BOWHUNT FOR THE FLORIDA OSCEOLA
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Day 3 Continued - Doug Crabtree 

By Doug Crabtree

Today was my first morning to hunt for myself. Filming the hunt were Sam “Coon Dog” Huff and Brett Berry, two of our camera men from Woodhaven Custom Calls. The afternoon before we had roosted gobblers and had planned a 2 blind set up near the edge of a fence that ran along the Orange grove near the roost.

As we were putting up the blinds the first gobbler sounded off answering a bard owl’s hoot. I finished putting my decoys up and another gobbler joined the morning choir. When I walked to the blind to get in 2 more gobblers had also joined in. Sam gave me a look as though I was taking way to much time due to daylight taking over the nights darkness. 

It was very foggy, which limited our vision. Our set up was 150 yards from the edge of the timber where the gobblers were roosted and gobbling. My plan was to wait till the gobblers flew down and then start calling them. 

That plan was quickly changed when some hens opened up with the gobblers. I did soft yelping on the Woodhaven Real Hen box call  which seemed to aggravate the hens. They started cutting and yelping. The gobblers joined in and shook the oranges on the trees in the groves.

Before long the gobblers were on the ground. The hens remained in the trees yelping and cutting. I continued to call to the hens in case they flew down. The fog was very thick limiting our vision to about 80 yards. The gobblers sounded like they were getting closer. Then Sam said, "I think I see them coming through the fog." It was as though they were coming out for there last performance. 

They cleared the fog and I saw that both gobblers had nice beards. Brett was in the other blind with Sean Kelleher and Jon Eason. Sean was waiting with his shot gun in case the opportunity arose for him to take a gobbler after I shot one with my bow. 

Both gobblers stopped at 50 yards and took a good look at the decoys. I switched to my mouth call and yelped at them. After a 15 second stare down the front gobbler broke out of strut and marched in without any hesitation. The second gobbler followed right behind. 

At 15 yards I drew my bow and followed the strutting gobbler. As he reached the jake decoys I placed the pin on the base of his neck and released the arrow. The gobbler went down and started flopping toward the nearby orange grove. The other gobbler just stood there looking at him.

Boom! Sean shot and missed, sending the gobbler on a run towards the other gobbler. Boom! The second shot put him down. My gobbler was headed down an grove row and after throwing the blind over I was in hot pursuit. A quick dash later I was holding my Gobbler. Sean and I had doubled on 2 nice Osceola long beards. What a way to start of the spring season.

Woodhaven Sting Team member Doug Crabtree with his 2006 Osceola longbeard. Called in with a Woodhaven "Real Hen" box call and Doug's own signature Woodhaven Sting Team diaphragm call. Taken with his BowTech Allegiance set at 70 pounds, Eastern ACC arrows and a Grim Reaper Broadheads 1 3/4" Razor Tip.
 

In Florida we are hunting with David Mills of Zolfo Springs, Florida in Central Florida's Osceola wild turkey country. David is an immediately likable guy and makes you feel at home from the get go.  David has thousands of acres available to hunt Florida Osceolas. He understands this unique species of wild turkey and knows his extensive area like the preverbal back of his hand. David is now part of the Woodhaven Sting Team and is hosting them on this hunt. To contact David about Osceola hunts, bow or shotgun, phone 1-863-990-9087.

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