We are 2 days plus youth season into the 2013 spring turkey season, and my 9 year old son is halfway done with his limit of Rios. Last Sunday, our NWTF chapter hosted a youth hunt. We woke up to 30 mph winds and 35 degrees. Not the best turkey hunting weather, but the kids were ready to hunt. Jake, my son, went with me and another kid, and Jake was to be the 2nd shooter, as he would have plenty of other opportunities to go turkey hunting. The other child got his first turkey at about 8 am. The boys were cold, so we took pictures and then took a short break. Went to the shop and they threw darts for about an hour. Then it was Jake's turn.
We were driving along a ridge to go down into a bottom to escape the wind when we saw a tom on the ridge. I kept driving to find a spot to park and set up when another big tom crossed the road in front of us. I decided to set up right between the two. We sat up, and Jake and I were doing some glove swapping (his winter gloves weren't working for him) when we heard a "Putt, putt". The 2nd tom had come in silent, and in the brush, and had seen us. As he took off, I called very agressively, and another tom gobbled across the field. He came around the edge of the field, then into the brush, then back out to the decoy. Jake smoked him with my 20 gauge. He was Jake's biggest bird yet, with a double beard, 11" and 7 1/4". Funny thing is the old bird had no spurs. Great bird, though, and Jake was proud. He loves the youth season.
Fast-forward to today, Easter Sunday, 1 week later. We went out early, got set up where my husband suggested, and started calling. A hen answered, and flew down to our decoy. But, she spooked and moved away a bit. She kept calling, and a tom came into the field between our decoy and the real hen. He strutted for about 15 minutes, moving slowly closer to us. I finally called with a kee kee run call (learned that trick from a live hen yesterday that called alot of jakes to her with constant kee kee runs), and he broke and moved in closer to us. Jake shot him at 35 yards. Lucky to get him, as I thought he was 30 yards, which is what I consider the limit of the 20 gauge. Jake was again thrilled. The birds aren't responding great, are henned up, and jake turkeys are ruling this year. But, it's been a great opener for our Jake, with 2 very good turkeys already in the bag.
Pictures are of 7 year old Justin with his first turkey, Jake with his youth season turkey, and Jake with his Easter turkey. Happy boys.
We were driving along a ridge to go down into a bottom to escape the wind when we saw a tom on the ridge. I kept driving to find a spot to park and set up when another big tom crossed the road in front of us. I decided to set up right between the two. We sat up, and Jake and I were doing some glove swapping (his winter gloves weren't working for him) when we heard a "Putt, putt". The 2nd tom had come in silent, and in the brush, and had seen us. As he took off, I called very agressively, and another tom gobbled across the field. He came around the edge of the field, then into the brush, then back out to the decoy. Jake smoked him with my 20 gauge. He was Jake's biggest bird yet, with a double beard, 11" and 7 1/4". Funny thing is the old bird had no spurs. Great bird, though, and Jake was proud. He loves the youth season.
Fast-forward to today, Easter Sunday, 1 week later. We went out early, got set up where my husband suggested, and started calling. A hen answered, and flew down to our decoy. But, she spooked and moved away a bit. She kept calling, and a tom came into the field between our decoy and the real hen. He strutted for about 15 minutes, moving slowly closer to us. I finally called with a kee kee run call (learned that trick from a live hen yesterday that called alot of jakes to her with constant kee kee runs), and he broke and moved in closer to us. Jake shot him at 35 yards. Lucky to get him, as I thought he was 30 yards, which is what I consider the limit of the 20 gauge. Jake was again thrilled. The birds aren't responding great, are henned up, and jake turkeys are ruling this year. But, it's been a great opener for our Jake, with 2 very good turkeys already in the bag.
Pictures are of 7 year old Justin with his first turkey, Jake with his youth season turkey, and Jake with his Easter turkey. Happy boys.
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