BOWHUNT FOR THE RIO GRANDE
by Robert Hoague

Turkey Hunting With Billy Don
I am bowhunting at Billy Don's Wild Horse Prairie Ranch in Burnet, Texas. 

Apr 27 - Afternoon

The new area Russell dropped me off at is on the side of a sprawling valley that has sparely spaced trees, cactus and brush. A fence is 50 yards away to the rear of where I set up the blind.  The first turkey I saw was this hen at 2:26.

Gobbles. Two hours later. From the opposite side of the valley.

A hen, walking at a steady pace, came into view about 90 yards away. It walked a half circle and passed me at 42 yards (on the Nikon Lazer 800 rangefinder). A big longbeard was in tow some 300 yards behind the hen. I waited until it was closer and gave him a volley of cuts and yelps on the Woodhaven aluminum slate. The longbeard slammed on the brakes in an open spot and I caught it on the camera as he was coming into strut.

Quickly, I checked him with the Lazer 800 and he was closer than I thought, 39 yards.

He took a few steps closer and I gave him three cuts of Woodhaven aluminum. I sat the slate down and grabbed the rangefinder ... 32 yards ... better ... but still to far for a comfortable shot.

This was another mature, fat bellied, monster gobbler with a long beard.  I watched him carefully and went back to the slate for some soft yelps and purrs. I needed another 8 to 10 yards out of him. I hooked my release on the BowTech Tribute's string loop and patiently played the waiting game.

Finally the big Tom started to move ... in the direction the hen had gone. I didn't call after him, he already didn't choose me. 

Fifteen minutes later three hens came down the woods two track road and walked past me.

More gobbles sounded from the area in the woods to my left, across the valley and on the top of its ridge. This valley area had one heck of a lot of gobbler activity.

I saw two longbeards on the ridge moving along and occasionally stopping to gobble. A single longbeard came straight down the hill and went into the trees to my right.

In total I saw 19 hens in picture taking range. But I don't want to load you up with hen pics, you know how they all look so similar. But here is a unique one ... a Bearded Hen.

Gobbles continued during the rest of the afternoon. The Gobblers were really on the move. But they weren't interested in my calling today.

But I have to tell you that today was a super day in the wild turkey woods. The weather was good and wild turkeys were moving. At roost time I heard gobbles from every direction made by roosted gobblers. What with all the hen movement in the area there will be gobblers moving through here as well. But that will be tomorrow.

Life is good.

To This Hunt's Home Page
 

Billy Don Van Cleave

Billy Don Van Cleave's Wild Horse Prairie Ranch We are bowhunting Rio Grande Wild Turkey with Billy Don. His ranch is the home of the Bowhunting.net Annual Bowhunt in October. He has bowhunts for trophy bucks, does and wild hogs. Plus Exotics: black buck, red stag, rams, aoudad and more. Billy Don, P.O. Box 199, Satin, TX 76685 Call: 254-749-6119 Fax: 254-546-2709 Email: bdvanc@aol.com Web: Wild Horse Prairie Ranch

To This Hunt's Home Page

Billy Don Van Cleave's Wild Horse Prairie Ranch Billy Don, P.O. Box 199, Satin, TX 76685 Call: 254-749-6119 Fax: 254-546-2709 Email: bdvanc@aol.com Web: Wild Horse Prairie Ranch