butt..it was nasty...at the time, i had no idea what happened except it kinda blew over sideways like a rifle shot doe and wasnt moving at all...just didnt look right from my expiriences...i rack another shell in and trott its direction when it gets up and runs dead away from me..pull up..CLICK!! uht oh! rack another shell in(short stroked it the first time got the empty out but never got the new load in) i put the bead on it 40yds away its head was laying on a deadfall...whammm..done deal...go down..pattern hit prefect..blood all over...wheres my bird?!?!? nowhere to be found....took me over an hour to find it...turned out to be 150yds down the hill and across a creek in a brush pile...i would never found it if i didnt see it STILL MOVING....i couldnt believe it...

Lol, nice progression. I wish my phone wasn't stupid, otherwise I would post my picture. Thanks for the congrats, bud, and the motorcycle was back out today when my dad an I went out to recover the arrows.