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Well looks like I'm having trouble geting pictures to post. Both my boys tagged out today . Tom's with over an Inch spurs and 7 to 9 inch beards. Both killed 14 to 17 yards. It's late so I will put ip a better story and pictures if they work.

It was the best vacation day I have had in over a decade.
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Congratulations

Awesome Congratulations

Great deal you should be proud, I bet they had their skivvies on this morning lol

well done for sure

you wont forget this day for sure!

That is great!!
Memories for ever.

That’s awesome!!! Congrats to all!! Can’t wait to see pics of the birds and the smiles behind them!!

Pictures added.

Story time.

Last week wensday we got up and drove down to the state forest an hour away before daylight so we could lesson for the Tom's to gobble when the sun came up and marke them on the base map app so this weekend we knew where to head. We marked 4.

Saturday at every location we had turkeys marked there was 2 to 3 cars parked. Last year youth seasion I only saw 3 Cas the whole weekend.

So when I found a place with no vehicle i pulled in and hit a call and a tom responded very far away . Over about 45 mins we worked our way back to him with him not working to us a bit. Finally we are at the crest of a hill in this large woods and he sounds to be within 60 yards of the top of the hill. As we crest the hill BANG and shot hits the trees all around me and some hits my youngest sleeve. Apparently some other youth was on the other side of that turkey with the turkey between us. Luckily it was far enough no damage was done. We didn't let them know we were there and just went back over the hill and back to the truck and down the road looking for the next spot.

After 4 more stops that didn't have vehicles we had another Tom respond so far back it was barely auditable but I figured better give it a shot. The woods was a bit more open and as we approached I thought yep going to get this one. When we were under 100 yards fron it but still out of sight due to undergrowth my youngest see to other hunters angering in twords the birds. Shortly the Tom went quiet and we went back to the truck.

Geting frustrated but trying not to show it heading down the road we stop and talk toa nother guy in his truck he was mushroom hunting and just came out of the woods. I noticed he was very near where the last Tom was the way the road wound around and could also be what made th Tom go quiet.

Down the road we went. Now not having any confidence in the next 4 miles becuse we didn't hear a single Tom when we were listening when scouting I was surprised when we heard one on our 3rd stop. Again it was far away and we would never had heard it if not from the was sound travels down that valley.
We were off. As we got closer we heard 2 tome different directions. The closest one was going to be a hard approach during to the gully and brush. So we decided to go for the easer looking aproch bird even if it was further and attempt to circle back above the close one after rwe got the further bird.

As we slipped up and called it became clear there were 2 or 3 Tom's at the further bird. The ground sloped up hill and growth was thick luckey to see 15 yards. We slipped down a deer trail and tried to find the cleares spots and call the birds in but they would not come any closer. So we would move/ craw up 10 to 15 yards and try again. We did that over and over. Finally my 12 year old can see the Tom's red head and it move when gobbling but no clear shot. It got even thicker becuse ther was a narrow clearing and the light coming in made it very thick. The bird was hanging up in that clearing. We moved closer at a snails pace looking for a way through the thick brush. We were spread out 5 to 10 yards apart. I looked over to check with my 12 year old on his progress and what he could see just in time to see his raised gun recoil and a Tom's head go sidewalk and wings start flapping. Bird was around 16 yards. As he went to get his bird he was hund up in brush after a step or two and then his demeanor changed. I looked up to see another Tom taking off.from near his down bird. A few cluks and yelps and he turned around came back checked out his flowing friend. I Called again and his head shot up giving my 10 year old a view of it and his gun came up bang. 2nd bird down... two birds down in probably a minute on public ground opening day of youth. After such a rough start we were truly blessed with another great opportunity.

Both shot with 20g 3" winchester #5 turkey loads and Carlson turkey chokes.

I had broke down and bought some tss federal and herters to try and patterned them and I don't know how it dose it but the patterns were very tight. The herters were tighter patterns and more even. They also had more recoil and were cheaper than the federal. Definitely impressive
Both tss loads shot patterns several inches smaller than the #5 winchester loads with the herters the best of the 3. 35 yard patterns with the #5 pit 5 pellets in a 2,5" circle and patterns a litle over 20" the herters I quit counting over 25 and the patern was only 14" or so. Absolutely amazing federal was touch wider and more holes in the pattern but very impressive.

Ultimately I had the boys hunt with the #5 for a few reasons. 1 they were much cheaper I and get 20 rounds for the price of 5. 2 I figured we would not be shooting over 40 yards and with patterns like the herters and kids being excited shooting field conditions the larger patterns may be better.

Now if I were serious about turkied had a dedicated gun and hunting them myself the herters tss would be what I would shoot.

Cool story. Tell your boys congrats

Dandies !!!

Congrats to both !!!!

Good deal.

That is a morning to Treasure. Congratulations to all of you.

Nice job!! Fine gobblers!

I didn't take measurements but beards were about 7 to 9" one was an inch and a half longer than the other. The bird with the shorter beard weighted enough more I really noticed it. Noth had spurs about the same length probably a between an inch and inch and a quarter.

Outstanding write up and hunt!!
Memories!!!

Sometimes it all just comes together! Congrats to you and your boys.

That is a really cool story, bet the boys had a blast! Good job

They did literally and figuratively. Fun for sure, and 3 actual blast. 2 killed the tirkies and one that peppered my youngest and bounced shot through the trees around me and my 12 year old. I told them on the drive down how turkey hunting is how a lot of people get shot and pointed out why, full camo turkey decoys and making turkey sounds makes it have a danger factor to keep in mind and be aware of. On our first attempt the boys saw it first hand.

Since I don't have much time and my oldest boys turkey tail and beard from last year is still in the freezer I figured I wouldn't get to doing these two anytime soon and they were more likely to get messes up in the freezer than getting made into a display I droped them off at a taxidermist. My youngest picked out an oak mount fan, beard, and spur display. My 12 year old picked the same but also with the wings.

The taxidermist was recommended by a friend and a 15 min drop off turned into a 2 hr Visit with new friend. He is a hunting full and we share a lot of other interests as well. Yet another blessing of the weekend.

they will never forget that hunt , wtg