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My son's 1st Gobbler!!


LPJR

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What a morning............

 

For starters, two weeks ago my son and I put out a blind in preparation for his youth turkey hunt. Taking advice from my best friend, we raked and cleared a trail leading up to it for stealth purposes, because the roost trees are less than 100 yards from the blind. Also, I cut three small "slits" in the camo mesh front window (which proved to be very beneficial for this hunt). The 20 gauge was patterned at the farm last week and the stage was set. This morning could not have come soon enough.

 

It was raining steadily before sunrise today and we quickly realized that the blind was the way to go! At 5:15 I placed two decoys at approximately 18 yards in front of the blind and we settled in. Several scenarios and possibilities were discussed while waiting for the morning to "wake up." The Mossberg was positioned on the field pod and the gun was placed through the "middle cut slot".  As It became brighter we heard several faint yelps from the roost. At 5:40 the woods became on fire with gobblers hammering from 4 different directions! Christopher laughed when one of the birds could barely "squeak" out a gobble, almost timid.  I explained that the bird was most likely a jake trying to act like a big guy!

 

I began with some soft purrs and clucks on the slate after pretending to "fly down" using my hat flapping it on my chest, just to let the birds know we were there. At each touch of the slate the birds double and triple gobbled. I looked at my son who was smiling ear to ear behind his facemask! I do think that this anticipation and vocal displays is one of the greatest experiences in the woods, especially for a young hunter!

 

One bird could be seen strutting on the limb 80 feet off the ground, 80 yards away, and was fanning and gobbling constantly. The numerous hens became to get more aggressive while still on the roost and one bird after another began to pitch down. Not towards us, but at an angle away! Soon it was a party in one of the adjoining fields approximately 100 yards away with strutting, fanning, and gobbling displays in full effect! I decided to become more aggressive, switched calls and began to cut on a box call (that I have used since I was my son's age). This change in pitch got everyone's attention, and a hen began to search for me mimicking my calls.  However she walked away from us at an angle yelping constantly....Suddenly, from about 60 yards away a huge gobble exploded and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, lol! Three more gobblers hammered away getting closer with each aggressive cut I made....

 

I told Christopher, "THEY ARE COMING BUDDY!!" and immediately noticed bright, ice blue heads bobbing through the woods headed our way. Because the gun was positioned in the middle slot of the mesh window I told him freeze and let them come. He settled onto the gun and said "I can't see them!" I whispered to him that any second he will see the coolest "blue" he has ever seen in the woods because it looked like they were headed right for our decoys directly in front of us.

 

Seconds later, four long beards were strutting less than 12 yards from the blind, directly in front of us. The THUNDEROUS gobbles that erupted from all 4 birds feet away from us were felt in my chest. This is no exaggeration and was the coolest thing! Christopher had slipped the safety off just before the birds came into view and was already settled onto the stock............ KA-BOOOOOOOMM!! His 1st ever bird was down at 12 yards! The other birds flew off only about 10 feet having no idea what just happened. And they still gobbled and strutted their way up the hill looking for the hen which by then, got out of dodge, LOL!

 

From the preparation of todays youth hunt, to the anticipation and excitement of his morning, to the look on my son's face when the bird was down, turkey hunting is possibly one of the most powerful and moving experiences in the woods.......We are fortunate each and every chance when the opportunity to be out together is given to us.

 

The bird turned out to be gorgeous. We gathered our gear and headed to Stokes Sport Shop to weigh it in. I soon found out that Stokes no longer checks in turkeys and we were directed to the Hainesville General Store a few miles away, an official check station. The gobbler weighed in at 16 lbs, had an 8" beard and matching 5/8" spurs.

 

Apologies for the novel again, I just cannot be any more proud of my son at this time. He truly kept his composure at the moment of truth, which I must say was no easy task with everything happening so quickly.

 

Best wishes for a safe and enjoyable 2016 turkey season!

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Edited by LPJR
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Apologies for the novel again, I just cannot be any more proud of my son at this time.

 

???  keep 'em coming, posts like this make the site what it is!

 

Congrats to the young fella.  Lifetime memory made this morning.

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I checked my first turkey there in 1981!  Congrats to him.  Good shooting :up:

That is great! The employees were very nice and eager to check in my son's bird!

 

Definitely going to go back in for breakfast, everything looked awesome!

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You guys are on a roll, Dad!

 

This quick action hunt is a reward for the long (but successful) deer season you had!

 

Congrats to you both!

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