29 Goulds success

[sigfour]

I picked up my cousin from the airport on Tuesday April 28 around 6 PM. We drove back to my house, loaded up his gear, had some dinner, a few spirits and then went to bed. We woke up Wednesday around 2 AM, loaded up the bow, arrows, shotgun, ammo, glass, expensive gear and were on the road by 3 AM. We stopped for fuel and breakfast in Wilcox around 6:30 AM and made it to our camping spot in the Chiracahua mountains by 9 AM. After setting up camp, we took a drive in the SxS to do a little scouting and immediately broke the frame where the steering linkage attached on the passenger side. We limped it back to camp and attempted to repair the break, but found more damage and were unable to fix it enough to confidently use it. We jumped in the truck and headed to another area, seeing several birds along the way. We took video/pictures and marked the spots on our Flatline Maps and OnX. After a great taco dinner and a few drinks we hit the cots. We woke up early Thursday morning, made coffee and while warming the truck up had birds walk-through camp. Driving up the road around 6 AM, we had two toms gobbling and walking down the road at us. We videoed, took pics and laughed at our good fortune. Actually we were pretty giddy. The weather was slowly coming in and rain was forecasted to show up later in the evening. Knowing this, we drove to several different areas and put on around 30 miles to the trucks odometer. We found a bunch of birds including a nice double bearded tom that we wanted to go after for the opener. Just before dark we went to the double bearded tom area, found him and attempted to roost him, but the rain made visibility poor and we backed out, guessing where he would sleep for the night. Nothing is better, IMHO, than soup when it’s cold and raining so we had some ramen with leftover taco meat for dinner. After watching some video from the day we went to sleep. The 3AM alarm clock came early and soon we were speeding up the mountain, driving excitedly and splashing our coffee on our laps trying to be first to the spot. Arriving first we parked the truck, got our gear out and laid it out on the ground. We figured we had at least an hour and a half before fly down so we sat in the truck, had some coffee while listening for gobbles with the windows slightly down. After 20-30 mins we started hearing birds gobbling on the roost and they were extremely close. Too close maybe. We quietly and as quickly as we thought was possible without spooking the birds, got geared up and walked towards the calls. We didn’t think we had time to set up any decoys so we left them next to the truck. We set up just uphill from where we guessed the roost was and sat down. The birds were fired up and the 4 males were gobbling their brains out. After what seemed like forever the darkness gave way to grey light and we heard a fly down. I started ranging a few trees, stumps and logs. Then more wing flaps and cackles. After a few minutes we could see birds on the ground. I was kneeling with my bow just in front of my cousin who was itching to call but hadn’t made a sound yet. A strutting tom started our way but wasn’t the double bearded bird I wanted. He went by on my left at 30 yards and it took some self control not to loose an arrow but somehow I managed. Then I saw him. Mr double B (what we named him) was walking towards us. I got ready to draw but he knew something was up. He started following the first bird to my left and at 36 yards my cousin clucked and stopped him. I drew back, settled my pins and the arrow flew towards him. I watched it miss just right and he gobbled at the sound of the arrow hitting a tree behind him. Mr double B walked a bit more left, strutting and stopped at my cousins cluck at 43 yards. I evidently didn’t learn from my mistake and missed him again to the right and hit another tree behind him. That was all he was willing to put up with and flew off down the hill never to be seen again. 2 more toms walked out and stood nearly in the same spot. I aimed a bit left of the bigger bearded bird and let the arrow go. Naturally I missed a bit left. He too gobbled at the sound of my missing arrow when it hit behind him. He moved a little away and I settle my pins, let it fly and saw/heard the impact of arrow hitting feathers. We watched him staggering away, dragging a wing and I took another shot (my last arrow in the quiver) but missed way over him and never found the arrow. I ran after him and finally caught up to him and gave him a neck twist/squeeze to end it. My cousin ran up and hugged me. We high fived, hooted, hollered and jumped around like 5 year olds. I checked the time-5:35 AM. Then ranged the truck- 93 yards. We both stood there in happiness and disbelief. I tagged the bird, we took pics/video and then walked back to pick up my arrows. I texted my wife and some friends then we headed back to camp with perma-smiles. We saw 7 more birds on our way back to camp, 2 of which probably would have been easier shots but that’s how it always seems to be once your tagged out. Once at camp I gutted the bird, put him on ice and we started celebrating. After a steak and egg brunch we drove up higher for cell service to make some phone calls and look around for more game. We had salads for dinner and passed out after watching the hunt video several times. The next morning we slept in a bit, made breakfast and called some birds into camp. It seemed the birds were everywhere and not pressured at all. The day went by quickly and before we knew it we were having pizza with pastrami chunks off the black stone for dinner along with some spirits. Sunday we woke up to gobbles in camp around 6 AM, got up and made breakfast. We packed up our camp, stopped just before reaching private land and videoed 3 toms strutting and screaming for 15-20 minutes or so. Afterwards we drove into Wilcox for lunch, fuel and headed home. Definitely one of my most memorable hunts and I can’t wait until someone I know draws so I can do it again. We saw 31 toms, 20 hens, zero Jake’s, 24 deer and one coati. 

7/8”- left spur

1”- right spur

11 1/8” beard

Happy safe hunting!

 

-Sig

[sigfour]

[Coach]

Congrats, Sig. Thanks for the write-up.

[sigfour]

[az41mag]

Congrats! Great writeup and story.

[LungBuster]

With the bow as well!!! Very impressive.

[Chef]

Absolutely GREAT freakin' story man!

Sounds like a great time and dead trees.  LOL

Congrats on the success and memories made.

[AZCoueser]

Awesome story. Good lookin birds

[PRDATR]

Great write up. Congrats on a memorable hunt. We deer hunted 29 a lot in the early 90's but on the SE corner but never saw turkeys.

[rhetmo]

Amazing!! Congratulations !!  love that place ! Hopefully  28 points will do it for next year !