Awesome morning!
Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:28 pm
I took my son on his first turkey hunt this morning. My dad accompanied us. We were greeted at daybreak by two birds on the roost. I thought this is good, he hears gobbling on his first hunt. I set up with him in my lap, and to make a long story short, two strutters came within 15-20 steps and he didn't get a shot...needed about 5 more turkey steps. They swung to our right and I was able to get my gun from leaning against a tree and shoot one of the birds. It was great...he got to hear a bunch of gobbling, see them strut, hear them drum, and see success on his first hunt.
But it gets better, after a few quick pics, we headed to my other spot in hopes of getting him one. I left my gun in the truck this time. I couldn't believe it when we found 4 strutters in a pasture. We set up on the road leading to the field, about 100 yards from them. His grandfather sat 30 yards behind us and watched the show. The toms with 6-8 hens came in the road and gobbled and strutted at 60 yards for 20 minutes or so. We even watched 2 of them top hens. The boss tom then led the hens into the woods, and as luck would have it, the other three slowly strutted our way to find "that other hen". When the lead tom broke strut and stood erect at 20 steps I told my son to shoot, but then quickly said wait when he lowered his head and continued bobbing our way. They were single file between 10-15 steps when I whispered to him to shoot the lead bird. BOOM! The lead tom turned a backflip and the second one was flopping as well! I jumped up and grabbed them both, laughing out loud. Not one, but two "first turkeys". You can flame me if you want, I know the rules, but I'd gladly take the heat for the memory of this morning.
But it gets better, after a few quick pics, we headed to my other spot in hopes of getting him one. I left my gun in the truck this time. I couldn't believe it when we found 4 strutters in a pasture. We set up on the road leading to the field, about 100 yards from them. His grandfather sat 30 yards behind us and watched the show. The toms with 6-8 hens came in the road and gobbled and strutted at 60 yards for 20 minutes or so. We even watched 2 of them top hens. The boss tom then led the hens into the woods, and as luck would have it, the other three slowly strutted our way to find "that other hen". When the lead tom broke strut and stood erect at 20 steps I told my son to shoot, but then quickly said wait when he lowered his head and continued bobbing our way. They were single file between 10-15 steps when I whispered to him to shoot the lead bird. BOOM! The lead tom turned a backflip and the second one was flopping as well! I jumped up and grabbed them both, laughing out loud. Not one, but two "first turkeys". You can flame me if you want, I know the rules, but I'd gladly take the heat for the memory of this morning.
