Strutter in the decoys! (Video Added)

[Matty]

So today was "Round 2" for Jon and I.

 

I roosted a bird last night about 300 yards from where we killed his on Monday. It was the only bird I could find last night and he was in a pretty good spot, but being that it's a piece of public land that I don't know very well yet, I was a bit worried. I couldn't tell if he was on our side of the creek or not and I didn't know whether he'd try to go for the giant field (that is not on the wma) or would he come down the powerline?

 

I figured we might be able to coax him down the powerline and the fact that it gets nice, warm sun even before that field does.

 

So I got into the spot by 3:50am. Jon had a longer trip so I expected him at 4:30.

 

I had already picked out a spot for his blind and started clearing some of the sticks so we'd have a quiet floor inside. The moon was shining down that powerline cut like a spotlight and I could see nearly as clear as daylight. I hoped there was no chance the bird could have heard me and seen me prepping. When Jon arrived we silently setup the blind, put out the decoys and ate breakfast sandwiches he was kind enough to bring.

 

Knowing he should be out in front of us by about 70-80 yards, we set the decoys off to the side of the blind and hoped to pull him right past us.

 

I don't recall what time the first gobble sounded through the air, but it was sometime around 5:40ish. He gobbled a few times and we learned there was also a jake off to our left and maybe another jake even further off in the distance. Even though it was legal shooting time, I waited to talk to him until we had better camera light. I didn't want to get him so worked up that he was in our laps when the light was still dim. When Jon gave me the thumbs up that it would be enough light for good footage I began to talk back and forth with him a little bit. He wasn't real fired up, kind of tight lipped, so I went easy and eventually had Jon throw in a jake gobble so he would think he had competition. He basically went dead silent after that and I started second guessing everything. Did he go to the field? Did he have hens we couldn't hear? Did we over-call? What happened?

 

As we're sitting there, Jon peeks out the side window and says...."Strutter in the decoys!"......I didn't believe him, it just wasn't convincing enough. I was right, he was just kidding.

 

My hopes were fading, but it was still early and I've had a ton of public land birds sneak in silent, so the plan was to give it at least an hour.

 

About 20 minutes later, Jon peeks out the side window again and says...."STRUTTER IN THE DECOYS!" "I'M NOT KIDDING THIS TIME".

 

We had to shut the front windows (magnets that make a clicking noise when the go together and then open the side window where he was. THEN we had to shift the seats around so I could shoot out that window.

 

Jon worked the camera out the window and began getting footage of him while I snapped the front windows closed. Then Jon helped me move the chairs around while he continued to roll film. I've been doing this for over 20 years but I will admit, I was freaking out. I thought there was no way on Gods green earth that we would pull this off and open the window with a big gobbler 15 yards away strutting around our decoys.

 

 

Jon continued to watch the bird as he slowly undid the window and I waited to draw. I can't even see anything yet. It's like waiting for the curtain to open up on an act you've been waiting to see forever. The anticipation is building, and my heart is pounding.

 

FINALLY I can see the bird. We still need to open the window more to get a shot though.

 

I thought the bird got nervous at one point, so I'm not sure what compelled me to do it, but I spit at him and he spit back. Jon was freaking out...as he later described that moment he said..."GEE, that bird doesn't know we're here yet and we still need to open the window, let me make noise and make sure he knows we're here" lol....Looking back it was stupid, but it got him to spit back at me on film so....COOL!

 

Finally the window is open but because of a little bush and rut in the ground, I can't get a shot. Watching, waiting...There it is....He is clear. I draw and center my pin.....

 

 

NOW.....I would like to mention that every bow bird I've killed has been without a blind and the last time I shot one out of a blind, I made a slightly bad hit because I shot through the blind...No, not the shoot thru mesh, the actual blind.

 

THIS was that window and as I checked my clearance clarence, I saw the broadhead slice from last time. Everything is all clear this time though!

 

Pin is on him, THWAPPPP!!!!!

 

 

 

.............................You have to wait for the video to find out how it turned out! I know...I'm evil! LOL

 

 

EDIT: Video added!

 

[runum n gunum]

all that reading load the damm video,lol

[Dubs]

so cruel. now Im gonna have to stay 10 mins late cause I took that time from my work to read that. Dude your worse than the cliffhangers on the news.

 

You better have killed that bird or Im gonna be pissed. hahaha

[Matty]

Maybe I shouldn't have built up all that suspense. Warning. I do say the F word several times.

 

 

[BowhunterNJ]

Dude I totally saw that blind leap out in front of your arrow!  Happens every year apparently huh?

[BHC]

great video....getting me pumped for Friday !!!

[Matty]

Like I said in the video...."I need a taller seat."   LOL

 

After about 20 minutes of being dejected and thinking up a plan, we decided to go get the gun....drop a lot of gear and run and gun.

We ended up taking a nice walk through a swamp and across a creek and then setting up where Jon almost became a double amputee because of cutoff circulation the way he had to sit....I had no idea as I comfortably lounged poolside with my granola bar and bottle of water.

 

On our way out, I thought I heard a gobble and it caused me to stop. Well....I don't think it came from there, but suddenly I catch movement about 100 yards out and there is a gobbler. Looked like he was coming into our last setup, but he spotted us and was headed for the hills.

 

We ran ahead, crossed the creek and cut him off, but decided to just forget it. We were afraid of messing with these birds anymore and there was only about 45 minutes left.

 

So, no bow bird today.

 

Friday maybe....

 

Still had fun. Thanks for going Jon and filming again.

 

Good thing I got Jon a great deal on that blind, a few more turkey hunts and my efforts to destroy it will be nearly complete. 

[runum n gunum]

Next time Matty, Thanks for the share great vid and s--t happens.Did you buy that new seat yet

[Rusty]

Great video Matt and Jon.

 

Matt, leave the blind home when you go out west for elk, I'm just saying.