Wally Dog
Well-known member
Emmy's first turkey hunt, the players: Emily (11 yrs), Mom & Dad, 30 or 40 something.
Blind was set up Thursday night...........
Saturday morning 4 24 04............
Awake at 0500, leaving house at 0530
While opening the gate on landowners property gobblers are sounding off 60 yards distant. Parked truck, place decoys and saddled into the "turkey silo" for the morning. 2-4 toms were gobbling 150-200 yards distant. Likely heard 300+ gobbles in the tree and shortly after flydown. But as per fairly normal the birds went the other way.
We heard a gobble every 15 minutes or so, but they were distant and due to breeze blowing from them not sure if they can even hear me.
I broadcast call on wingbone, box, diaphragm & Roberts Bros glass calls. Periodically I think I get an answer. 0800, 0900, finally a hen breaks the mounting boredom and announces then shows her presence. Moments of excitement and she walks away. 1000, 1030, 1045 I look outta the silo and see just the top of a "full" fan some 80 yards distant. I proclaimed his presence to Em & Cynthia. He was partially hidden for a moment then appeared in all his glory...full strut, head ablaze with passion and marching our way quickly. The insuing pandemonium (and his marching speed) allowed him to close the distance and begin circling the Jake decoy I had deployed before we were prepared for the shot. Now, gun ready.....time for the shot, safety off, "remember where to hold EM", oops safety still ON..........flinch, off, bang.
Very dead gobbler........hugs, high fives (that Emmy felt for an hour), shaking legs, what a smile!!!!!
Vital statistics: Rio Grande gobbler, 21.3 # on certified scale, 10" very full beard, 1 1/8" sharp, limbhanger spurs.
It truly was a remarkable morning. We were blessed to have such a fine place to hunt, hear the river bottom wake up, and have a real stud gobbler provide my daughter the opportunity to harvest the 'King of the Spring".
Blind was set up Thursday night...........
Saturday morning 4 24 04............
Awake at 0500, leaving house at 0530
While opening the gate on landowners property gobblers are sounding off 60 yards distant. Parked truck, place decoys and saddled into the "turkey silo" for the morning. 2-4 toms were gobbling 150-200 yards distant. Likely heard 300+ gobbles in the tree and shortly after flydown. But as per fairly normal the birds went the other way.
We heard a gobble every 15 minutes or so, but they were distant and due to breeze blowing from them not sure if they can even hear me.
I broadcast call on wingbone, box, diaphragm & Roberts Bros glass calls. Periodically I think I get an answer. 0800, 0900, finally a hen breaks the mounting boredom and announces then shows her presence. Moments of excitement and she walks away. 1000, 1030, 1045 I look outta the silo and see just the top of a "full" fan some 80 yards distant. I proclaimed his presence to Em & Cynthia. He was partially hidden for a moment then appeared in all his glory...full strut, head ablaze with passion and marching our way quickly. The insuing pandemonium (and his marching speed) allowed him to close the distance and begin circling the Jake decoy I had deployed before we were prepared for the shot. Now, gun ready.....time for the shot, safety off, "remember where to hold EM", oops safety still ON..........flinch, off, bang.
Very dead gobbler........hugs, high fives (that Emmy felt for an hour), shaking legs, what a smile!!!!!
Vital statistics: Rio Grande gobbler, 21.3 # on certified scale, 10" very full beard, 1 1/8" sharp, limbhanger spurs.
It truly was a remarkable morning. We were blessed to have such a fine place to hunt, hear the river bottom wake up, and have a real stud gobbler provide my daughter the opportunity to harvest the 'King of the Spring".
