posted by Jim on Apr 23

It was an incredible morning with the biggest group of toms and hens together that I believe I have ever had the privilege of calling to. It made for some awesome video footage.  Justin filmed the hunt and I had messed up and tried to shoot what we think was actually the same bird we had encountered earlier in the morning.  

He strutted straight away from me at the decoys. I put it low on the back of his fan and hit right where I wanted, but it ended up that I must have miss-judged the placement, hitting him a
bit high and I just caught feathers.   Body shot placement is crucial when hunting turkeys with a bow, therefore, it is essential to understand the vital zone from all angles and practice often.

The bird rejoined the group and we filmed some awesome toms and eventually called another that broke off and I put a good shot on him this time. We were able to get video footage of several hens getting bred, as well.  It was a great first outing for the year and I wish I could have gotten it done right the initial time, so Justin could have had a crack at one, but the season is young. Also, I totally missed the fact that the bird had a double beard until I got home to clean it. He had about a 5 inch short beard and the thick one was right at 10″. Spurs were only around 1″, so I think he might have just been a big 2 year old bird. Good luck to all Hunters Prostaff readers and I’ll keep you posted, as I am now going to try for a headshot only, for the rest of the season.  In Kansas, we are allowed two birds, so I am planning to challenge my bow hunting skills with a G5 small game head.  Aim small and miss small.  The greatest thing about that is it is a kill or a miss, with no in between.  I will let you know how we do and I will be filming many other family and friends this season. 

posted by Jim on Apr 7

Does size really matter?  Ah, the ever popular question. Well, I am here to tell you that it may indeed to some folks, but not to this young man in the picture. This is Cody Speiser, an up and coming outdoorsman holding his first shed antler. How refreshing to get back to the basics of just plain being out in the woods and enjoying yourself.        Oh sure the giant rack on the skull is a trophy find in anyone’s book but do you think a young man will remember what it scored or more importantly even care. That QDM candidate shed put a grin on his face for most of the day. Along with finding, a turkey feather lying under the roost tree, he was having a great day in the woods.        Everything from fresh tracks of the deer we had kicked up to piles of hair and droppings had to be discussed and explained, as to the what, where, and why. All this information I’m sure is now forever logged in my sons head to be called on at the play ground during a heated recess discussion about hunting.        I’m keeping this entry short and simple because that’s the point for me these days. This industry will change you into something I don’t want to be and yesterday really made me re-think what is really important in my life, and where the simple enjoyment went to from my youth. No more “What did it score”….”BBD”…..”Oh you shot it with a gun”….”Why would you shoot a doe”….BLAH….BLAH…BLAH…. My cup has officially over flown with one liners. Thanks to a great awakening day in the woods for a dad that almost slipped over the edge into the empty abyss of peer pressure. If anyone needs me I’ll be shooting sparrows with a BB gun, with the hunter that taught me the most important thing about why I hunt! I love ya Codes…Dad