I packed all my gear for opening morning with my alarm set for 4 am ... Well turned out I set it for 4 pm and woke way too late. My trail cams were showing the most activity around 4-6 pm so I headed out around 2 and as soon as I entered the field I was busted by 3 birds around the area my blind was set up (approx 400 yards away). They headed off into the bush. I quickly got in and set up my deecs and settled in. I waited about an hour and made some soft calls. Around 3:30 without calling I heard a gobble behind me in the last years bean field but couldn't see anything and didn't want to move around. I waited a few minutes and made a couple soft calls and nothing. I figured the Tom didn't like what he seen and headed off. Over the next hour I made a few calls with no responses. At around 5 pm assuming it was the same Tom sounded off now directly behind my blind. I decided that I would not call as I am sure he could see my deecs and then nothing ... Again I figured that he decided my setup wasn't for him and left. I made a few calls over the next hour with no responses. I was entertained watching 3 hens that had entered the field feeding and dust bathing. At 6:10 pm I caught movement to my right side. It was the Tom he was approx 5 yards from my blind. He started to strut and slowly made his way to my 1/2 strut Jake and laying hen. At 20 yards broadside I let loose. I heard the reassuring thwack as the bolt hit the Tom he shot straight up in the air about 3 feet and then ran back towards my blind and stopped about 20 yards from my blind and laid down. I watched waiting for him to expire. I loaded up again (***The RX was soooo easy to load in the blind***) and waited. The Tom then stood up and started to move away from me. I let loose again and spined him and down he went. It was now approx 6:10 pm.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO EASTHILL OUTDOORS as I am entered in the Easthill Outdoors Turkey Classic and called them because they closed at 7 pm. They advised that someone would stick around and wait for me to get there. These guys and gals are awesome and are all about customer service.
I was a little concerned that my 1st bolt didnt do its job and when I recovered my bolt I seen that the mechanical had only deployed 1 blade properly. I had to leave the broadhead from the spine inside and when I recovered it back in my shop the mechanical had failed again. I thought that maybe I was not setting them up properly but I confirmed with Easthill that it wasn't my error - Time for different broadheads.
Take care and stay safe all and best of luck afield~!
Cheers,
Chesteer
Last edited by Sandman on Sat Apr 27, 2024 6:34 pm, edited 6 times in total.
Craig and John at Easthills Archery are first class gents.
I suggest SWAT broadheads next and problem solved.
Contact me for more info on SWAT heads in Canada.
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
A touch of frost has heightened your awareness and your heart steadily beats in anticipation. Your senses are suddenly alert to the movement on the forest floor and you realize that the moment of truth is at hand.
I apologize for the graphic photographs but here are the broadheads as I recovered them - The 1st was in the ground and I realize that it could have occurred when I pulled it out but the second is still stuck in the turkey as I found it ....
I also video taped the shots on my GoPro but I haven't had time to go through it yet and will post later.
It is possible the Rage blade closed up when removing arrow from the ground after a pass through. I have had this happen and know a couple other fellas reporting the same.
Did you have a 2 cutting blade exit?
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
It is possible the Rage blade closed up when removing arrow from the ground after a pass through. I have had this happen and know a couple other fellas reporting the same.
Did you have a 2 cutting blade exit?
The exit I didnt photograph but as I said I realize that the 1st BH could have been a result of me pulling it from the ground but the second pic is as I found it in the bird - I couldn't pull it out in the field so I unscrewed it.
and woke way too late. My trail cams were showing the most activity around 4-6 pm so I headed out around 2 and as soon as I entered the field I was busted by 3 birds around the area my blind was set up (approx 400 yards away). They headed off into the bush. I quickly got in and set up my deecs and settled in. I waited about an hour and made some soft calls. Around 3:30 without calling I heard a gobble behind me in the last years bean field but couldn't see anything and didn't want to move around. I waited a few minutes and made a couple soft calls and nothing. I figured the Tom didn't like what he seen and headed off. Over the next hour I made a few calls with no responses. At around 5 pm assuming it was the same Tom sounded off now directly behind my blind. I decided that I would not call as I am sure he could see my deecs and then nothing ... Again I figured that he decided my setup wasn't for him and left. I made a few calls over the next hour with no responses. I was entertained watching 3 hens that had entered the field feeding and dust bathing. At 6:10 pm I caught movement to my right side. It was the Tom he was approx 5 yards from my blind. He started to strut and slowly made his way to my 1/2 strut Jake and laying hen. At 20 yards broadside I let loose. I heard the reassuring thwack as the bolt hit the Tom he shot straight up in the air about 3 feet and then ran back towards my blind and stopped about 20 yards from my blind and laid down. I watched waiting for him to expire. I loaded up again (***The RX was soooo easy to load in the blind***) and waited. The Tom then stood up and started to move away from me. I let loose again and spined him and down he went. It was now approx 6:10 pm. 
