Hey all - Just thought I'd share some pics of my first bird. I got him with a bow in my second season of turkey hunting. (Hunted all last spring with a bow, too, but never got one. Note I didn't say 'unsuccessful' in reference to last year, as ANY turkey hunting is successful, in my book; it's all good, it's just that getting a bird is icing on the cake.)

Anyway, I posted the full story in the bowhunting section here if you care to read it. It's kind of long, so I thought I'd save you the time in case you didn't want to read it.

btw: I'm getting a full strut mount done. No way I could pass up getting one done after the countless hours I logged in last year. Well, maybe if this one was a total scrub.

close up

Sorry about the pic in back of a truck. I know pics like this aren't as tasteful or artistic.

Oh, and I forgot to post the stats:

24lb
7 inch beard (approx: forgot to measure! Will do so when I get it back from the taxidermist)
7/8 inch spurs

Better view of the fan.

Very nice!

Well worthy of a full mount.

Congratulations indeed!

Nice bird big man, really nice bird. That whole bow thing is really starting to get my attention.

Congrats again.

Congrats! That is a real accomplishment.

Great turkey! Where you using a blind when u got him?

Have you ever watched the Wild Outdoors with Jay Gregory

Thanks! Yes, I was in a blind. Unfortunately, not one of the expensive ones. I think it was an AmeriStep brand. I only spent about $100 on it.

Blinds are one of the downsides to hunting with a bow, IMO; you're not as mobile as you are with a firearm. It takes some time (and creates too much noise and commotion) to pick up and move and get situated at the next spot.

But it's pretty hard to get by without one if you're bowhunting. You can draw on one tom, once he fans out and turns away from you, but you're pretty much screwed if there's more than one that comes in at a time.