Post by mr4pt on Apr 12, 2007 14:07:56 GMT -5
Last weekend was our (AR) youth hunt. The weather turned terribly cold and windy but there was no stopping Dalton and his friend going turkey hunting.
So we arrive at the ranch right at daylight. The tempurature was a blustery 22 degrees with a light wind. My expectations were as low as a snakes belly. As soon as I stepped out of the truck a turkey was gobbling across the road, not on our land and up a steep bluff. I talked the boys out of chasing that one and we headed out walking up the mountain. As soon as we got to the top there were two gobbling down the ridge. The temp. had risen into the upper 20's, the sun was out, and the wind was still light. I immediately felt better about the situation. After a long walk to get set-up on the birds we were finally in position to start calling. The turkeys had gobbled the whole time we were walking towards them. They gobbled everytime I called to them. In 5 short minutes they had closed the distance from 150 yds to 60 yds, just over the ridge. I told the boys to get their guns in position and just as they did the turkeys showed themselves over the ridge. They both came in strutting. They put on a show on top of the ridge with their strutting and gobbling. It was awesome. The boys got to witness it all. But there was one small problem, they were working their way behind us. I made a dicision to have Daltons friend try to move his gun around the tree and get into a shooting position. The turkeys were now only 45-50 yds behind us in full view.
Now if you have never experience a 12 year old boy trying to move slowly enough that a turkey standing in full view at 45 yds would not see him, well....let's just say it wasn't the smartest of suggestions and I KNOW better than to even attempt it. It was either try that or watch the two birds walk out of our lives forever. Of coarse you can guess what the outcome was. As soon as Brandon moved, not near slow enough, the lead bird putted twice and was gone in a flash.
I was upset at myself and let the boys know that it was a poor decision on my part. Both birds sported about 10" beards. The boys got to see and learn alot that day.
On a good note, I found about three dozen morels that were delicious.
I am leaving out in the morning with Dalton to meet up with two other guys. We are gonna give em hell this weekend.
So we arrive at the ranch right at daylight. The tempurature was a blustery 22 degrees with a light wind. My expectations were as low as a snakes belly. As soon as I stepped out of the truck a turkey was gobbling across the road, not on our land and up a steep bluff. I talked the boys out of chasing that one and we headed out walking up the mountain. As soon as we got to the top there were two gobbling down the ridge. The temp. had risen into the upper 20's, the sun was out, and the wind was still light. I immediately felt better about the situation. After a long walk to get set-up on the birds we were finally in position to start calling. The turkeys had gobbled the whole time we were walking towards them. They gobbled everytime I called to them. In 5 short minutes they had closed the distance from 150 yds to 60 yds, just over the ridge. I told the boys to get their guns in position and just as they did the turkeys showed themselves over the ridge. They both came in strutting. They put on a show on top of the ridge with their strutting and gobbling. It was awesome. The boys got to witness it all. But there was one small problem, they were working their way behind us. I made a dicision to have Daltons friend try to move his gun around the tree and get into a shooting position. The turkeys were now only 45-50 yds behind us in full view.
Now if you have never experience a 12 year old boy trying to move slowly enough that a turkey standing in full view at 45 yds would not see him, well....let's just say it wasn't the smartest of suggestions and I KNOW better than to even attempt it. It was either try that or watch the two birds walk out of our lives forever. Of coarse you can guess what the outcome was. As soon as Brandon moved, not near slow enough, the lead bird putted twice and was gone in a flash.
I was upset at myself and let the boys know that it was a poor decision on my part. Both birds sported about 10" beards. The boys got to see and learn alot that day.
On a good note, I found about three dozen morels that were delicious.
I am leaving out in the morning with Dalton to meet up with two other guys. We are gonna give em hell this weekend.
