A friend told me this story about his and his sons first turkey hunt this weekend…

Some guys are lucky, even if they are only 13 yrs old.

My buddy’s son was jacked. First time turkey hunting, and he had read up on all the ways to take a tom. He watched a ton of videos and had practiced and practiced his calling. He was ready!

Now his dad on the other hand, is a buck hunter who could care less about shooting a turkey. But he was going to spend time with his son, because that’s what dads do. The thirty bucks he had shelled out for each of them was more than he had thought he would have to pay, but this expense was well worth it. Money well spent to be with his son in the woods.

Do you remember when you were 13 years old? When you were so excited about something that you had to share it with someone else also, not just your dad. So what do you do? You ask dad if your buddy can tag along. This dad said “sure lets bring him along“!

Dad knew one thing about turkey hunting. That you had to be out early, while its still dark, to set up for roosting turkeys. But when you are 13, eating chips and drinking soda until 2 or 3 in the morning talking about girls and turkeys, sometimes its hard to get out of bed. So, they got a very late start.  Dad knew where the toms roosted, and after all his studying, his son knew where they should set up. They were finally ready as the sun was beginning to rise.

The toms ALWAYS roosted in the SE corner of the wood lot so the set up was 150 yards west of the corner along the field edge.

After 15 minutes of calling and no answering, dad stated that “all the toms were with hens“, and just as he had finished speaking, a loud gobble startled them all. To everyone’s surprise not one but two toms were strutting toward their hen decoy. But, they were coming from the north! All the reading and video watching assured the 13 yr old that his tom would come from where the turkeys ALWAYS roosted!

The boy got turned toward the toms and his dad was working the call. Every time he hit the call, the tom would gobble. The dad was getting very excited. He had never been turkey hunting and to see a tom reacting to a call was unbelievable! After 15 minutes the tom worked his way to 35 yards, the boy whispered to his dad…“I think I have a shot“. Dad said,” if you think its good take it.” The shot rang out and the turkey dropped and kicked. The other tom just stood there so his dad said shoot that one too!

Another shot and another bird.

Two nice toms sporting 10 inch beards. Two friends and a dad. Three more hunters hooked on turkey hunting and a lifetime of memories.