Beard Buster - Nebraska
Zendal with his 26# Nebraska Tom!
On the Wagon headin' to Illinois!
Hunter: Zendal Carroll
Cameramen: Ralph Cianciarulo & Matt Snyder
I'd like to say that the Tornado that had passed through Johnson, Nebraska had made the birds uncooperative for the first 2 days of our hunt. However, it wasnt the weather, the birds were just being birds, and the first 2 days had been very tough. Bowhunting turkeys from a blind wasnt supposed to be that tough.
Ralph and I had been running camera for Matt, and I had been in the blind with Matt carrying a 20 gauge TC just in case we couldnt convince the birds to come check out our Hazel Creek Decoys we had set in front of the Choice Blind. Ralph usually set up close by to get a second angle with the blind and decoys together. We actually saw quite a few birds, and some great Gobblers, but they just would not commit to coming close.
On the second evening, after a dissappointing day, we met Dustin, who had a great roosting site on one of the farms he hunts. He was nice enough to offer to take us the next morning to intercept the birds as they disperse from the roost. The next morning, before light, we were settled in just 200 yards from over 50 birds. As daylight came and the birds gobbled and flew down, we were more than ready, Matt and Ralph were on cameras and I was hunting. As the birds scattered, our luck hadn't changed enough to have any birds, other than 2 hens, come within 100 yards. We watched helplessly as they worked their way through the field in front of us and out of sight.
The next morning found us in the same field, but set up closer to where the Turkeys exited the field. Ralph and I were on a fencerow, and Dustin was with Matt in the Choice Blind maybe 200 yards away. The birds to my right and Matt was to my left, there was no way they could get past us without one of us having a shot oppurtunity. As the birds flew down, a small group of hens were coming my way with several strutters following. As the hens neared our decoys they became nervous and actually crossed the fencerow about 80 yards from us, heading directly behind where Ralph and I were hidden. Only a lone hen and 4 toms were left milling around where the others had left the field. This is where our luck started to turn for the better. Instead of following the first group, one hen slowly led the 4 strutters straight towards our ambush. As they closed in, Ralph and I settled on which bird and when they were into the decoys, I took my shot! My very first thought was that I missed and I didnt even ruffle a feather, the hen and 2 toms headed for parts unknown, but 2 of the birds began to harrass the jake decoy, oblivious to the shot! As I was trying to reload without spooking the birds, Ralph was whispering impatiently "Please reload, please reload and actually hit a Turkey!". As I closed the chamber on the Encore, I knew I had shot well over the bird with the first shot, so as he molested the decoy I settled the red-dot lower on his body, and proceeded to shoot his beard almost completely off. Dead bird, no beard, but very dead.
Matt and Dustin came over as Ralph and I were picking up what used to be a beard, they had filmed my whole hunt from their blind, and yes, the miss is on both cameras.
I want to thank Dustin for everything he did for us, hunting on properties for the first time only makes it tougher, and he was possibly the only reason we were into birds. Ralph, Matt and I had a great time and met some people who love to hunt as much as we do.
Thanks to everyone.
Zendal