It's been a pretty fun spring so far!
A buddy and I headed to Kansas for the archery portion, toting his new crossbow.
We scouted two toms and their harem of hens the night before, and got set up early the next morning. The birds completely read the script, pitched down, and were headed in right off the bat. The two toms struggled to commit to the decoy, with one bird walking away to about 200 yards away, before deciding he wanted to fight, and racing all the way back in. In full strut, my buddy about cut his head off, bird didnt even flop. The second tom stuck around, we got the crossbow loaded, and I tried to shoot him, but the bow wouldnt fire. I had my bow behind the blind, but we let him go.
An hour or two later, we checked another farm, and found a few toms in an alfalfa field. We got around in front of them, set up within about 100 yards, called once or twice, and the whole group came racing in. The crossbow decided to shoot this time, and I was on the board.
After striking out on the Missouri opener, I went back to Kansas for the shotgun opener this past Wednesday. At 8am, a bird popped out 250 yards away, I call, he struts and starts walking my way. His hen pops out behind him, and I thought I was gonna be in trouble. But, he ran across the field to me, with his hen chasing him the entire way. He ran into 15 yards, and met a hot load of TSS #9s. Done in Kansas.
On my way home from Kansas, I stopped by a Missouri farm to check for birds. Saw a strutter about 3/4 of a mile a way, and headed out to get in front of him. Got set up where I thought he'd be coming through, called once, he rips it, and pops over the hill, running in. I didnt get hid as good as I wanted, and he got there so quick I wasnt ready, so he got a little sketchy, and started to leave. TXX #9 stroked him at 36 yards, my longest shot ever on a turkey. Done with the first week Missouri bird. Out of commission until Monday. Wife has demanded honey do's get completed, so I cant even call for anyone this weekend. I'm in depression.