Scouted a new place yesterday and seen two birds. Was late getting there this morning as I arrived about 7:20. Non-existent bush to set up in, and only two trees in the middle of the field, so I took out my Ameristep Doghouse blind and set it up under a pine tree in the middle of the field. About 9-10 yards out in front of the blind I sat out a hen and jake decoy. Back inside the blind I cocked and loaded my excalibur phoenix and got the calls out. I called of and on for about an hour using a variety of calls, including mouth calls, box calls and slates, and heard nothing back in return. After that first hour I was feeling a bit dissapointed after seeing the turkeys in the field last night. I pulled out my Hooter Owl Call and gave a call on it and the next thing you know, I get a gobble. Putting down the owl call I pulled out the glass call and striker that I used to pull in the big tom on Thursday morning and started some clucks and yelps.. again more gobbles, and I seen the turkey standing at a fence line about 100 yards away. After a few more clucks and yelps, the turkey just stood there, so I pulled out my Quaker jake gobbler call and done a gobble, the turkey answered back. I done a few soft yelps on the glass call again, and in he came.. I sat down the call, and slowly brought the Excalibur up onto my knees. The bird trotted right up to the hen decoy, and then proceeded past and over to the jake. He just got past the jake decoy and turned around to come back. As he was turning I brought up the Phoenix and got ready. The turkey no sooner got infront of the jake decoy and I settled the red dot of my scope to where wing meets body and slowly squeezed the trigger. What happened next was just a blur of feathers as the feathers flew and the turkey turned and ran back past the jake decoy. I could tell he was hit, but as he was only standing 9 yards away when the bolt hit him, I had no idea how true the hit was. The bird ran about 20 feet and then took off in flight back towards the woods, and swamp. I could have puked!!! The time was 8:41 AM. I gave it about 5 minutes, had a cigarette and then crawled out of the blind. I went over to where the bird was standing, but all I seen was feathers, no arrow anywhere (never did find it). I went back up to my brother's house and him and my nephew came out to help me look for the bird. We searched for about 20 minutes and could not find it, my heart was sinking as I knew I hit him, and did not like the idea of a wounded bird out there. There are two trails leading back around a tree covered knob that leads out into the swamp. As we had pretty much covered the top of the knob, we decided to split up and walk the lower edges back to the field. About three minutes later I hear my brother yell something, but could not make out what was said, so I headed over the hill towards him. As I got down to the trail he was walking, I yelled to him asking him what he had said.. and his reply was.." I found him over here!" Man was ever happy. The bird had piled up right on the low trail, approximately 90 yards from where I had shot him. I picked up the bird and as we walked back to the field I said a quiet little thanks to the Lord above for allowing me this bird, and especially for letting us find it.
As this was the first thing ever I have shot with the Phoenix I was so excited, but I do think that next time I go Turkey hunting with it, I will purchase some of those Zwickey grabbers for the back of the broadhead.
It's no where near as big as the Tom I took on thursday, but this little jake will be one I never forget!
