Todd Connected

Here it is Sunday morning and we had 3 days with 3 great hunts and all caught on camera.  We have been hunting hard and it was time for Todd to connect with a good bird.  We first started out at the same food plot as we did yesterday but hoping for better luck and to also see some more birds.  Its a secluded little food plot that Todd put in last year, after clearing out some tall trees and rota tilling some of the ground to get a better soil foundation for the seed he was planting.  The food plot has turned out to be a very good spot, not just for deer like he had planned but also for those turkeys we were chasing at this time of year.  Well we had our last of the Bullheads on the Victory arrow and unfortunately we are now 0-4 with 4 busted blades on those arrows.

We stopped in at Todd's house for a quick breakfast that his awesome wife quickly put together and then we were off singing and flinging.  We had a couple farms that we had permission to hunt and it was Todd's decision to go back to the same farm that his dad shot a nice bird just a couple days prior.

We set up over looking a hay field just on the edge where a two track was connected to the field going back to some timber.  We put out 2 decoys, one was a hen and the other was the Thunder Chicken with a full mature fan.  We set those up just in the field edge like they were just coming out of the timber down the two track and just entering the field. We made a couple calls and right away a bird gobbled about 250 yards all the way across the open hay field up on top of the ridge line across from us.  We were tucked into the Double Bull Blind trying to situate the cameras and making sure we were on the same page when this all goes down.

The Tom entered the field on the east side and we were on the west side.  We set up the blind behind some big trees to stop the sun from coming in the window and showing our movements or our white faces.  After getting everything the way we wanted we noticed more birds came down from the ridge top across from us and were making their way over to our setup.

I had been filming the big bird for quite some time as I could see him from the moment he came into the field.  After about 40 minutes the bird was within bow range and coming closer.   The turkey was a mature bird and was coming all the way in looking to fight our decoy when Todd released the arrow and struck the bird at about 10 yards.  The bird did not now what hit him and again the Bloodrunner and Mathews combination did its job and took down the mature Tom within 20 yards.

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning and God was shining down on us and blessed us with this fully mature Tom with 1 1/4 inch thick spurs and a 9 inch beard to go with it.  He was definitely an old wise bird that finally met his match.


     


     April 29,
        2012

Jim's on the Board

After a nice quick hunt with Dave on Friday midday it was Jim's turn on Saturday morning and we were still looking to chop a head off with our new Magnus Bullhead.  It was a nice overcast day and very quiet with minimal wind.  We were again going to go to our trusty food plot behind Todd's house where we have pictures of some giant toms strutting and showcasing for all those hens.

The morning started off just as planned as the gobblers made there way from the roost and into the food plot.  We were trying to get a gobbler to stop in front of our GoPro that we had set up 20 yards in front of our Double Bull Blind.  We got what we wanted and it was my turn to make it happen.  The big strutter stopped just to the right of the GoPro and was doing circles around and around not giving me a clear clean shot at his head.  I was at full draw for just over a minute when I told Todd to "get on the other bird."  With his neck stretched out and a perfect shot opportunity with the Magnus Bullhead,  I settled the pin and......... missed.  Just shot right of him and the bird took off just to the west edge of the food plot.  

I was reaching for another arrow when I heard Todd say "use the other broadhead."  So I grabbed the arrow that had the 2 blade Bloodrunner on it and loaded up the Mathews bow for hopefully another chance at the same bird.  Todd said quietly "I'm on him."  I pulled back the string tight to my cheek and settled the pin between the wing butts of the turkey who stood at an estimated 30 yards facing straight away from us.  Thwack the arrow hit perfect and the bird ran about 15 yards before falling on camera.  

During the interview on camera talking about how it all went down we realized that the first shot with the Bullhead hit the green strap on the Double Bull Blind and put about a 1/4 inch slit in the strap.  So far we are 0-3 with the BullHead but we will give it another try.  All in all it was a great hunt and another bird down in the state of Michigan.

              April 28 
                       2012

I want to thank my camera man and hunting partner for allowing me to take the first bird off his food plot.  He was gracious enough to hand me the bow after he missed on 2 opportunities at 2 good birds.  I can only hope I can return the favor and get him a shot at a good bird with about a week to go in the first season. 

Dave Coates Strikes First

Who Needs Camouflage!

It was about 2:30 when I stopped at a new piece of ground we gained permission on just last week.  I wanted to see if I could hear a bird since it was the first day that the wind was not blowing super hard.  I must have hit the right note because I heard a thunder gobble through the woods.  I ran out of there as fast as I could without being seen.

When I got to Todd's house Dave was washing his truck and Todd was packing up the kids for a doctors visit.  I said, "Dave grab your gun and let's go.  I have a hot bird looking for love."  Dave was in jeans and a sweatshirt and I said, "It doesn't matter, we will pop up the Double Bull Blind."

It was a great spot for Dave to be able to walk in and sit quickly due to his ankle surgery and lack of mobility.  We set up just in the woods about 50-60 yards from the truck and before we new it the bird was back and looking for Mrs. Right.

The entire hunt lasted 10 minutes max and I caught it all on camera.  I did however use the little camera by hand because we did not have time to get everything set. 

Dave told me that he has been waking up at 5:00 am all week and was disappointed in the lack of birds he was seeing or hearing.  I was glad to see him get a bird and also glad to see our new spot pan out.  First time in and one bird down.  Keep hunting hard and shoot straight.

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Opening Day

We are all set up with the cameras rolling.  Beautiful morning.  Enjoy your hunt.

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Day before the opener of the 2012 Turkey Season

The night before the opener of Michigan's 2012 Spring Turkey season and we have found ourselves with a couple more on the hit list.  We have a pretty good chance at harvesting a bird in the morning as long as the weather cooperates and with a little love from the man upstairs.  Here is a couple more photos to get you excited for what ever hunt you have here in the great state of Michigan.

   

These Pictures are AWESOME!!!

   

Stay up to date as Jim & Todd chase down those Michigan Thunder Birds.  We hope everyone has a safe and successful season.  Good Luck and Gobble Gobble.............................................BANG.

Turkey Hit List

The hit list is set and were patiently waiting for the opener of turkey season.  Just a few more days away.  It opens on Monday, April 23

Todd raked of his food plot that he planted last fall and the birds like to come in and strut looking for hens after a long night nestled high in a tree.  We put out the camera to get a few photos of the birds he has been seeing to get a closer look.  To us they look like mature birds and definetly shooters.  We will be in the blind Monday dark and early with high anticipation.   It will be a long couple of days before the opener but in the mean time we will scout a few more locations and enjoy a birthday party on the side.  Todd's daughter Tana turned 4 years old today (April 17) but they will throw a little party on Saturday before the opener.  So we have birds to find and cake to eat.  

Happy Birthday to Tana and Happy Hunting to all.  

New Intro to our Videos

I was playing around with this and thought it might look good somewhere in the introduction to our hunts.

Let me know your thoughts and if it would be a good intro to our videos.