On Saturday, my four year old daughter and I headed out back to a spot where I had roosted a bird the night before. We got set up in the dark within about 50 yards of the tree I knew he was in. He hadn't gobbled the night before and didn't gobble that morning until late. Once he did, I gave a couple of soft yelps, he flew down about 18 yards away and it was over. He was a great 4+ yo bird with 1 3/8" spurs, a thick 9" beard and weighed 22 lbs.
We went home and back to bed for a little bit, got up ate breakfast and got a call from my cousin that he wanted to go out. We headed to the other side of the block where I knew there had been some birds hanging out. Once we got set up, I let my daughter do some calling as well. After about fifteen minutes, I thought I heard a gobble way off in the woods. A minute later, sure enough one fired up closer. Emma-Marie just lit right up. She called some more and more than one bird gobbled back. Within a couple more minutes, three mature birds came into sight. It was a few minutes until my cousin had a clear shot. In the meantime, these birds were milling about, gobbling and going in and out of strut. Emma-Marie was beside herself. She stayed still and quiet though. Finally the shot came and another bird was down. I figured a two year old with them grouped up, but it was at least a 3 yo bird with 1 1/8" spurs, a 9" beard and weighed 18 lbs.
It was a phenomenal morning and I was thrilled to share it with my daughter. I cannot believe how she is taking to turkey hunting. She is as excited to get up to hunt as I am. She stays quiet and still. She is learning the different call sounds as she listens to turkeys on my wife's computer (this was of her own accord), and she is even learning about calling more to get the birds worked up and then backing off to keep them interested and coming to you. This is her second season of successful hunts as she was with me on the hunt when I got my New York gobbler last spring.
We went home and back to bed for a little bit, got up ate breakfast and got a call from my cousin that he wanted to go out. We headed to the other side of the block where I knew there had been some birds hanging out. Once we got set up, I let my daughter do some calling as well. After about fifteen minutes, I thought I heard a gobble way off in the woods. A minute later, sure enough one fired up closer. Emma-Marie just lit right up. She called some more and more than one bird gobbled back. Within a couple more minutes, three mature birds came into sight. It was a few minutes until my cousin had a clear shot. In the meantime, these birds were milling about, gobbling and going in and out of strut. Emma-Marie was beside herself. She stayed still and quiet though. Finally the shot came and another bird was down. I figured a two year old with them grouped up, but it was at least a 3 yo bird with 1 1/8" spurs, a 9" beard and weighed 18 lbs.
It was a phenomenal morning and I was thrilled to share it with my daughter. I cannot believe how she is taking to turkey hunting. She is as excited to get up to hunt as I am. She stays quiet and still. She is learning the different call sounds as she listens to turkeys on my wife's computer (this was of her own accord), and she is even learning about calling more to get the birds worked up and then backing off to keep them interested and coming to you. This is her second season of successful hunts as she was with me on the hunt when I got my New York gobbler last spring.
