Had an eleven day stretch at work and finally got a day off. I asked the boys what they wanted to hunt, they both chose turkeys. So we're setting in a buddies shack on his hay field, waiting for a bird and catching up. Hope you fine folks are all having a good day like we are.

Looks like you've got a great crew to hunt with, Sam. Good luck on the turkeys.

We got lucky! Young Emmett killed his second bird ever!

Congrats

Good on you DAD!

WTG Emmett!!!

very cool!

Thanks guys. He's a proud little turd right now.

It's really good to see boys enjoying hunting so much with their dad.

Keith

Good stuff Sam. Bringing them boys up right.

Nice !!!!!

That is fantastic Sam! I bet that is a "Birthday" Model 12 leaned in the corner. Also seeing as how Emmett is an established killer and able to provide meat for the table I will raise my offer to $50 for him but I will NOT include a warm Pabst with it. That was only included with the original $20 offer.

Yes sir, it's one of his birthday model 12s. As you pointed out, the more he proves himself the more his value goes up. I will consider the offer, and on one of the days when he's being a pain in the butt and I'm out of beer, you might get him bought.

Awesome

Good deal

Why would you ever run out of beer? What kind of role model are you?

Awesome job Emmett

Need to get Emmitt a pair of boots! Way to go, Emmitt!

Good job!!

Great day in the woods!

He has two pairs of boots, but I'm lucky to get him to wear either pair. He got those dang Crocs at the FTA rondy, and it's about all he wants to wear.

Obviously he takes after his Mother. If he took after you, "Pink" would be his favorite color for certain clothing articles.

Tell us about the hunt Sam.

I think you'd be a strong contender for the best T-man posts as of late!

It's not too much of a tale. I have a close friend that has a chunk of ground that he lets us hunt. He's got a hay field that is a natural travel corridor, runs north and south borders swamp on the east and west. On the south side of the field, the farm road enters about dead center, and goes through a patch of sand and gravel. We don't have a bunch of turkeys around, but they hunt the hay for clover and bugs, and they sure like to get grit out of that gravel. The shack sits about 15 yards from the edge of the gravel patch.
We got to the place about 1:00. Spent about an hour and a half trying to keep the boys quiet. I was on the phone with my bride when I saw birds coming around the field edge, already in range. I had the boys get themselves ready, barrels out the window and locked onto a bird. It was already arranged that Emmett was to shoot first since he had only killed one turkey before, and George has killed five. I told Emmett to aim where the red meets the feathers, and kill him when he was comfortable. At the shot, Emmetts bird ate dirt, and the bird George was locked onto flew straight up. Rather than wait until it landed or pick another bird, he opted for a flying shot and shot a bit wide. George was off balance and the old 12 bore put him on his butt. By the time he corrected himself and chambered another round, the birds were about 45 yards and I wouldn't let him shoot again, that load is only dense enough out to about 35 yards and I didn't want him to cripple one. Emmett commenced to hooting and hollering and ran out to claim his trophy. The remaining turkeys circled around in the brush for quite awhile after. I key keyed at them, and they responded, but wouldn't come in sight. So hopefully I can get George back out there to tag one before season closes.

That sounds like a fine hunt to me. What was he shooting for a gun and ammo? Looks like a .410 maybe.

I am laughing, was thinking about but not saying anything about the crocks. We knew that we would get so wet that we wore bread bags in our boots over the socks. Best memories, being cold and wet, after birds.

Yes sir. A little H&R .410 with an ugly adjustable stock. I've got him shooting the expensive TSS. It turns it into a 40 yard turkey gun. I wanted to give him every chance I could to kill a turkey, so I spent the money and patterned it, couldn't believe how well it did. Both turkeys he has killed were well within range for lead, but it's still comforting to know that he has a bit more range if he needs it. George was shooting an ounce and a half of lead #4s. He handles it pretty well for a nine year old, so long as he has good footing when he pulls the trigger. Today was the first time a gun put him on his butt, and it sure was funny seeing the look on his face.

That's what I thought the gun was. I use a .410 a lot around here, but I haven't used it on turkeys, but I may someday. I'm sure it's more than capable. Thanks for sharing!

ADC, it'll definitely kill them. I did a lot of patterning with the .410 when my oldest was starting to shoot. I only found two loads of lead that were dense enough at 25 yards to consider shooting at a turkey, and quite a few that were ok at 20. Of the three tungsten loads I've now patterned all would be acceptable at 35 yards, two were good at 40, and one of those would likely be good a touch further, but I'm too cheap to pattern it any more. I don't hunt with it myself, but if a guy wants more range out of the little guns, it's worth looking at. I know you like your 28 bore, TSS out of those can be downright amazing.

If I liked Turkey hunting better, I'd likely try both them. lol

.. hey ADC … you better watch yourself… done got reprimanded once today

… now you’re being anti meleagris

…. What exactly do you have against turkey

The country or the bird? I like the birds, they are tasty. I just don't like hunting them much, though I have a few times.

I shot this one when I was 19, in Laos from a thousand yards out. It was a 12ga. shot in high wind.

Sam, your posts are the best on here....please keep them coming!!

great hunt congratulations to the little hunters. my boys are bigger now but im chomping at the bit to get home its a deer hunting weekend for us.

man, that is great love the smiles

I agree and even better, we should have years of stories to come. I can't wait for the "I caught George with the neighbors Daughter AGAIN" posts too.

Love it, Sam! Tell him congratulations for me.
After an eleven-day haul at work, I am hoping you busted into some Grain Belts as well.
Hoping for a great fall for you and your boys up north.

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm glad that someone enjoys me bragging up my kids, I'm awful proud of them. I should be providing stories for a while, I've got a three year old and a one year old coming up that'll likely be doing the same stuff soon. 160, it's funny you say that about the neighbor girl, I caught him talking to the pretty young gal across the street yesterday. Coninearguy, yes, I enjoyed a Grainbelt while Emmett and I were cutting up the turkey. I cut him up with the knife your dad gave me too.

It's a "do it all" knife indeed!

Congratulations