I could hear Robert’s breathing getting faster and deeper.  The 3 gobblers were close and we had been caught out in the open woods when they came in silently. There were 4 of us sitting together. Trying to look like 4 stumps was challenging and I don’t think the 2 year old birds were buying it. They were just out of range. Finally, they started to get nervous and turned to walk back from where they had come. We tried a desperation call, but they were already convinced we weren’t the real thing. Larry, Dan, and I were disappointed. Not only had we missed up a golden opportunity, we knew we were down to just one morning to get Robert a bird. However, it didn’t take long to get over the disappointment. When we got up to leave, Robert had a big ole grin on his face and said “That was Cool”. He had never been that close before. That afternoon, we took him fishing and barbequed up some hamburgers. Sleep came easy. We had been outside all day. |
 The next morning we elected to try a deer stand in a good location where two roads came together. Turkeys always seemed to feed right by the stand. At daybreak, the birds were gobbling and heading our way. Since it was early in the season and they still seemed grouped up, we decided to call just a little and wait them out. About an hour into the hunt, the birds had gotten to within about 100 yards and we starting to get excited. As we watched the approaching group, I heard a faint purring sound coming from below the stand and knew it had to be a turkey. It was so close that I had to stand up to look out of the blind. I couldn’t believe there were three jakes standing right beneath us. I eased back down and whispered to Robert to get his gun and ease up to take a shot. He didn’t have time to get nervous. He made a great shot and the bird went down immediately. I don’t know who was more excited, Dan , Robert or me. |
The next morning we elected to try a deer stand in a good location where two roads came together. Turkeys always seemed to feed right by the stand. At daybreak, the birds were gobbling and heading our way. Since it was early in the season and they still seemed grouped up, we decided to call just a little and wait them out. About an hour into the hunt, the birds had gotten to within about 100 yards and we starting to get excited. As we watched the approaching group, I heard a faint purring sound coming from below the stand and knew it had to be a turkey. It was so close that I had to stand up to look out of the blind. I couldn’t believe there were three jakes standing right beneath us. I eased back down and whispered to Robert to get his gun and ease up to take a shot. He didn’t have time to get nervous. He made a great shot and the bird went down immediately. I don’t know who was more excited, Dan , Robert or me.