Well, counting the youth day last week, my son Wil (age 9) and I had been out hunting six times this season and had been close several times, but just couldn’t close the deal.
This evening (Apri. 13), we set up on a field edge on some family property that we hunt. For the first time we were able to get into position without spooking any turkeys.
We set up in section of the field where it bottlenecks about 35 yards wide. I set Wil up under some young pines on one side, and I sat down on the other.
I yelped with a slate call shortly after we sat down, but, nothing was happening. After about 30 minutes, I tried a diaphram call with some clucks then a couple of short series of yelps.
Not two minutes later, I looked over at Wil and he was pointing down the field. I leaned way down and could see the three turkeys in the field.
Wil was wiggling his fingers under his chin which I later learned meant they had beards (don’t know where that came from).
The toms pretty much came straight toward us drumming and strutting the whole way. My line of vision was mostly blocked by some pine limbs, so I could only see bits and pieces as they got closer, two of the toms veered off towards the woods, but one kept on and got to within 30 yards of us.
At about 30 yards, he stopped and turned to join the others.
I looked over at Wil, and he was looking back at me with eyes as big as saucers under that camo mask nodding his head checking to see if it was OK to shoot.
I nodded back and he dropped the hammer on his 20-gauge. I couldn’t see the turkey, but I heard his wings flapping and saw the dust flying, so i jumped up and ran into the field just in time to see one of the other toms flogging the dead one – so I flogged him with my 10-guage.
We hooped and hollered and high fived, this was Wil’s first turkey and my second.
I’ve had the fortune to have good family members that took me hunting as a kid, and I hope to do the same for my son.
As we loaded up our toms I told him to remember days like this because they don’t come around too often. I know that I certainly will.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally posted on the NorthCarolinaSportsman.com forum, where our users can share their stories and photos.
Be the first to comment