I took my 12 year old son out for his first hunt on Saturday, April 26th (youth weekend here in NY). We started out in a beautiful spot to watch the world wake up. It should have been hot with turkey too but it was quiet. Mitch commented on how pretty it was and how comfortable our spot was. after about an hour with no action we decided to move. After about a half mile walk and some stops we heard some faint gobbles in the distance. Hunger and a little boredom were setting in so we called it a day and went to breakfast.
Sunday we went back to our original spot as our friend Billy S. put some birds to bed for us the previous evening. Billy joined us to help call and enjoy Mitch's second hunt. Well what a difference from the first day! We had gobbling as soon as we were within 100 yards of the woods. We got set up near our previous location and set the decoys out in the wheat field. We set out a Jake and a hen. We could hear at least five different birds sounding off on the roost. After a short while the birds flew down and seemed to be moving off. But after a couple of more aggresive calls on the box call wecould tell they were moving in on us and fast! Unfortunately instead of passing by us out into the field they came directly up the logging road straight towards us. I was facing directly toward the field and Mitch was facing along the hedgerow. The gobbles were growing increasingly louder and I could hear Mitch's breathing respond in kind! (As was mine). Mitch is right handed and the birds were coming from the right and coming so fast that there was no time to move into a shooting position. I could not see the birds due to my position. I asked Mitch if he could see them and he said yes there is three of them. I knew they were very close as the gobbles were going right through me. later I saw were the had walked right up to Mitch within 5 yards gobbling right in his face! He was amazing he sat perfectly still while they gobbled and strutted and drummed. Just what I was hearing was incredible and mitch got to watch everything! They then moved off stopped from walking right over us by a bit of old fenceline in the woods. They circled around out into the wheatfield and came marching and strutting out towards our decoys. I was able to reposition Mitch's gun and he waited until they came into our shooting lane. I stopped them with a cluck and BAM! Mitch took the shot. Sadly he shot low and missed but as the birds scurried around and then finally off. the three of us collapsed in laughter and high fives as this had been the most intense turkey hunt we had ever been on and it was only Mitch's second hunt ever!
Well the next Saturday found Mitch and I out again across the road in another woodlot. As we got settled let out a little yelp and instantly got responding gobbles. We hadn't been set up 20 minutes when the boys flew down and headed our direction. This time they passed by us in the woods and we were able to move to face the field were the dekes were set up. This time the first bird was in full strut and passed into our shooting lane. As I clucked he stuck his head up and Mitch took the shot. He hit the bird a little low but quickly recovered and got off the second barrel and dropped his first turkey! It was a beautiful 16 1/2 lb bird with a 4 inch beard and 1/4 inch spurs. Mitch was pumped and so was Dad (me)
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