So me and Mikey are out a hour before sunrise. We sneak up this almost vertical cliffside to get under this incredible roost site with an estimated 40 birds roosting on it. I get him set up so close that when the birds pitch down out of the tree to land, they are kicking dust and pine needles on us when they hit the ground. There are almost a dozen gobblers of various ages in full strut on all sides of us. We are in like Flynn!
The birds start heading up the hill to our left and the last to start up the hill was the biggest of the gobblers. He's in full strut and standing 4 ft from Mikey. We are pinned down and our hearts are hammering away. Finally the gobbler starts to slooowwwwwllllllyyyy make his way up the hill. He stands at full strut at no more than 10 yds with his back to Mikey. Perfect set up. I've seen Mikey make this shot at his target from every position possible while sitting. This is easy-peasy. Mikey slowly draws back to full draw. The full fan blocks the gobbler's view giving the hunter every opportunity to take his time with the shot.
I hear a slight exhalation just at the instant of release followed by this sickening fabric slap-scrape and the arrow bloops to the ground only halfway to the bird. The string caught his sleeve! But incredibly, the gobbler just stands there NOT MOVING!!!
"Shoot again!" I whisper at a tone just a bit quieter than a full-throated scream. Mikey whispers back, "I only brought the one arrow".
There ain't no figuring this guy some times, ya know?