So I need a nap but had to show off a bit first. The boy and I took the day off work and school to do a bit of field research and he connected with his first ever turkey!







Here is the tale of the hunt.

Got in the blind as dawn cracked, let the woods settle down and hit a few quiet tree yelps and had two different birds answer. Waited and heard one fly down, a few quiet clucks and boom one answers then the other, one close one out a ways in the ravine. Talked very little but had good responses but neither sounded like they were moving our way. Gave 'em the silent treatment for 30 min then called no responce, so we decided to just stay quiet and wait. It was 6:30 now. First two came in at 8am spotted me while I was lowering the pressure in my bladder, but I was well camoed and not sky lined so I froze till they went behind a tree and I dove into the blind. Then told The Boy to get ready. They came to the field edge at ten yards but didn't seem to like the jake decoy, they strutted in the brush and headed out slowly. Then it got real boring. The Boy fell asleep with his head on my lap and I listened to a audio book with one ear bud in. About noon a hen hit the field at 150 yards I woke The Boy and quickly the Jake followed her out. She was feeding away so he, very quietly at first started talking to him with the slate, got his attention but he didn't seem interested in plastic when he had a living, breathing hen to bother. So I, hit him with two quick yelps and he took a couple steps, head high, our direction. Then stood looking over the spread of 3 hens, one feeder, one alert, and one breeder, started to turn back and I grabbed my slate and fired a few quick cuts and a yelp. Had his attention again. This continued for about 45 min till we coaxed him to within 50 yards. It was at that point he just had to get a good look at the breeder and came troting in double time, at 14 yards he stood tall and The boy says, "when should I shoot?" I told him as soon as your on him. BOOM, Flop, and The Boy was out the blind before I could set my call down. Then it was all hugs, high fives and pictures. He wanted to field dress it and did, as well as cutting it up for the freezer when we got home. He has the tail and beard drying on a board and has plans to mount it with grandpa as soon as it's ready.

He is at wrestling practice now and plans on going with me tomorrow to see if I can get my first as well

Good going!

That's some quality field research!!! And some great findings!!!

Good job!!!

nice work

Better than work or school any day

That's awesome. Sure beats school and work. Congrats young man!

Love it! WTG

Good job young fella

Good job

Congrats to the young lad.
Memory of a lifetime.

That ah boy!!! Hooked for life now.

NICE JOB!

Congrats...

Congratulations. I wish they would have had those kind of classes when I was in school but there weren't even any turkeys around here then. LOL

… good shootin young man

All I could see is the rust in that picture.
Sure glad I do not live in that environment anymore.

Doesn’t appear that he needs you there Vinke.

Good job young lad! Good shooting

Great bird and a great story!!!!!!! Please tell The Boy Congrats for me!

And congrats to you, Dad....you have done very well!

Moosetrot

Congrats! That’s a good memory for both of you.