It’s hard to put into words…
4 months ago I started a project (my 2nd Kibler Colonial) that would result in a beautiful work of art and an accurate tool to aid in successful adventures in the woods.
‘Success’ in the hunting world is often a term used to describe a harvest. While it is applicable here, I felt it was true the moment I stepped out of the truck this evening. Success for me described the completion of a project consuming hours of precision and of my time just so I could live in a moment like I experienced tonight. Truly, it was a memory I wish I could live over again in a thousand lifetimes.
This evening was quiet. REAL quiet. I heard nothing, but cardinals, robins, doves, squirrels and the distant sound of a tractor planting rows of corn. It lead me to believe I may have set up in the wrong spot, even though I spent weeks scouting this area.
After an hour of intermittent calling, I stood glassing into a block of trees trying to catch movement of where I believed this Tom had been spending his afternoon. I looked down at my phone to check the time when I heard a cluck, followed by another. I knew it was CLOSE, but for the life of me I could not see where this bird was. I had no idea if it was a gobbler or a hen, but I slowly knelt down behind some logs and readied myself. I turned on the Go-Pro (which I didn’t format so I got zero footage
) and turned on the camera on my phone. Two clucks later a blue and white head emerged 15 yards to my right. I waited until he scurried towards the decoys to cock the hammer and the rest is history. To top it off, I was blessed with a beautiful sunset with a hint of freshly burnt pasture in the air.
Some say it’s just a bird. A stupid bird at that. To me, my viewpoint is different. Populations are hurting and I hope I can put forth the efforts to get them on the rebound. I’ve guided one buddy on a successful hunt this year (compound bow, his first with such a weapon. I also took him out for his first Tom) and usually take a first timer out, but with populations I’m a little hesitant to do so this year. We’ll see how the spring progresses. Who knows, I may get a wild hair in May and head to western Kansas for a Rio.
Gobblers may always be my favorite animal to hunt. Majestic, brave, and a bit naive, they lead the spring with pride and give us what we all want… a fresh start to the year and fried nuggets.
Chalk bird #38 up to the old flintlock, my first with such a prized possession.
4 months ago I started a project (my 2nd Kibler Colonial) that would result in a beautiful work of art and an accurate tool to aid in successful adventures in the woods.
‘Success’ in the hunting world is often a term used to describe a harvest. While it is applicable here, I felt it was true the moment I stepped out of the truck this evening. Success for me described the completion of a project consuming hours of precision and of my time just so I could live in a moment like I experienced tonight. Truly, it was a memory I wish I could live over again in a thousand lifetimes.
This evening was quiet. REAL quiet. I heard nothing, but cardinals, robins, doves, squirrels and the distant sound of a tractor planting rows of corn. It lead me to believe I may have set up in the wrong spot, even though I spent weeks scouting this area.
After an hour of intermittent calling, I stood glassing into a block of trees trying to catch movement of where I believed this Tom had been spending his afternoon. I looked down at my phone to check the time when I heard a cluck, followed by another. I knew it was CLOSE, but for the life of me I could not see where this bird was. I had no idea if it was a gobbler or a hen, but I slowly knelt down behind some logs and readied myself. I turned on the Go-Pro (which I didn’t format so I got zero footage
) and turned on the camera on my phone. Two clucks later a blue and white head emerged 15 yards to my right. I waited until he scurried towards the decoys to cock the hammer and the rest is history. To top it off, I was blessed with a beautiful sunset with a hint of freshly burnt pasture in the air.Some say it’s just a bird. A stupid bird at that. To me, my viewpoint is different. Populations are hurting and I hope I can put forth the efforts to get them on the rebound. I’ve guided one buddy on a successful hunt this year (compound bow, his first with such a weapon. I also took him out for his first Tom) and usually take a first timer out, but with populations I’m a little hesitant to do so this year. We’ll see how the spring progresses. Who knows, I may get a wild hair in May and head to western Kansas for a Rio.
Gobblers may always be my favorite animal to hunt. Majestic, brave, and a bit naive, they lead the spring with pride and give us what we all want… a fresh start to the year and fried nuggets.
Chalk bird #38 up to the old flintlock, my first with such a prized possession.
