Standing in Triumph

[Mark L. Torrey]

On the hillside nearly 75 yards to my North, standing proud in full plumage display for all the hens, was the biggest Tom I’d seen all week.

Drawing the string back, checking for proper tension, I gazed anxiously left and right, hoping my bird had not been spotted by the rest of the party.

 

The arrow flying fast, straight and clean, brushed through the proud bird’s beard, striking the tree just beyond; I’d missed my first shot that year.

 

All the birds moved off quickly, as Mr. Tom loudly trumpeted in what we both understood to be his triumph …

 

After pulling the deeply embedded arrow from the tree, I glanced down to where the big Tom stood, and noticed the few hairs from his beard my arrow had cleaved.

 

That would be a well earned lesson, and my only trophy of the year.  

[Mark L. Torrey]

Mike Handley:  What do ya say bro ... ??  can you stop and pick up Gita on your way ....

[Mark L. Torrey]

Yes indeed Kristine_ES ... I detected a bit of attitude in his departure ....

[Kristine_ES]

courtesy of your six sentences, we get the feeling mr. tom turkey was definitely giving you the bird finger, strutting off like some kid on the playground: "you can't get me"... 

the patience of hunters makes for great stories.

[Gita]

I gratefully accept the invitation to hunt Rios with you. Could Mike Handley please come along? You see, he owes me a turkey hunt and this way, he'd pay my expenses.

[Mark L. Torrey]

Greetings, and Thank You ALL for the welcome and comments ... hunting is one of my favorite pastimes as is fishing, canoeing ... actually most outdoor activities.    In my part of Central Texas, Tom's also strut their stuff in the Fall as well.   There has been increased numbers and activities with our local turkeys this year, so who knows .. might get lucky.

Gita:   You sound like a real character, I think it would be a blast to bow hunt (turkey) or fish w/Ultralight tackle (for Bass or Trout) with you... or, maybe we could just sit around, drink and tell stories....

Jeanette and Mike:  Only one who has done this can truly appreciate the 'triumph' felt by the Tom ...

[Gita]

Came back to say: No wonder you missed. You were trying to make a bow shot at 75 yards??

What are you using, a crossbow? 

My 12-guage can only penetrate a turkey within 40 yards. You are one crazy mo-fo.

[Mike Handley]

Welcome, Mark. There are precious few things on this Earth more worthy of ink than how a turkey whips your ass. And it's those whippings that make the best stories, which is why Turkey Call once was a great magazine (note past tense). Keep on writing.

[Jeanette Cheezum]

Great 6. My friend used to do this and he said. He would get one turkey aout of fifteen tries, and that's why it tasted so good.

[Gita]

I posted a comment then took it down because I realized I was confused. I thought you were writing about a fall hunt, this being the autumn. But then I realized he was strutting for a hen, so it had to be spring. Anyway, what I said was, at least your shot was in the ball park. I mean, a beard is close-ish to the kill zone. But jeez, trying to bowhunt a turkey is like trying to catch a bass with a paper clip. Why put yourself through it when there are better weapons?