2005 Grand Slam 6-Pack
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Day 8 (Mar 28) - High Winds and Gobblers

Morning Hunt

Windy ... is what it was as I staked in my Double Bull blind down and got inside. I set up on a corner so I could see two of the roads that go around the edge of the grove. A decoy was in each road 8 yards from me. I called constantly, with the Aluminum Woodhaven Slate. The Aluminum carries the farthest of any call and I wanted to be heard as far as possible, just in case there were any birds to hear me through the wind noise.

Daylight came and the wind blew until 7:30 -- and it shifted gears from high to medium. I called on the Aluminum for a minute and waited.

Across the adjacent cow pasture, 300 yards away, several black, turkey objects walked into view along the far edge. I cut excitedly on the Aluminum call and went into a volley of yelps. 

The birds stopped.

I cut again. Louder. They switched directions -- the right way too -- toward me. 

Immediately I closed the T-2 Double Bull windows behind me to block my silhouette. Because I had stopped calling they stopped walking. So I poured it on, loud. They liked it and started running. I hammered it to them, the Aluminum yelps and cuts ringing in my ears.

When they were almost to the boundary fence I shut up. They stopped at the fence 20 yards away, looking at the Buckwing hen decoy. It's head was moving up and down just a little, in the breeze. It seemed to say, "come on boys." There were 5 gobblers and I wanted a picture of them the worst way.

The gobblers ducked under the fence. No time for a picture now. I gripped my bow handle and hooked up my release.  As the birds approached my decoy (8 yards). I put the top pin on the one with the longest beard and looked at his legs and neck, and moved the pin to a spot between the two. And shot.

The impact knocked the gobbler down. He jumped to his feet and raced back under the fence with the others. He looked unhurt. But he was...

He dropped. Yes! 

The other 4 made a U-Turn back to the fence and crossed it 50 yards from me and entered the orange grove. 

EQUIPMENT COMMENTS:
This gear did the job today. Just knowing I have equipment of this quality gives me extra confidence that I can get the Grand Slam this Spring.

• Woodhaven Aluminum Slate - The hero of this hunt. These gobblers were 300 yards away and the wind was blowing. Being heard was a challenge and I relied on its extra punch, hoping the sound would reach them. The last 200 yards they were on a dead run, each trying to get ahead of the other, and get to the hen first.
• INNERLOC EXP - The broadhead gave this Osceola gobbler the K.O. punch. The devastating 3-blade cut knocked him down for the count in 40 yards. In my opinion expandable heads are the best broadheads for wild turkey and the Innerloc EXP is the one of the best.
• Venom Peep Sight - The more I hunt with it the more I like it. Its See-Through Blue color and the perfect shape of the peep's hole makes sighting effortless. Simply put, this peep groups my broadheads tighter than anything. And you need that with turkeys.
• BowTech Patriot VFT is the man. Smooth drawing. Rocket fast. Hits 'em hard. This fine bow is all good. Set at 64 pounds this bow shoots in the 270's.
• Fine-Line's Hunter Bowquiver is the perfect match for ground blind bowhunting. The feature that no other has is its Nock Bar. The nock end of your arrows fit in it and you do not get dirt in your nocks. Also I use the nock bar to support the bottom of the bow and lean the bow against the side of the blind, with an arrow nocked and ready.
• Double Bull T 2 Ground Blind - I set the blind in the corner, on the road around the orange grove, so I could see both roads. It was 15 yards from the closest orange tree, right in plain view. The 5 gobblers never noticed it. This blind makes turkey hunting possible with the bow.
• I used blue EZE Eye Arrow Wraps with Tre Blue Camo Gateway Feathers. to make a special set of arrows for this year's Grand Slam hunt.
• I fletched them myself on Easton CarbonAeros in the Arizona EZ Carbon Fletch with straight fletch arms. It was fun and I have unique arrows just for this event.
• Buckwing Hen Decoy - This decoy looks like a hen. I put the stake in the hole nearest it's head because I've had better results with an erect posture. The turkeys got right in its face.
• Thermacell - Florida just might be the place where they make mosquitoes for the entire U.S. and with the extra standing water from this year's 3 hurricanes it was the year of the Florida Mosquito. Thermacell runs them off, period. It does an outstanding job. 

Sponsors For The 2005 Grand Slam 6-Pack
Our Grand Slam 6-Pack with the bow created excitement with several manufacturers and they stepped up to the plate to sponsor the event.

SPONSORS

- BowTech - bows  - Innerloc Broadheads - Double Bull - blinds - Carolina North Rope Ratchet - EASTON arrows - Woodhaven Custom Calls

- Pro-Ears hearing   enhancement & protection - Fine-Line Archery peep   sights & bowquivers - Arizona EZ-Fletch -Venom Peep Sight - Rotaflex Archery Exerciser

- Sticks N' Limbs camouflage - Pro Release Release Aids - Free Bowhunting Video - Freddie Bear Sports   Assorted bowhunting gear - MyTopo.com - maps

OUTFITTERS:

- Fred Lutger's Wilderness Hunts Illinois - Wells Creek Outfitters Easterns