I have a friend that has been hunting turkeys for the past 22 years. He has managed to miss three birds, ( he has no clue what 40yds is), scare the heck out of many and had the unforunate hunts where the birds just wouldn't come to call. Being that this fellow teaches in a public school, his hunting time is limited. That doesn't mean he doesn't give it the ole college try, cause he does. Finally after all those years of trying, he bagged his first Tom the opening morning at 7:15am. 19lbs. - 8 1/2" beard - and 3/4" spurs.
Congatulations to Tom Kitchen for his first and long a waited bird.
Now for another great Turkey Tale.
I have another friend, who has a 10yr old son, who is so interested in hunting, it's unbelievable. I made him two turkey calls over a year ago ( Box call and a wing bone call). Needless to say he practiced with them both, til he could talk turkey quite well. Two months ago, he passed his hunters safety class test with a score of 95% and has talked about nothing else but the Spring Turkey hunt.
The opening morning, I hunted with his mother, and he hunted with his Dad.
This young man was unbelievable! He was in his blind at 5:30am. After 4hrs of hunting, Mom and I both got a case of bucket bottom and left the woods. Mark never once said to his dad that he wanted to leave the woods and go home. At 12:24pm, Mark killed a 23 1/2lb Tom, 11" beard and had 1" spurs. All of this was caught on video type. What a great way to start a young man out in the sport of hunting. Needless to say, Mom and Dad are still Turkeyless. There is one week-end left. Good luck Joe & Kate.
Sparky