Grandpa had a great youth season
Apr 25, 2016 7:25:30 GMT -5
Woody Williams, stevein, and 4 more like this
Post by featherduster on Apr 25, 2016 7:25:30 GMT -5
Last year I decided to introduce my 9 year old grandson David to my world of hunting,fishing and shooting.
We spent several weekends working on all aspects of weapons and then we both took the Indiana hunter safety course and passed with flying colors.
David joined our Walleye fishing crew on Lake Erie as a last minute replacement and fit right in so this year it was time for his first hunt.
The turkeys in my neck of the woods have been very elusive this year so I wasn't holding out much hope.
We went out Saturday morning at O dark hundred got situated in my blind enjoyed all sorts of great food and watched all sorts of wildlife but we never saw or even heard the first signs of a turkey.
Sunday morning we repeated our predawn ritual but this time things were different.
Right at legal shooting time David heard his first wild turkey gobble when a bird cut loose on my neighbors farm followed by about 30 minutes of repeat gobbles until we thought we heard one from a different direction. I gave a few yelps on a box call and got an immediate answer followed by 2 birds popping out of a woods about an 1/8 mile away on a dead run for our decoys. They stopped at what we later measured was 57 yards and stood there for approx. 25 minutes hammering and strutting for my 2 hen decoys the whole time David has the gun up and resting on a shooting stick and his shoulder WAITING.
Suddenly these turkeys did what turkeys do they lost interest and decided to walk away UNSCATHED.
About an hour later we had a hen followed by a love sick tom skirt our kill zone and once again leave unscathed.
We finished out our hunt eating smoked oysters,cheese and grandpas special turkey hunting treats.
David made a decision not to shoot because he felt these birds were to far away and I totally agreed and to make him feel good about what happened we measured off the distance then when we got home we set up a turkey target at 57 yards and he shot it.You guessed it not one BB from that #5 3" 12 gauge shell hit a vital area of the neck or skull GOOD CALL DAVID.
Spending time with my grandson and having him experience what I enjoy with the same level of excitement as I get was priceless.
The killing thing will come when the time and the shot is right.
We spent several weekends working on all aspects of weapons and then we both took the Indiana hunter safety course and passed with flying colors.
David joined our Walleye fishing crew on Lake Erie as a last minute replacement and fit right in so this year it was time for his first hunt.
The turkeys in my neck of the woods have been very elusive this year so I wasn't holding out much hope.
We went out Saturday morning at O dark hundred got situated in my blind enjoyed all sorts of great food and watched all sorts of wildlife but we never saw or even heard the first signs of a turkey.
Sunday morning we repeated our predawn ritual but this time things were different.
Right at legal shooting time David heard his first wild turkey gobble when a bird cut loose on my neighbors farm followed by about 30 minutes of repeat gobbles until we thought we heard one from a different direction. I gave a few yelps on a box call and got an immediate answer followed by 2 birds popping out of a woods about an 1/8 mile away on a dead run for our decoys. They stopped at what we later measured was 57 yards and stood there for approx. 25 minutes hammering and strutting for my 2 hen decoys the whole time David has the gun up and resting on a shooting stick and his shoulder WAITING.
Suddenly these turkeys did what turkeys do they lost interest and decided to walk away UNSCATHED.
About an hour later we had a hen followed by a love sick tom skirt our kill zone and once again leave unscathed.
We finished out our hunt eating smoked oysters,cheese and grandpas special turkey hunting treats.
David made a decision not to shoot because he felt these birds were to far away and I totally agreed and to make him feel good about what happened we measured off the distance then when we got home we set up a turkey target at 57 yards and he shot it.You guessed it not one BB from that #5 3" 12 gauge shell hit a vital area of the neck or skull GOOD CALL DAVID.
Spending time with my grandson and having him experience what I enjoy with the same level of excitement as I get was priceless.
The killing thing will come when the time and the shot is right.
